| Author | Message | ||
     Tere Senior Member Username: Tere Post Number: 885 Registered: 02-2003 |
My friend has contracted West Nile Virus. She was camping in an area where no suspect mosquitoes were previously reported. She's been in intensive care for over a month. She is paralyzed on one side, on a ventilator and has had a feeding tube surgically inserted. She is alert but at this time the prognosis is unknown. Please pray for Sandra. And, please be vigilant about you and family members wearing long sleeves, long pants and insect repellent if you must be outdoors where mosquitoes are present. Especially in early morning hours and at dusk when these insects are out "feeding". I know Sandra, her family and friends will all appreciate your prayers and good wishes for her complete recovery. Tere Pia's of Pleasant Valley | ||
| Admin Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 883 Registered: 01-1997 |
Tere, I am so sorry to hear about your friend. Sandra will be in my prayers. I don't know much about the Nile Virus: do they have treatments for it? I hope Sandra will feel better soon: please keep us updated. Adriana Copaceanu - Board Administrator Gift Basket Exchange | ||
| Sherryd Advanced Member Username: Sherryd Post Number: 117 Registered: 05-2005 |
Tere I will keep her in my prayers as well. I truly hope that they caught it early. A guy I went to school with was diagnosed late last year with encephalitis as a result of West Nile (from mosquito bites). He is now in a nursing home and will never be able to care for himself again (in his early 40's and married). Very sad situation. The doctors apparently thought in the beginning it was meningitis so he didn't get the treatment he needed early on. You don't think about these viruses much until it effects someone you know. You are definitely right regarding precaution and protection as much as possible. Sherry One Great Gift Dropship www.onegreatgiftdropship.com | ||
| Tere Senior Member Username: Tere Post Number: 886 Registered: 02-2003 |
Thanks ladies, I know your prayers are heartfelt. Sherry, Sandra has encephalitis. Apparently the persons who have the worst complications are those 40 years old or older. I'm not clear on what the situation is on early treatment. In reading your post and knowing how long it was before Sandra was diagnosed, it must not be easy to diagnose it. I know we were not sure what she had until almost 3 weeks later. She was in intensive care a week after she became sick and many tests were done but for reasons I don't understand, it was not an immediate conclusion. My understanding is that they are experimenting with interferon as an early treatment. I've been told that there is no real treatment for this virus and it just has to run it's course. All physicians can do is attempt to treat the complications. Regardless, this virus is far more damaging than I would have ever imagined. I'm so sorry to hear that your friend will not completely recover. You're right, we don't really think about WNV until it strikes someone we know. When I would hear of it I thought the victims must have a weakened immune system or not be very healthy to begin with but that is just not true. It can be debilitating to perfectly healthy people. We need to be sure our insect repellent contains DEET. That's the defense ingredient. Tere Pia's of Pleasant Valley |
