A 15-month-old Arizona girl, Cara, is recovering after being bitten twice by a diamondback rattlesnake near her home in Florence. Her foot turned black, and she was rushed to the hospital where doctors have since administered 30 vials of antivenom.
Cara’s mother, Jacquelyn Reed, said she had stepped away briefly to throw away trash when she heard Cara scream. She returned to find her daughter’s foot punctured and a rattlesnake nearby. Cara was rushed to the ER, but a delay in administering antivenom worsened her condition. She began vomiting, fainted, and was later airlifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
There, Cara was intubated due to severe breathing issues. Her vocal cords were swollen shut, requiring oxygen therapy and steroids. Doctors warned that if her condition didn’t improve, surgery might be necessary. Thankfully, Cara began showing signs of recovery.
While she’s now awake and making eye contact, concerns remain about long-term damage to her foot. Her family, grateful she survived, has raised over $17,000 through a GoFundMe campaign. “Cara is a blessing,” her aunt wrote. “We are just thankful she’s still with us and hopeful for full recovery.”
