West Nile Virus Sidelines Local Teen

14-year-old Arlington teen recovering from illness.

The Conner family never thought they’d have to worry about West Nile, hearing about older folks and infants being at risk.

That was until, 14-year old Jordan Conner began displaying symptoms of headaches, nausea and then losing feeling in her legs and fingers.

Conner was rushed to Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth. After a series of tests, her mother Ebonie Conner, said they were told she had the most severe form of the virus, West Nile Mengoencephilitis.

Conner came home Thursday night and has been under the care of her mother and brother.

“West Nile has bitten this family, and in the most unusual way,” said Ebonie Conner.

She is now constantly checking up on her daughter, doing neuro-checks to make sure when she is sleeping she is conscious.

The teen said she thinks she contracted the virus on her own terrace outside their Arlington home.

“I was just dog sitting, babysitting the dog and five mosquitoes bit me in the leg,” said Jordan Conner.

Her mother has a warning to parents, “get bug spray, I never thought about it.”

The family said they are hoping for help with all the medical bills. If you want to contribute, click here for the Ebonie Conner Contribution Account at Woodhaven National Bank.

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