The first victim of West Nile virus in Tarrant County this year was a retired Arlington pastor who was active and "full of life," his family said Tuesday.
Richard "Dick" Lord, 82, had diabetes but overall was in good health until he started feeling sick on July 4, said his longtime wife, Janice Lord.
"He was so full of life in every way and he went through 12 days of hell to be able to leave us," she said.
He ended up going to the emergency room at Arlington Memorial Hospital. But at first, doctors weren't sure what was wrong.
"I'm thinking these are great doctors, and they are going to figure it out and get him fixed," Janice Lord said. "I never thought about it being that (West Nile virus) or killing him."
Then, as his condition worsened, doctors discovered he had West Nile, the virus passed on by mosquitoes.
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"A wonderful, wonderful person like him should not have to suffer in that way from a disease that we can figure out how to control," Janice Lord said. "We've got to keep after it."
The active man his wife knew, who read a book a week, became paralyzed. He was unable to squeeze her hand.
He died on Sunday.
"Anyone you love with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, for them to go through that kind of suffering, I can't give you the words for what it's like," his wife said.
Janice Lord said she wants her husband's death to raise awareness of West Nile.
She urged people to wear repellent and get rid of standing water around their homes. She also said she supports genetic research of mosquitoes.
"It's a stupid thing for a little old mosquito to end a man's life that was as precious as his," she said.
Richard Lord founded Rush Creek Christian Church in Arlington in 1978 and was pastor for 28 years.
His funeral will be held July 20 at 10:30 a.m. at University Christian Church in Fort Worth.
- Dress in long sleeves, pants when outside: For extra protection, spray thin clothing with repellent.
- DEET: Make sure this ingredient is in your insect repellent.
- Drain standing water in your yard and neighborhood: Mosquitoes can develop in any water stagnant for more than three days.
It has been recommended in the past that to avoid mosquito bites you should avoid being outdoors during Dusk and Dawn (the 4 Ds). While this is true for mosquitoes that commonly carry the West Nile virus, other types of mosquitoes that are more likely to carry Zika, dengue and chikungunya are active during the day. When outdoors, no matter what time of day, adjust your dress accordingly and wear insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus as your first line of defense against insect bites.
