A Texas mother has recounted how she lost her ability to walk after stepping outside for a cigarette.
Carmen Patin was taking a brief break at her home in Wichita Falls, Texas.
As she was returning inside after smoking a cigarette, her legs suddenly gave out beneath her.
Her husband quickly took the 53-year-old to the hospital, where she remained for 12 days.
Speaking about the sudden onset of her symptoms, she told KFDX: “I literally was paralyzed.”
She continued: “I couldn’t hardly move; I couldn’t think, I couldn’t speak. I mean, I was totally out of it, and just like my legs were completely incapacitated.”
Now confined to a wheelchair, Carmen requires daily assistance in the hospital.
She explained: “I have to have help to go into the bathroom. I have to have help getting dressed. I have to have help getting in and out of bed.”
But what exactly caused this?
Initially, doctors treated Carmen for meningitis, but further tests on her spine revealed otherwise.
Unfortunately, it was discovered that she had contracted West Nile virus.
This disease, spread by mosquito bites, leads to West Nile Fever.
While most cases present mild symptoms, some patients experience severe effects, including paralysis.
Carmen has since been moved to Encompass Health Rehab Hospital, where she receives treatment from physical and occupational therapists.
She lamented: “I had a big garden in my backyard; we have an above-ground swimming pool and things like that. I’ve got seven grandkids, you know, and I can’t do any of that now.”
Now, Carmen aims to raise awareness about the dangers of mosquito bites and encourages people to take basic protective measures.
She stated: “I thought it was some, you know, little virus you get. You get a little sick or flu-like symptoms, and, you know, you’ll be fine.”
“But that wasn’t the case with me.”
In 2024, Texas reported 18 cases of West Nile virus, the highest number in the US.
Nationwide, there have been 103 cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The disease is primarily spread through mosquito bites, and there is currently no vaccine available for humans.