It's officially tick season, which means parents in suburban and rural areas need to be especially vigilant when their kids come in from playing outdoors all day. So when Kentucky mom Kayla Oblisk found a tick on her 2-year-old son Jackson's neck recently, she was concerned — but had no idea that the tiny mite, no bigger than a few millimeters, would bring her son to the brink of death.
As Oblisk later told Good Morning America, she didn't initially think anything was wrong, until little Jackson spiked a 105-degree fever.
When she noticed tiny red spots sprouting up all over her son's body, she took him to the doctor, but they were sent home after being told there was nothing to worry about.
"We were told it's a viral rash, it's going to go away, you just have to wait it out, there's really nothing we can do," Oblisk told WHAS.
But it wasn't going away, and soon, little Jackson began to lose interest in food and became so lethargic he could hardly move.
"We couldn't get him to do anything," she said, "[and] when you touched him he screamed."
Finally, the tiny 2-year-old was rushed to the hospital.
Once there, doctors delivered a diagnosis to Oblisk she'd never heard of before: Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF).
According to Mayo Clinic, RMSF is a rare yet severe bacterial infection carried by ticks. And even though many of those infected become ill within a few days of being bitten, others often don't show symptoms for up to 14 days afterward. Symptoms include extreme fever and rash, as Jackson experienced, as well as headaches — and it can be deadly if left untreated.
In Jackson's case, the timing of his arrival at the hospital couldn't have been more crucial.
"I had learned that you usually see death on day eight as that's when organs start to fail," his mother told GMA.
Remarkably, the day Jackson was rushed to the hospital was day seven. But even though he made it safely into medical care, the little boy was about to have a tough battle ahead.
The toddler fell into a coma shortly after entering the hospital, and would remain asleep for nearly a week before waking.
"I didn't know if I was ever going to see my kid's face again but he had woken up," Oblisk told GMA of the moment her son opened his eyes on Friday.
He picked a good day to wake up, though. According to his mom, Friday also happened to be his second birthday.
Yet although the Oblisks are overjoyed at their boy's recovery, they're also left facing some pretty daunting medical bills.
A friend has since set up a GoFundMe page to help the family, which not only details Jackson's medical journey but also sheds light on just how beloved the 2-year-old is to everyone who knows him.
"He is the smartest and sweetest boy, and loves The Greatest Showman," the page reads. "He started potty training himself 3 months ago and sings and dances as he cleans up his toys and laundry."
The page is seeking a donation goal of $15,000, and to date has brought in just more than $1,500.
An update on Oblisk's Facebook page Tuesday provided some happy news: Day by day, Jackson is improving.
"He is very very alert today and talking some!" she wrote. "Nothing like before but better than he had. And yesterday he tried to get off the chair by himself and walk!!! He can't put much weight on his feet and almost instantly started crying but he wants it!! Thats what matters!"
The proud mama also shared that he's been eating "a TON of Slim Jims" (which have somehow become his favorite new food), and has been enjoying watching movies while sitting in his wagon alongside his grandpa.
"We are getting better every day," she continued. "We had another fever last night but it was not as high as they have been."
There will be some rehab involved in Jackson's treatment plan, but as of now, the family is looking forward to seeing him get discharged soon from Norton Children's Hospital, where he's been staying for the last few weeks.
Here's to little Jackson's swift recovery and continued support for the Oblisk family, who have no doubt been through an emotional roller coaster. His illness is a stark reminder that you can never be too safe during tick season.
