10
Loading video...
By Daniella Gray
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
A mom has shared the terrifying ordeal that unfolded after her 9-year-old was stung by a scorpion.
Moira Cappellino, who lives in Gilbert, told Newsweek that the incident happened when her daughter Nova was cleaning out a backpack that had been sitting in her bedroom closet.
She suddenly cried out, saying something had stung her finger.
Read More on Family & Parenting
...
"At first, we weren’t sure what had happened or what had caused it because we couldn’t find the culprit," Moira said. "We considered that it could have possibly been a bee sting, but as her symptoms progressed, we quickly realized it was something more serious."
The family had moved into their home only a month earlier and had already spotted several scorpions.
Although they had occasionally encountered scorpions at their previous home, Moira said she had never witnessed a serious reaction to a sting before.
Initially believing Nova might be having an allergic reaction, Moira gave her children's Benadryl. But within minutes, the situation escalated dramatically.
"Her pain rapidly progressed from her finger up to her elbow on the affected arm," Moira explained. "She then told me her mouth was burning, she began drooling excessively and was unable to swallow water."
After researching common symptoms of scorpion stings and recognizing that Nova's condition matched what she was reading, Moira rushed her daughter to urgent care, especially as Nova has a history of asthma.
"As a mother, it was terrifying watching her symptoms change so quickly," the mom said. "Within minutes, she went from having pain in her finger to experiencing symptoms throughout her body."
Doctors at urgent care administered a steroid but advised the family to go straight to the emergency room as the burning sensation continued spreading.
When they arrived at the hospital, Nova was taken in immediately.
Moira said hospital staff struggled to obtain a reliable pulse reading as Nova's oxygen saturation remained in the 80 percent range—well below the mid-to-high 90s typically expected in healthy children—and her lips began turning blue.
She captured her daughter's eyes moving uncontrollably in a clip on TikTok @muevete.moira, as Nova told her she could hear her, but only see a bright white light.
Doctors determined that Nova was having a severe reaction to the scorpion venom and ordered emergency treatment, including antivenom, oxygen support and breathing treatments.
"Watching my daughter struggle to breathe was one of the most frightening moments of my life," Moira said.
After about six hours in the emergency room, Nova was stable enough to return home. Though she experienced facial swelling for several days afterward, she has since made a full recovery.
Looking back, Moira hopes other parents will trust their instincts if something seems wrong.
"Pay attention to symptoms, don’t dismiss changes that seem unusual, and seek medical care if your child’s condition is worsening," she said.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Sirena Bergman and Gray R. Thomas
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines