Going to a water park might be considered a special treat for most kids, but unfortunately for one girl in Arkansas, her recent visit turned into a horror movie-esque nightmare. After arriving home, the twelve-year-old, Kali Hardig, reportedly started vomiting and complaining of a headache. The next day, her mother took her to a local emergency room, where she was promptly diagnosed with parasitic meningitis.
According to Fox News, doctors are speculating that at some point during her water park visit, an amoeba known as the Naegleria fowleri swam up her nose and attempted to start eating her brain. Doctors haven’t released a prognosis for the poor girl, but we do know they intentionally placed her in a coma in order to try and stabilize the situation.
Here’s a look at the water park’s official statement following the horrifying news…
“We have received new information regarding Naegleria fowleri, and have elected to close the park as of July 25 at the request of the Arkansas Department of Health. Though the odds of contracting Naegleria are extremely low, they are just not good enough to allow our friends or family to swim. For the thousands of people who love Willow Springs, we will be taking this time to determine the feasibility of installing a solid bottom to the lake. We will not ever reopen as a sand bottom lake. We covet your prayers and our Willow Springs family will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.”
Back in 2010, there was another appearance of the same brain eating amoeba in Arkansas. At the time, some of the doctors speculated it may have been related to the water park, but it was never proven. With poor Kali’s condition, however, there now seems an overwhelming likelihood this particular lake at the water park is the problem. As such, it definitely sounds like it’s the right idea to close and look into the costs related to making sure similar incidents never happen again.
There’s a reasonable amount of disgustingness one naturally expects when heading to a water park. Thousands of people can’t splash around in the same pool for hours a day without some germs getting passed around and some unsavory acts happening. That being said, there is most certainly an expectation of avoiding serious injury. If swimmers were getting crushed to death in the wave pool or falling out of slides, the whole thing would seem a lot less fun. Right now, there’s no reason to think any other water parks are at risk for Naegleria fowleria flare-ups, but if we hear anything along those lines, we’ll be sure to let you know. Until then, keep little Kali in your thoughts and prayers. She’s going to need every last ounce of fight she has in her.
Image Credit: Shutterstock/ Beth Swanson
