In 2004, when I was 15, I had a life-changing encounter with a frightened bat during a Sunday service at my church in Wisconsin. Little did I know, this bat would alter the course of my life forever. Instead of simply observing, I decided to take action.
The bat was frantically flying around the church, desperately trying to escape through the stained glass windows. Churchgoers attempted to swat it away with their hats, and eventually, someone successfully hit it, causing it to fall to the floor in a daze. Being an animal enthusiast, I asked my mom for permission to release it outside, and she agreed.
As I stepped outside, I spotted a suitable resting spot for the bat on a pine tree. However, before I could reach it, the bat bit down hard on my finger. The resulting puncture mark may have been small, but it oozed blood and caused excruciating pain.
When we returned home, my mother cleaned the wound with antiseptic. We informed others about the incident, and while they found it unusual, nobody could have predicted the severity of what was to come.
Three weeks later, an extreme fatigue began to overwhelm me. Soon after, I found myself bedridden, experiencing double vision and uncontrollable bouts of vomiting. As my condition worsened, I became unresponsive.
My regular doctor referred me to a neurologist, who conducted a CT scan in search of meningitis or Lyme disease. Despite finding no evidence of these conditions, they sent me home. However, my parents decided to take me to the hospital just two days later, on a Saturday, as my symptoms remained unchanged.
After further scans were performed, I was rushed to a specialist children’s hospital. The doctors took samples of my skin and spinal fluid to further investigate my condition.
By Tuesday, the shocking diagnosis was confirmed – I had contracted rabies. This was considered a near-certain death sentence, as no one had ever survived rabies without receiving a vaccine. My parents were faced with an impossible decision – should they leave me to die in the hospital or take me home? They were devastated, caught off-guard by the swift progression of events.
The paediatrician attending to my case scoured the internet in a desperate search for an alternative solution. He proposed a groundbreaking experiment that had never been attempted before. Driven by desperation, my parents agreed without hesitation.
Once I emerged from the coma, I attempted to scream, but no sound escaped my lips. I had lost the ability to walk, talk, sit up, or perform even the most basic tasks.
Rabies infiltrates the body by traveling through the nerves and spinal cord and eventually reaching the brain, where it begins shutting down bodily functions. The doctor’s plan was to induce a coma to suppress my brain function, slowing the virus’s progress. This would allow my immune system more time to combat the infection.
On October 10th, I entered a medically-induced coma. Throughout this ordeal, my illness was so severe that I have no recollection of anything beyond the initial onset of symptoms. I have pieced together the events from accounts provided by others. My memory only returns two weeks later, after awaking from the coma. However, I was unable to speak or move. It took me two months to regain the ability to walk unassisted, and two years before I no longer required any assistance.
Due to my unique recovery without a vaccination, the media attention surrounding my case was immense. I became a global sensation, with film crews meticulously documenting my journey to recovery. The overwhelming support from my family, doctors, and letters from individuals worldwide provided much-needed encouragement.
Although I still experience nerve damage, I have made significant progress since then. Several other people have also survived rabies using the same experimental treatment. While not every case has yielded positive results, it is astounding that there is now hope for those afflicted with a disease once deemed incurable without vaccination. I am overjoyed to have played a role in this remarkable change.
This experience has inspired me to raise awareness about the dangers of rabies, so that no one else has to endure a similar ordeal. I actively collaborate with charities to achieve this goal. Presently, I am a mother of three and work at a children’s museum. Despite everything, my love for animals remains unwavering. I continue to volunteer with bat conservation groups – although a bat nearly cost me my life, I believe it is my duty to protect theirs.
As recounted to Elizabeth McCafferty
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