California boy, 13, left in grim condition after coming down with rare disease
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- Joseph Vasquez, a 13-year-old from Long Beach, contracted West Nile virus from a mosquito bite, leading to transverse myelitis, a rare spinal cord inflammation that has left him bedridden and unable to use his legs.
- His symptoms rapidly worsened from mild rash and fever to paralysis, severe nerve pain, and loss of bladder and bowel control, requiring intensive care and steroid treatment.
- Doctors have indicated Joseph's condition is extremely rare with limited research on recovery prospects, while his mother has had to stop working to care for him, causing financial strain on the family.
- Los Angeles County is experiencing a surge in West Nile virus cases, with 100 infections and five deaths reported this year, the highest early-season count in nearly a decade, prompting health officials to warn residents to take preventive measures.
- Joseph's family has launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking financial support and is asking for prayers as he faces a challenging and uncertain path to recovery.
