GILBERT, Ariz. — A Gilbert second grader who suffered a rattlesnake bite is recovering after she went 30 hours before receiving proper treatment.
7-year-old Allie Brasfield spent several days in the hospital. She has had two surgeries and received 40 vials of antivenom, according to her mom Amber Brasfield.
“There was no puncture wounds, no one saw a snake, no one heard a rattle," Brasfield said.
It happened earlier this month when Allie and her dad were walking in Gilbert Regional Park and she fell.
“It didn’t hurt right away," Allie said.
Allie walked home, according to Brasfield, but then she noticed that Allie's ankle looked bruised. Allie's parents took her to the hospital and were told it may be a sprained ankle.
“They said 'everything is fine, go home'," Brasfield said.
When they did, Allie became ill and the bruise on her ankle grew darker and started to crawl up her leg.
“It was very shocking," Brasfield said. “It was just something abnormal, like, you don’t usually start throwing up from a sprained ankle.”
Brasfield claims they went to multiple hospitals where she said doctors conducted multiple scans and x-rays but couldn't figure out what was wrong. Then when they went to Phoenix Children's Hospital, Brasfield said her husband asked if it could be from a rattlesnake bite. She said doctors ran a toxicology report and found there was rattlesnake venom in her blood.
“It was all that much scarier knowing what the reality was," said Allie's older sister Kendra Nadler.
Doctors then rushed the second grader into emergency surgery to treat the 7-year-old more than 30 hours after she was bitten.
“She had multiple blood transfusions and 40 vials of antivenom," Brasfield said.
Brasfield believes the reason why so many vials were needed is because of how long it took to properly treat the bit. In the end, it worked. Allie's life, and her leg, were saved.
"We're very grateful, Phoenix Children's was amazing," Brasfield said.
Allie is now back home and resting. Brasfield said her daughter still can't put weight on the leg or stretch it normally. Allie has another surgery coming up next week and then will undergo physical therapy.
“You can do it, we’re going to get you back playing,” Brasfield said to her daughter.
At the same time, the family is concerned with how much all those vials will cost. Brasfield said their insurance does not cover it and said one vial can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $17,000.
"We are so grateful that they saved her life, that they gave her the antivenom, but it’s very overwhelming to think you might be leaving with a $400,000 bill," Brasfield said.
While they wait to see what happens, the family is focused on Allie's recovery.
The family also has set up a GoFundMe for medical bills. You can find it by clicking here.