East Texas woman partially paralyzed after West Nile Virus [Video]

LONGVIEW, Texas — Lacy Sturgeon never knew her daily routine of sitting outside after work would change her life forever.

“You don’t think of West Nile being a thing anymore, and definitely don’t think that a mosquito bite would cause you to have a paralysis,” Sturgeon said.

Sturgeon was diagnosed with West Nile Meningitis in mid-September, and the virus caused swelling in the lining of her brain and her spine, damaging a nerve that left her paralyzed from her spine down to her right leg.

“It’s really hard. Both my kids have to take care of me. I’m very well just stuck in my room,” Sturgeon said. 

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, as of Oct. 1, there have been 65 reported cases of the West Nile virus in Texas. …