In spring, after his 2nd birthday, Brigland Pfeffer was bitten by a rattlesnake while playing in his San Diego backyard. His mother, Lindsay, called 911, and Brigland was taken to Palomar Medical Center, where his hand was swollen and purple. Emergency room staff struggled to insert an IV for antivenom treatment. After unsuccessful attempts, they used a procedure to administer the antivenom Anavip directly into Brigland’s bone marrow. He was later transferred to Rady Children’s Hospital for further treatment. After a few days, he was discharged, but the family faced a staggering medical bill of $297,461, with the antivenom alone costing over $213,000.
Toddler’s Backyard Snakebite Bills Totaled More Than a Quarter Million Dollars
