They couldn't tell us one way or another what was going to happen. Nobody knows. They couldn't tell us"

Indiana girl survives West Nile virus
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/print_092304_ns_west_nile.html
By Leah HopeSeptember 23, 2004 (Chesterton,IN) — She nearly lost her life to the West Nile virus, but now a northwest Indiana girl is able to talk about the illness that put her in a coma.
Rocki Kaminski, 11, of Chesterton, Ind., spent close to a week in a coma because of that illness carried by mosquitoes.
The ordeal was terrifying for her parents but Rocki was actually surprised when she woke up in the hospital in Indianapolis with tubes coming out of her and her parents crying. Now they are all thankful and warn other families to use repellent even in the morning before school.
This 11-year-old girl has come back to life. Rocki Kaminski has scars from her ordeal. She was in a coma for five days.
"I'm just glad to be alive because, you know, I don't -- I didn't -- I almost I guess you could say died in the hospital probably because I don't remember anything really," Rocki said.
Rocki and her parents believe it began with a mosquito bite two weeks ago while waiting for a school bus when she was bit on the leg. Within a few days she went from flu-like symptoms to seizures and then Rocki slipped into a coma.
"They couldn't tell us one way or another what was going to happen. Nobody knows. They couldn't tell us. If there was going to be any kind of damage or anything. They couldn't tell us anything," said Rocki's mom, Sharon Kaminski.
"I seen a little girl that didn't look like my little girl. Her eyes were rolled back in her head and she didn't know who I was," said Ken Kaminski.
The family says doctors told them Rocki had severe swelling on the brain. Also called encephalitis, brought on by the West Nile virus. Rocki's had to relearn things like walking. She still loses her balance occasionally and gets tired easily. But she has come a long way and every day she gets stronger. And she's developed a strong opinion about mosquitoes.
"There was a mosquito in the room and the lady had to kill it because I was so scared of it," she said.
"I hope the first frost hurries up because I wouldn't wish this on anybody here what we went through. It's a scary thought. You know, that one little bug could do this," said Ken Kaminski.
The Indiana Department of Public Health reports three cases of West Nile virus with one fatality. But health officials encourage everyone to take precautions because that first freeze may not come until November.
As for Rocki, she is eager to get back to school and plans to go back on Monday.

Last Updated: Sep 24, 2004