A family from Kansas has shared their harrowing experience following a rattlesnake bite that left their two-year-old daughter, Quinn, fighting for her life during a trip to Colorado for a wedding. The incident occurred on Memorial Day, shortly after the Robertsons arrived at their rental home in eastern Colorado.
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Colleen and Brett Robertson, parents of Quinn, had just settled into their temporary home when they permitted their daughter to explore the area. A few minutes into their adventure, disaster struck. Colleen recalls hearing Quinn cry out in pain just a short distance from the property and, upon instinctively looking down, saw the snake that had bitten her. The moment was both terrifying and surreal, particularly for Colleen, who was eight months pregnant at the time.
Immediately, Colleen scooped Quinn into her arms and noticed two distinct bite marks on her leg. In a panic, she rushed back to the house, urging Brett to call for emergency assistance. “It was the scariest feeling,” Brett shared, reflecting on how quickly their little girl changed from lively to lethargic. “Just a couple of minutes before, she was running around and jumping,” he added, visibly shaken by the experience.
The family’s remote location posed significant challenges. Situated about ten miles from the nearest highway and around 45 minutes from Colorado Children’s Hospital, Quinn’s condition deteriorated rapidly. Colleen described the plight of her daughter as her breathing became shallow and she lost consciousness. In a powerful moment of parental desperation and love, she began performing CPR in the driveway while anxiously awaiting help.
Emergency services arrived approximately 30 minutes later, but time was still of the essence. The family learned that Quinn required airlifting to ensure she received the antivenom she urgently needed. “They said the best chance for her survival was a five-to-ten-minute flight in the helicopter,” Colleen noted, expressing gratitude that they made the right choice considering the gravity of the situation.
Upon arrival at the hospital, medical staff began an intense two-hour effort to stabilise Quinn. Her condition required a staggering 30 vials of antivenom, alongside a blood transfusion and insertion of a breathing tube. The situation was critical, and the Robertsons spent the next three days in a state of constant worry, praying for their daughter’s recovery.
In a glimmer of hope, two days after the incident, the medical team successfully removed Quinn’s breathing tube. Colleen described the moment as “the best feeling I’ve ever had” when her daughter opened her eyes for the first time. The relief was palpable, and Quinn was later moved to the recovery floor.
In a touching turn of events, the Robertsons’ family staged a makeshift wedding ceremony in the hospital just days after the snake bite, allowing Quinn to fulfil her role as a flower girl. With her flower crown perched atop her head, she was delighted to be pulled down the aisle in a little red wagon by her father. Colleen expressed how, for Quinn, it felt like she was still part of the wedding celebration.
After nearly a week in the hospital, Quinn was finally discharged, but her recovery journey is far from over. While she has made significant progress, she continues to experience lingering effects from the bite, walking with a limp and dealing with nightmares. Her parents understand that the road ahead – involving physical therapy and ongoing medical assessments – will be challenging.
Brett, ever the supportive father, highlighted the importance of their community, expressing their gratitude for the overwhelming support they have received. “We’re definitely leaning on them and each other, just grateful that we got to make a trip back with all three of us,” he mentioned, appreciating the love surrounding them.
Furthermore, through a GoFundMe campaign, the family has raised nearly £70,000 to aid in Quinn’s recovery. Colleen expressed her astonishment at the generosity shown by strangers and the wider community. “We were blown away by just how much people have stepped in to support Quinn,” she said, reflecting the bittersweet journey the family has undergone.
As the Robertsons continue to heal, they remain hopeful and grateful for their daughter’s life, cherishing the laughter and joy that Quinn, with her courageous spirit, still brings to their family.