The days that began in the spring of 1962 with a family moving into their new home in Mexico City were quickly overshadowed by unexplained health problems. While family members struggled with fever, fatigue, and symptoms they had not experienced before, it was initially thought to be a simple flu outbreak. However, a chain of events revealed a dark truth through a small metal capsule unnoticed in a corner of the house.
Once the capsule was discovered, the family’s focus shifted; it became clear that an invisible danger had spread to the very heart of the house. The first symptom appeared as seemingly harmless discolorations on surfaces, linked to radioactivity. Over time, radiation inside the capsule became more widespread through household activities, threatening the family’s daily life.
The most severe part was that even close relatives were affected by this danger. The 10-year-old child experienced radiation exposure far exceeding expectations in areas directly in contact with the capsule; although they mostly spent time outdoors with their sister, they also shared indoor periods. The pregnant mother spent long hours in the kitchen and was visibly more affected by the capsule’s radiation, which had moved toward a drawer in a closed space. As time passed, health deteriorated, and grandmothers had to take over household chores; however, these changes did not reduce the dose.
The 10-year-old child, who died on April 29th, was followed three months later by the mother, then on August 18th by the 2-year-old sister, and on October 15th by the grandmothers. The only survivor was the father, who focused on outdoor work; experts estimated the radiation dose he received ranged between 990 and 1,200 rads. The boys had absorbed between 4,700 and 5,200 rads, which directly corresponded to a lethal level.
In search of the capsule’s shocking origin, it was identified as an old hospital radiotherapy device. How this capsule, normally used in cancer treatments, ended up in the house’s yard remains unclear. The tragedy in Mexico City profoundly revealed the destruction that invisible dangers can cause in a family’s life. An apparently harmless piece of metal, combined with lack of knowledge and carelessness, could lead to irreversible outcomes. After that day, the capsule was removed from the house; only pain, losses, and unanswered questions remained behind.
