Pumpkin Patch Scare: One Mom’s Viral Health Warning For Parents

When a California mom visited a pumpkin patch, she had an experience that has affected her life and health for the past two years. After coming home from the traditional fall outing, Jennifer Velasquez began getting red bumps all over her body.

She was also in intense pain. When she got medical treatment, she was diagnosed with Rocky Mountain Fever, a disease spread by ticks.  “I couldn’t walk, my whole body was in pain, my hair fell out, and I almost died,” she wrote in a viral Facebook post. 

Velasquez wanted to warn people who are heading out to pumpkin patches to make sure their bodies are properly covered in order to avoid tick bites. A more appropriate pair of shoes with more coverage would have protected her from a tiny tick that caused her so much distress. “I’m still healing from all this,” she said. “Don’t be dumb and wear flip-flops like me.”

This isn’t something you think of much. Often people associate ticks with being in the woods, but this simply isn’t always the truth. Jennifer isn’t discouraging anyone from going to pumpkin patches or other fun fall activities.

Rather, she just wants people to be properly protected. “Just be sure to cover up when you go, and do a tick check when you get home,” she wrote in the Facebook post below. As you can see, the red bumps were rather severe.

Going to a pumpkin patch isn’t what you would consider being a dangerous activity, but it can be if you aren’t properly covered, as Jennifer Velasquez found out. She is still healing from this experience two long years later!

Symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever include fever, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, fatigue, skin rash, and painful swelling of lymph nodes near the bite. These symptoms can appear three to 14 days after being bitten. The disease can be treated easily with antibiotics if caught early.

Share this to warn other to dress appropriately to protect against tick bites!

Source: KFOR