Arizona toddler recovering after two rattlesnake bites
The Brief
A 15-month-old Arizona girl was bitten twice by a rattlesnake while playing outside.
She was airlifted to a hospital, treated with antivenom, and is now recovering at home.
Doctors are still assessing the damage, and her ability to walk remains uncertain.
FLORENCE, Ariz. - An Arizona toddler is recovering at home after being bitten twice by a rattlesnake earlier this month.
However, 15-month-old Cara Reed's prognosis remains unclear as doctors continue to evaluate the effect of the venom on her body and determine what treatments and surgeries she would need.
The backstory
Cara's mother, Jacquelyn Reed, said her daughter was bitten earlier this month while she was playing outside at their home in Florence.
Jacquelyn said she quickly went to throw something in the trash when she heard her daughter crying.
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"Came back and she was crying, and so I saw four puncture wounds on the top of her foot and I did luckily see the snake tucked behind the propane tank," Jacquelyn told FOX Television Stations. "I was able to put two and two together and then just rush her to the hospital."
Cara went to the nearby emergency room but then was airlifted to Phoenix Children's Hospital.
"Her foot was already black," the mother added.
Cara spent several days in the hospital where doctors had to intubate her and provide antivenom.
What they're saying
Jacquelyn said her daughter is able to crawl but cannot walk due to the pain she has in her foot.
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The mother said Cara had always been a low-maintenance baby.
"I think that we just continue to be so grateful and feeling so much love and so many prayers," Jacquelyn said.
"Super consolable, super-happy kid," Jacquelyn continued. "She always usually loves to read books. She loves to go out to the garden with me and play with the flowers."
The family has also taken more steps to remove any remaining rattlesnakes from the property.
What's next
Jacquelyn said her daughter has been able to move her feet and toes and amputation may not be possible.
It's not clear if any tissue will have to be removed as doctors determine how extensive the damage the venom had done.
What you can do
The family has previously setup a GoFundMe page to help out with any medical expenses.
"I think that we just continue to be so grateful and feeling so much love and so many prayers," Jaquelyn added.
Dig deeper
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rattlesnakes are the largest venomous snakes in the country.
The CDC, if you're bitten by a snake you should:
Seek emergency medical attention as soon as possible to start antivenom (if needed) and stop irreversible damage.
Do not drive yourself to the hospital because the snakebite can make you dizzy or pass out.
Take a photograph from a safe distance to identify the snake if possible, which may aid in faster treatment.
The Source
The information in this story comes from an interview with Cara Reed's mother, Jacquelyn Reed, conducted by FOX Television Stations. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
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