Menifee girl contracts West Nile

By: KELLY BRUSCH - Staff Writer | Saturday, October 23, 2004 9:58 PM PDT ∞

MENIFEE ---- Retired Marine Doug Miller and his family were required to relocate often throughout his career, many times to tropical locales and foreign countries, he said.

With all the moves, he never imagined his daughter would contract a virus that would leave her paralyzed while living in such a quiet, Southern California suburb as Menifee.

Lauren Miller, 13, became sick with West Nile virus in August and spent seven weeks in the hospital. She initially was transported to Inland Valley Medical Center, and then taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center about a week later, where doctors determined that Lauren's encephalitis, or swelling of the brain, was related to West Nile.

The virus usually is spread to humans through mosquitoes, health officials say. County health officers say there is no vaccine or cure for the virus. West Nile virus has affected 102 people in Riverside County so far, and taken two lives, according to health officials.

Although Lauren did get a few mosquito bites about a week before she started feeling ill, her mother, Bonnie Miller, said she hadn't been worried.

On Aug. 16, Lauren had a headache, then her speech started slurring, her walk was uneven and she felt weak on her left side, her mother said from the family's Menifee home in a recent interview.

After a few more days, Lauren couldn't swallow or talk. The popular, athletic teenager was never one to spend too much time indoors, Doug Miller said. Now, the family must find ways to pay for items such as specially equipped wheelchairs and a van with the capability of holding such equipment.

Doctors aren't sure how completely Lauren may recover, or how long it will take. They just know it will take time, he said.

The Menifee Valley Middle School student had been involved with gymnastics, she helped teach a tumbling class to younger children and she participated in cheerleading. Lauren was always on the go, her mom said.

"She was everybody's friend," she said. "I don't think there was anybody who didn't like her."

Lauren used to be able to communicate with hand signals, and the family and physical therapists are working on getting those skills back, Bonnie Miller said.

The family isn't in this struggle alone ---- support has been coming from every direction, she said. Friends organized a car wash that netted more than $6,000. Employees from a local Albertson's store donated almost $800 in addition to donations from friends and the community.

"We were overwhelmed at the amount of donations," she said. "There have been so many people who have been helping."

Letters of support, cards and posters also have been pouring in. The living room is a showcase of balloons, and posters signed by neighbors, friends and loved ones. Having moved so often, Lauren has friends around the country, her father said. A big red paper heart is taped to the wall from children she helped at the dance studio. Another homemade card is from friends in Michigan. Lauren also has received some stuffed monkeys, her favorite animal.

As soon as the community heard about Lauren's illness, people were eager to help in whatever way they could, said Lesa Sobek, a reading coordinator at Chester Morrison Elementary School. There, Sobek taught Lauren in a reading program for two years.

Sobek enlisted the help of friends and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Menifee to help organize a car wash, held Oct. 16. The Miller's neighbors helped spread the word, and volunteered at the fund-raiser, along with a teacher from Menifee Valley Middle School who brought several students and members of the Paloma Valley High School football team.

The fund-raiser was held in the parking lot at Albertson's grocery store. According to store manager Paul Rodriguez, people were driving up with spotless cars, writing checks for $40, and then driving away. Cars were lined up 10 deep waiting to get washed.

"That was the most successful car wash I've ever seen in my life," he said.

Sobek said Washington Mutual bank in Sun City also sent employees to help that day.

"The community just pulled together," she said. "Everyone has wanted to do something nice. The love that people have shown has helped (the Millers) through this difficult time."

Contact staff writer Kelly Brusch at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2626, or kbrusch@californian.com.

West Nile virus information

The disease first appeared in this country in 1999 on the East Coast and has since spread to 47 states.

In 2003, more than 9,800 cases and 264 deaths were reported nationwide, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

West Nile virus has affected 102 people in Riverside County so far, and taken two lives, but health officials say they expect the mosquito-borne virus to spread more slowly through the county's 1.8 million population in the coming year. The disease is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes that have bitten infected animals, primarily birds, officials say.

Since there are no cures for the virus, people should protect themselves from being bitten. They should avoid spending time outdoors at dusk and dawn, and wear insect spray containing DEET, which repels mosquitoes.

The California Department of Health Services has established a West Nile virus hotline at (877) 968-2473. Residents can report sightings of dead birds that might have contracted the disease, or obtain information on the virus.

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