7-yr-old Allie Brasfield was on a walk when she stumbled, 30 hours later she was fighting for her life

Gilbert, Arizona: A 7-year-old girl and her family saw themselves caught int a terrifying situation that left her in critical condition requiring multiple surgeries and extensive medical intervention.

Allie Brasfield, a second grader, was out with her family at Gilbert Regional Park when she fell while jogging alongside a canal. Initially believing she had only sprained her ankle, Alley went home, only to have her leg swell up dramatically and become increasingly painful. Over the next 30 hours, her symptoms worsened, leading to nausea and severe swelling.

Doctors at two emergency rooms initially misdiagnosed her injury, sending her home with no clear understanding of what was wrong. X-rays and initial tests were inconclusive, with no one suspecting what had really happened.

It wasn’t until the next day, when her condition deteriorated, that Alley’s parents rushed her to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. There, specialists determined that Allie had been bitten by a rattlesnake.

Allie was immediately administered more than 40 vials of anti-venom. She also underwent multiple surgeries to reduce swelling and restore blood flow to her leg. Doctors had to act quickly to save her limb, as the venom had caused significant tissue damage.

Her mother Amber opened up about the ordeal: “It was probably one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to go through, seeing your child in so much pain and not being able to do anything about it.”

After spending more than a week in the hospital, Alley is finally back home playing board games with her siblings.

Allie is scheduled for more surgeries and will undergo extensive physical therapy in the coming months. To help with the mounting medical bills and long-term care Allie will need, the Brasfield family has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs. The fund has so far received just over $6,000.

"We’re just so thankful she’s still with us," said her father Keith. 

Yes, snake bite is still a thing 

Approximately 7,000 to 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the US each year, with rattlesnakes accounting for the majority of these bites.

While rattlesnake bites can be serious, fatalities are relatively rare, with an average of about five to six deaths per year. The widespread availability of antivenom has greatly reduced the fatality rate. Not all rattlesnake bites inject venom (a phenomenon known as a 'dry bite'), and around 20-30% of rattlesnake bites are dry. However, when venom is injected, it can cause severe pain, swelling, tissue damage, and other systemic effects.

The majority of rattlesnake bites occur in the southwestern US, particularly in states like Arizona, Texas, and California.

Most bites occur between April and October, when rattlesnakes are more active due to warmer temperatures. During these months, outdoor activities such as hiking and camping are also more common.

The cost of treating a venomous snake bite can be significant, often ranging from $20,000 to over $100,000, depending on the severity of the bite and the amount of antivenom required.