Lauren Ashley Miller-CA

Teenage girl in Menifee dies after four-year battle with West Nile illness


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10:00 PM PST on Wednesday, December 10, 2008

By TAMMY J. McCOY
The Press-Enterprise

A 17-year-old Menifee girl stricken with West Nile Encephalitis died Wednesday, more than four years after she fell ill.

Lauren Ashley Miller contracted West Nile virus in 2004, at age 13, after mosquito bites showed up on her legs. She later developed encephalitis and her brain swelled, leaving her in a mostly vegetative state.

"She was great. Bubbly, lots of energy," recalled Pam Dennison, Lauren's elementary school teacher. "To think that she was a healthy, happy teenager and by the next weekend, she was bedridden ... It happened so quickly."

2007 / The Press-Enterprise
Lauren Ashley Miller, of Menifee, shown with her mother, Bonnie Miller, contracted West Nile virus at age 13 and later developed encephalitis, which led to her death Wednesday.

Dennison noted that of the people who get West Nile, only 1 in 100 develops encephalitis.

"They fought a very valiant fight," said Betti Cadmus, spokeswoman for the Menifee Union School District.

Dennison visited Lauren and her family, and helped organize fundraisers for the family to take her to China for treatments.

The Millers took Lauren to China when she was 15 for umbilical cord blood stem-cell injections. After the treatments, Lauren's mother, Bonnie Miller, wrote that Lauren's ability to swallow had improved, allowing her to eat pureed foods, according to her online journal.

"They are people with great faith," Dennison said of Lauren's parents. "Her parents have done everything."

In 2006 and 2007, the family took Lauren to Kansas City, Mo., for hyperbaric treatments.

Dennison said she saw Lauren in the hospital the day after Thanksgiving.

"They were at the turning point then," she said.

The family learned Lauren was having problems with her kidneys and decided to bring her home, Dennison said.

"There are people who questioned if Lauren knew what was going on around her," Dennison said. "She wasn't able to respond, but there were lots of signs that she knew what was going on."

Lauren flashed a unique smile to a cute doctor in China and locked eyes with her grandfather when he sat next to her, she said.

"I think she knew."

Dennison said she talked to Bonnie Miller on Wednesday and offered to help in any way she could.

Miller didn't ask for anything, Dennison said.

"They certainly need everyone's prayers."

Reach Tammy J. McCoy at 951-375-3729 or tmccoy@PE.com

Richard Gibson, CA survivor

West Nile virus victim feels the bite Published: July 01, 2008 1:00 PM

“I’m your one per cent,” says a man I’ve yet to formally meet.
Richard Gibson wheels his way through The Valley Echo and into the reporter’s office.
He’s speaking about a recent article we’ve published on the precautions a person should take to avoid the West Nile bite.

The Saskatchewan man has a firsthand account of the severity the disease can inflict.
On August 16, 2007 Gibson began to experience a barrage of sickness, which he was told was a sinus infection.
Suffering chronic headaches, extreme exhaustion, eye irritation and chills, he went to a local walk-in clinic, his diagnosis was echoed Monday morning by his family doctor.

But a few days later his illness had intensified so severely that the now delirious Gibson spent 11 days in intensive care. He had been admitted to Yorkton Hospital August 22.

After extensive blood work and a spinal tap, doctors were able to diagnose him with the West Nile virus. But with no means to cure the disease, time and an abundance of antibiotics were hoped to aid Gibson.

As cases are still relativity rare in Canada, medical personnel had little assurances to offer his family. They simply didn’t know what the outcome would be.
As a result of the virus Gibson had meningitis and paralysis, leaving Gibson without the use of his legs and arms.
After one month in hospital he was transferred to Regina’s Wascana Rehabilitation Centre where he spent five months regaining his ability to walk and make use of his arms.

When he managed to finally get home it was December. By then Gibson had lost his job as a minister. He and his wife had to move from the church’s manse.
Today Gibson is mobile with the aid of a walker. He’s regained most of his ability in his right arm; his left is still paralyzed from the elbow up. He continues to go to rehabilitation everyday.

“I’m far beyond what anyone thought possible, but I’m nowhere near where I was.”
Recently Gibson and his wife Kathleen organized a forum for other West Nile survivors.
At the Saskatchewan gathering the couple met many victims of the virus. All of them had endured different degrees of the illness.
Some in attendance had experienced moderate mild flu-like symptoms, others represented loved ones who had died from the virus.

Gibson says he has yet to encounter any two people who have had identical symptoms.
Trying to make sense of the disease, Kathleen is in the midst of writing a book on their personal ordeal. The Gibsons hope to bring to light just how detrimental West Nile can be and encouraged others to take precautionary measures against insect bites.

“Most people don’t recognize how serious it can be. Something that happened to me might happen to someone else.”
While West Nile virus has yet to be detected in B.C., scientists are waiting for the first case to be found. “There is no cure, only prevention."

Melissa Dimond, UT Survivor

Victim struggles with West Nile effects
Bountiful woman still battles virus' aftereffects
By Heather May The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 07/24/2008 12:37:07 AM MDT

BOUNTIFUL - As she stood outside her new home with her new husband two years ago, Melissa Dimond was bit by a mosquito. She remembers thinking, "I hope I don't get West Nile [virus]." Two weeks later came the telltale signs. She developed a rash and severe headaches. She lost some vision in her left eye.

The type 1 diabetic grew spacey, twice throwing away the device that checks her blood-sugar levels. Eventually, after a couple of emergency room visits because she couldn't keep food or water down, close one of her eyes or remember how to put contact lenses in or use her insulin pump, tests confirmed she had the virus and one of its most serious repercussions. The virus had developed into meningoencephalitis - it had inflamed her brain and the membranes of the spinal cord. Most people infected with West Nile don't develop symptoms.

Dimond and her husband, Blake, spoke to reporters Wednesday about her ordeal as a cautionary tale about the importance of protection during mosquito season. To make the point of how easy the virus is to contract, Dimond noted she knew something about the disease as an epidemiologist at the state health department. "This type of illness is really rare. That needs to stay in perspective," she said from her living room couch. But, she added, "it's really not worth the risk, even if it is small."

Common in Africa, West Asia and the Middle East, the virus spread to the United States in 1999 and to Utah in 2003. It's typically spread through mosquitos, which become infected after feeding on infected birds. Last year, the state reported 70 human cases that resulted in two deaths. So far this year, the virus has infected two people, one in Uintah County and another reported in Salt Lake County this week. Both reported fevers. The virus has also been detected in either pools, mosquitos or birds in Box Elder, Davis, Kane, Millard, Utah and Washington counties.

The state health department says the virus has surely spread throughout the state. Dimond guesses she was outside at dusk for about 20 minutes when she got bit in September 2006. She thinks she was so severely affected because her immune system was compromised by diabetes and a sinus infection she had at the time. She spent about a month in the hospital. She couldn't swallow, smile or stick out her tongue. She couldn't walk or raise her arms and she had double vision. Doctors didn't know if she suffered brain damage. "It was devastating," Blake Dimond recalled. "To see your wife without any facial expression, sick, relying on machines to feed her. . . . I just wanted to know: Is it going to be my same Melissa that I married?"

It took six months of relearning skills as basic as coughing and spitting to get to where she is today. She still tires easily and has trouble walking because the toes of her left foot curl in. But she is back to work and can take care of herself again. Her vocal range has limits, but she has rejoined her church choir. Her goal is to be able to mountain bike again. The couple are more cautious than ever about warding off mosquitos. Citronella candles are on the porch. She steers clear of most evening barbecues. "I'm really proud to have her back," Blake Dimond said. "I had no idea she could get that sick."

contact: hmay@sltrib.com

Stacie King, MS

Pontotoc mother wins battle with WEST NILE VIRUS Stacie and Savannah

(Stacie King spraying her 5-year-old daughter Savannah.)

By SANDRA PRIEST
Special to the Progress

It�s hard to believe that a tiny insect could cause a grown woman so much trouble, but for Stacie King just one pesky little mosquito almost cost her her life.
It all began early on a September morning when Stacie woke up with the worst headache and backache she had ever experienced. �I wasn�t able to go to church that day,� she says as she remembers the unexpected turn of events last fall. Her symptoms soon included dizziness, nausea, and weakness. �Everyday I just got worse,� she recalls with a faraway look in her eyes.
When her unusual symptoms didn�t improve she finally decided it was time to see a doctor. Stacie�s husband Derrick says, �Now, if I start to get a sniffle I run to the doctor, but Stacie never goes.� He knew his wife was really sick�and worried.
She made an appointment with Dr. Joseph Montgomery. Because Stacie�s symptoms were uncommon, and the routine tests in the office didn�t give any real clues to help in making a diagnosis, Dr. Joseph consulted with his older brother Dr. Steve Montgomery. Dr. Steve was puzzled as well by the mysterious symptoms that by now included a high fever. Trying to get to the root cause of the strange illness they decided to order a CT scan, as well as blood tests for a long list of diseases�a lot of which were fatal. �It�s a scary feeling when the doctor puts you in the hospital and doesn�t know what is wrong with you,� Stacie vividly remembers.
After the CT scan came back normal a spinal tap was ordered to check for meningitis, an inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord. This test came back positive. One piece of the puzzling illness had fallen into place, but Dr. Steve, who was the one on call that weekend, didn�t think that was the whole puzzle. Stacie explains, �He was anxious to see what the blood work that had been sent off to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota showed.�

Puzzle solved
After the results from the Mayo Clinic came in, the puzzle of the mysterious illness was finally solved. Derrick remembers how scared he and Stacie were when they first heard the diagnosis. �When he (Dr. Steve) walked into the room and said �Well, I know now what you�ve had�, we just held our breath. When he said it was West Nile Meningitis I thought that was a death sentence, but he said �But you�re going to be fine�.�
Dr. Steve explained that the disease is extremely rare and that it would take quite some time for Stacie to fully recover. In all his years of practicing medicine, this was his first patient with West Nile Virus. �He said he was just as shocked as we were,� Stacie recalls. Her case was the first and only instance of West Nile Virus reported in Pontotoc County in 2007.
As a mother of five, Stacie can�t imagine a child going through an ordeal like hers. �I think parents should be real cautious and should be real aware. You think it would never happen to you.�
The King family is thankful that Stacie is on the road to recovery. Although she still tires easily she is doing well. Stacie and Derrick are especially thankful for family and friends who helped them through those difficult weeks while she was in the hospital and recuperating afterwards. �If it had not been for family and friends we would have been in a tight�a real tight,� Derrick says gratefully. Stacie adds with a smile, �The good Lord works it all out. He always has for us.�

Appeared originally in the Pontotoc Progress, 7/1/2008, section C , page 1

Rev. Richard Gibson-CAN

West Nile virus victim feels the bite

By Janine Toms - Invermere Valley Echo - July 01, 2008

| | | |

Rev. Richard Gibson and his wife Kathleen pay a visit to the valley this summer. Richard is a West Nile survivor who experienced a serious reaction to the virus last summer in Saskatchewan. Janine Toms/Echo photo

“I’m your one per cent,” says a man I’ve yet to formally meet.

Richard Gibson wheels his way through The Valley Echo and into the reporter’s office.

He’s speaking about a recent article we’ve published on the precautions a person should take to avoid the West Nile bite.

The Saskatchewan man has a firsthand account of the severity the disease can inflict.

On August 16, 2007 Gibson began to experience a barrage of sickness, which he was told was a sinus infection.

Suffering chronic headaches, extreme exhaustion, eye irritation and chills, he went to a local walk-in clinic, his diagnosis was echoed Monday morning by his family doctor.

But a few days later his illness had intensified so severely that the now delirious Gibson spent 11 days in intensive care. He had been admitted to Yorkton Hospital August 22.

After extensive blood work and a spinal tap, doctors were able to diagnose him with the West Nile virus. But with no means to cure the disease, time and an abundance of antibiotics were hoped to aid Gibson.

As cases are still relativity rare in Canada, medical personnel had little assurances to offer his family. They simply didn’t know what the outcome would be.

As a result of the virus Gibson had meningitis and paralysis, leaving Gibson without the use of his legs and arms.

After one month in hospital he was transferred to Regina’s Wascana Rehabilitation Centre where he spent five months regaining his ability to walk and make use of his arms.

When he managed to finally get home it was December. By then Gibson had lost his job as a minister. He and his wife had to move from the church’s manse.

Today Gibson is mobile with the aid of a walker. He’s regained most of his ability in his right arm; his left is still paralyzed from the elbow up. He continues to go to rehabilitation everyday.

“I’m far beyond what anyone thought possible, but I’m nowhere near where I was.”

Recently Gibson and his wife Kathleen organized a forum for other West Nile survivors.

At the Saskatchewan gathering the couple met many victims of the virus. All of them had endured different degrees of the illness.

Some in attendance had experienced moderate mild flu-like symptoms, others represented loved ones who had died from the virus.

Gibson says he has yet to encounter any two people who have had identical symptoms.

Trying to make sense of the disease, Kathleen is in the midst of writing a book on their personal ordeal. The Gibsons hope to bring to light just how detrimental West Nile can be and encouraged others to take precautionary measures against insect bites.

“Most people don’t recognize how serious it can be. Something that happened to me might happen to someone else.”

While West Nile virus has yet to be detected in B.C., scientists are waiting for the first case to be found. “There is no cure, only prevention."

Mel Lacy, ID

Man paralyzed by West Nile shares harrowing tale
05/02/2008 11:39 AM MDT


Mel Lacy on his long road to recovery
BOISE - Summertime will soon be here and so will those blood-sucking mosquitoes. Since West Nile virus first appeared in Idaho – thousands of people have been infected.

One of those people – Mel Lacy, shared his struggle with the potentially debilitating virus.

Doctors diagnosed Lacy with West Nile on his wedding anniversary in August of 2006.
Later that month he was admitted to the hospital because he couldn't stop throwing up.

Two months later he woke up paralyzed from the neck down.
“It feels weird I feel like I am falling forward,” Lacy said.
Lacy fights everyday to overcome the affects of West Nile - working to gain muscle in his arms and legs.
“When he first came in he had the tracheotomy he was in a wheel chair pretty much totally dependant for all his mobility,” said physical therapist Jill Harris, St. Luke’s Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Services.

Lacy hasn't been able to walk on his own since 2006.
That summer this 51-year-old handyman, who loved to build cabinets, fell asleep one night and woke up with a mosquito bite and West Nile.
A couple months after his diagnosis, Lacy realized how serious the virus could be.
Idaho West Nile cases

• 2003: First human case
• 2004: Three cases
• 2005: 13 cases
• 2006: 1,000+ cases
• 2007: 132 cases
• 24 Idahoans have died from West Nile virus

“I couldn't move anything but my head,” he said.
It was a period of time that changed Lacy’s life and his family's forever.
“He was real ‘do it all and do it yourself’ and always did everything for us and to have to do everything for him is odd,” Lacy’s daughter Melissa Olson said.
Through therapy, Lacy has regained some of his independence and now has more mobility on the top half of his body.

He is breathing on his own and using his hands to accomplish everyday tasks.
“I have no lift to my arms this way so if I need to eat I have to pivot this arm to get my arm up or to shave,” Lacy said.

For Lacy, the fight after the bite is one of the toughest battles of his life.
“I had cancer at age 34 that they said I wouldn't live through (it), and I thought I had done my hard part in life and I passed those odds and then when I got this I thought well, there's really a challenge,” he said.

It is a struggle physically and emotionally.
“They do have antidepressants that help,” he said. “But I really believe its my faith that gets me by where I am.”

Lacy hopes by telling his story he can save others from getting the West Nile virus. His daughter says her dad’s experience has changed her habits.
“I make sure I douse with DEET and wear long sleeves,” Olson said. “It’s worth it because I don't want to end up in a chair like my dad.”

A chair Lacy is working to get out of.
“He gives 100 percent he does what he can to get better and I know someday he will meet his goals because he is determined,” Harris said.
“The dream is still there,” Lacy said. “Now I am just concentrating on trying to get better.”

Lacy says insurance companies estimate his health care costs have exceeded $750,000 and that does not include his prescriptions.

Because of West Nile, Lacy has been dropped by all insurance companies so now he has to cover the costs on his own.

He hopes to be eligible for Medicare later this year so he can afford to get back to physical therapy on a routine basis.

Ray Stevens-CAN

West Nile ordeal kills city senior

Michelle Lang
Calgary Herald
Thursday, January 10, 2008


For almost five months, Ray Stevens fought for his life in the intensive care unit of Rockyview Hospital, paralyzed except for one arm.

The 76-year-old Calgarian, infected with a severe form of West Nile virus, slipped in and out of consciousness. He was on life support during much of his time in hospital.

Last week, Stevens lost his long battle with West Nile neurological syndrome, becoming the second person in Alberta to die from the mosquito-borne disease.

"Every day, you'd go up (to the hospital) and hope that something better would happen, but it didn't," said Arlene Stevens, his widow, on Wednesday.

"People have to realize how serious this is. They have to protect themselves," she added.

Stevens, a hockey enthusiast with a passion for his dogs, passed away Dec. 30 after becoming infected last summer, possibly during a visit to Saskatchewan.

His death comes four months after an elderly Calgary-area woman became the first person in Alberta to die from the virus in mid-September.

Like Stevens, health officials say the unidentified 74-year-old woman likely contracted West Nile in Saskatchewan.

Although both cases appear to have links to Saskatchewan, the deaths follow a record-setting year for West Nile in Alberta. The province recorded 321 cases of the virus in 2007, eclipsing the previous record in 2003 when there were about 275 cases.

"This unfortunate death underlies the importance of our message," said Howard May, spokesman for Alberta Health. "The single most effective way to reduce the risk is using DEET and personal protection."

Arlene was concerned about West Nile before her husband contracted it, and she even considered whether they should travel to Saskatchewan last summer. But the couple, who used DEET-based mosquito repellent, decided to go to Yorkton -- Stevens' hometown -- for their daughter's 50th birthday.

They left for Yorkton on July 31, returning to Calgary Aug. 9. Six days later, Stevens fell ill with flu-like symptoms. On Aug. 19, Stevens was rushed to hospital with "the worst headache possible," and within three days, he was admitted to intensive care, said his wife.

During his long hospital stay, his family had difficulty communicating with Stevens, who was hard of hearing. They often wrote him notes when they wanted to tell him something. Arlene said her husband had many visitors at the hospital, including his great grandkids and even his two dogs.

"The dogs seemed to know. They were perfect," she said.

Stevens didn't remember getting the mosquito bites that ultimately claimed his life. Arlene said it isn't clear if he was bitten in Saskatchewan or back in Calgary, but health officials suspect he contracted the virus during his trip.

In most cases, people who contract West Nile exhibit no symptoms and often learn they are carrying it after donating blood.

Those who do become ill may experience headaches, fever, chills and swollen lymph glands.

Serious cases can develop into the potentially-deadly West Nile Neurological Syndrome.

"Oftentimes, in West Nile Neurological Disorder, the risk increases with age and other health issues," said Bruce Conway, a spokesman at Calgary Health Region.

A memorial service for Stevens is planned for Saturday.

mlang@theherald.canwest.com

© The Calgary Herald 2008