More than a year and a half after a tick bite, MaryAnn Harris still breathes with a ventilator and remains nearly paralyzed.
In 2019, North Carolina Senator Kay Hagan died of Powassan virus several years after being bitten by a tick., commonly known as the deer or black-legged tick, the same vector for Lyme disease. While it takes 24 to 48 hours for a tick to transfer the bacteria that causes Lyme disease to its human host, a person can be infected with Powassan virus in as little as 15 minutes after the tick attaches.
The disease is fatal in 10-15 per cent of cases. There is no cure, nor is there an established treatment beyond normal recuperative therapy. “It’s constantly in her throat and esophagus. She’s stuck on a ventilator and she’s constantly in need of being suctioned,” Charles said. “It’s an exhausting process so we’re not making a whole lot of headway with other stuff. We do exercises every day and she’s really good about it. Even when she’s exhausted she’ll still do it. But it’s just not going very fast because of these secretions.
One fan, Julie Bartel, manages the GoFundMe and posts regular updates on MaryAnn’s progress on social media. Bartel, 52, grew up in tiny Orem, Utah, and as a teenager immersed herself in Charles’s fantasy novels. “It’s hard being friends and being so far away. I’m so grateful that I can give back in some way,” said Bartel. “At least she’s able to talk now.”
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