A two-year-old girl from Kansas is recovering after being bitten by a rattlesnake while on a family vacation in Colorado. Quinn Robertson was admiring horses with her mother, Colleen, when the venomous reptile struck. The snake bit the toddler twice on her leg, causing her to cry out in pain.
Immediate Response
Colleen Robertson recalled the terrifying moment: 'I remember I was holding her hand and when she gave out a little cry, I saw the rattlesnake, quickly grabbed her, and we scanned her body hoping there was nothing on it, and that's when I saw the two bites.' She and her husband, Brett, immediately called 911 as Quinn began vomiting, struggling to breathe, and losing consciousness. First responders airlifted Quinn to a hospital while her parents drove 30 minutes to meet her.
Medical Treatment
Quinn received over 30 vials of anti-venom and a blood transfusion. She is now in recovery but faces night terrors and difficulty walking due to the near-deadly incident. 'It's been extremely hard, and we just tried to stay as positive as we could and take little grasps of hope,' Brett told Fox 4. The family hopes she will improve with occupational and physical therapy.
Emotional Toll
Colleen described the drive to the hospital as 'the hardest, most crushing thing to witness.' Brett noted that their daughter's first three days in the hospital were touch and go, but after her breathing tube was removed, she began to improve. He praised the hospital staff: 'The nurses were amazing, all the staff.'
Homecoming and Future
The family was welcomed home with balloons and decorations after being discharged on Monday. Quinn, who was supposed to be the flower girl at her aunt's wedding, smiled wearing a feathery boa and tiara, though bruises from the bites remained visible. In a few months, Quinn will become a big sister, as her parents are expecting their second child.
Hope for Others
Colleen hopes that Quinn's case can help save other lives. 'Out of this darkness, there's light and beauty that could come from it, and so they're actually using Quinn's case to study to develop new research that will transform the future pediatric snake bites.' A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with mounting medical bills.
