In a heart-stopping moment during a family vacation in Colorado, a courageous two-year-old girl suffered a rattlesnake bite while she was captivated by the sight of horses. This unexpected encounter unfolded as Quinn Robertson, her parents, and they traveled from Kansas to attend her aunt’s wedding.
Quinn’s mother, Colleen Robertson, shared their story with Fox 4, recounting how a seemingly innocent outing quickly turned perilous. The mother and daughter had stepped outside to admire the nearby horses, unaware that a venomous snake lurked dangerously close.
The tranquil scene turned into a nightmare when the rattlesnake struck, biting the toddler twice on her leg. The sudden attack left young Quinn crying out in pain, prompting Colleen to react swiftly.
“I remember holding her hand when she let out a little cry,” Colleen recalled, describing her horror upon seeing the rattlesnake. “I quickly grabbed her and scanned her body, hoping to find nothing, but then I saw the two bites.”
With urgency, Colleen and her husband, Brett, called 911 as their daughter began to vomit, struggle for breath, and lose consciousness. The parents’ quick actions were crucial as they faced a terrifying ordeal that no family anticipates while enjoying what should have been a joyful celebration.
She and her husband, Brett, immediately called 911 as their child started to vomit, struggle to breathe, and fall unconscious, Colleen recalled.
First responders soon airlifted Quinn to a hospital while her mother and father frantically drove 30 minutes to meet their child.
After more than 30 vials of anti-venom and a blood transfusion, Quinn is in recovery, but she now faces terrifying night terrors and struggles to walk because of the near-deadly incident.
Quinn Robertson, two, was bitten twice by a rattlesnake while on a walk with her mother in Colorado last week
After more than 30 vials of anti-venom and a blood transfusion, Quinn is in recovery, but she now faces terrifying night terrors and struggles to walk because of the near-deadly incident
‘It’s been extremely hard, and we just tried to stay as positive as we could and take little grasps of hope,’ Brett told Fox 4.
They hope she will improve with the help of occupational and physical therapy, Quinn’s parents said.
His wife recalled the absolute terror they both felt driving to meet their little girl at the hospital after she was attacked by the snake.
‘To see your baby girl being carried off by the EMTs, not knowing if you’re going to see her at the end of that drive was the hardest, most crushing thing to witness and you’re just driving, praying. It was so hard in that moment,’ Colleen stated.
Brett recalled their daughter’s first three days in the hospital being touch and go, but after her breathing tube was removed she started to improve.
‘The nurses were amazing, all the staff,’ her father said.
The family were welcomed by balloons and decorations at their home after being discharged from the hospital on Monday.
Quinn was seen smiling with a feathery boa and tiara on their front yard as her bruise from the bites remained visible on her upper leg.
The family were welcomed by balloons and decorations at their home after being discharged from the hospital on Monday
Quinn was supposed to be the flower girl at her aunt’s wedding that day, her mom said
‘It’s good to be home,’ Colleen wrote in a post to Instagram.
Another image showed the smiling family posing in front of their home behind a ‘Welcome home’ banner.
Colleen’s sister, the bride of the wedding they were set to attend, also visited her at the hospital just hours before her big day. Quinn was supposed to be the flower girl, her mom said.
In just a few months time, Quinn will be a big sister as her mother and father are expecting their second child.
Though the snake bite experience was scary, Colleen said she hopes that her daughter’s case can help save other lives.
‘Out of this darkness, there’s light and beauty that could come from it, and so they’re actually using Quinn’s case to study to develop new research that will transform the future pediatric snake bites,’ she explained to the outlet.
In just a few months time, Quinn will be a big sister as her mother and father are expecting their second child
‘Hopefully, through this, Quinn can save more lives and children who’ve been bitten, just based off what the doctors saw in her case.’
A GoFundMe page was also set up to help the family pay for their mounting medical bills.
The fundraiser shared images of Quinn in the hospital when she was receiving medical treatment, as well as pictures of her playing with other children in her bed.
