Marge Riley, NE

11/16/2005
West Nile virus takes toll on local woman
By: Diane Finch , Telegraph Corespondent

When Marge Riley took out the trash in July, she didn't even think about putting on a long-sleeved shirt. After all, the trash barrel was just yards from her house and it would only take her a few seconds.
She paid a huge price for that decision. She has temporarily lost the use of her left leg, and she spent months in the hospital after physicians diagnosed her with West Nile virus.
"It started out just like the flu," said Riley, 75, who now lives with her daughter and son-in-law, Lyndee and John Doyle.
"There were the usual symptoms - headache, vomiting, diarrhea. My mouth was so dry. I didn't go to the doctor until I got so weak I couldn't stand up."
Doyle took her to the emergency room at Great Plains Regional Medical Center, where, after extensive testing and waiting for results, she was diagnosed with West Nile virus.
When her condition steadily grew worse, more tests indicated the virus had precipitated Guillain-Barré, an autoimmune disorder that causes damage to the nerves and muscles. Riley was immediately transported by ambulance to a neurological center in Fort Collins, Colo., where tests proved positive for West Nile.
"West Nile doesn't manifest the kind of paralysis that she had. Both legs were paralyzed and she couldn't swallow," said Doyle, a Federal Express office manager, who has taken a three-month leave of absence to care for her mother. "We had to find out what was causing the secondary effects."
Although Riley doesn't remember much about her two weeks in intensive care, she does recall Magnetic Resonance Imaging sessions (MRIs), where she had to lie perfectly still for two hours.
Next came five days of blood infusion, which can cause severe allergic reactions. After 14 days in intensive care, Riley was admitted to a rehabilitation center in Fort Collins, where they taught her how to relearn little things such as feeding and dressing herself.
The daily physical therapy strengthened muscle but did not bring back the feeling in her left leg. That leg is still paralyzed from the hip down. After three months in Fort Collins, neurologists released Riley, telling her it might take up to a year for the leg to recover, or perhaps longer.
"I've always been so active," said Riley, who has lived in North Platte 44 years and is noted for her culinary talents. The home economics major who studied at Colorado Women's College at one time also gave microwave cooking lessons.
"Now I can't even get in and out of bed by myself. I use the wheelchair for everything but still I need someone to help around the clock."
Riley does physical therapy several times each week and makes it a point to get out of the house, with the help of her daughter. Last week she went with friends to a local restaurant to celebrate her 75th birthday. Each day she thanks the Lord for the help she receives from her three children and grandson, Austin Doyle.
"I try to stay positive," Riley said, smiling. "Sometimes I can even joke about it. My faith has helped me through this."
Still, it's difficult to be cheerful when insurance won't entirely cover the more than $200,000 in hospital bills.
Physicians told Riley that most people who contract Guillain-Barré make a full recovery. Riley believes she contracted the disease because of the earlier West Nile virus, which creates other problems. She urges people to protect themselves again West Nile.
"It only takes one mosquito to attack. This is nothing to take lightly. Cover yourself, spray yourself with a product containing Deet - even if you're just going out to empty the trash."