FL Boy Bedbound, Unable To Walk After Water Moccasin Bite

JACKSONVILLE, FL — A Florida boy is recovering from a venomous snake bite that nearly took his life and landed him in the intensive care unit at a children's hospital for several days.

A water moccasin, also known as a cottonmouth, bit 7-year-old Elijah Bustamante under his left knee outside his home in Green Cove Springs on June 3, according to his mother, Sanita Bustamante.

“I was in the backyard playing, and I was going to pick up a rock and the snake jumped out and bit me,” her son told News4Jax.

Following the snake bite, he was rushed to Wolfson Children's Hospital in downtown Jacksonville where every effort was made to save his life.

"Elijah went into shock in the ER and develop swelling on his scrotum, swelling on his whole left leg down to the ankle, his body became as hot as an oven, and his leg became as hard as a rock with black and blue discoloration," his mother posted to a GoFundMe page she created for her son to help pay for his medical bills.

His mother said her son was given morphine, Tylenol and seven bags of antivenin to stabilize him and help with the pain. Elijah was also unable to eat or drink for several days and had to get a feeding tube.

But with each passing day, his condition improved. He was released from the hospital this week but still has a long road ahead of him, his mother said.

"Elijah is still currently bedbound and still has swelling on his left leg where he was bit, is unable to walk, and will have to have physical therapy for a while to gain muscle strength to learn to walk," Sanita said.

Because her son currently requires 24-hour care, Sanita said she's had to leave her job to help him recover and learn how to walk again. So far, her GoFundMe page has raised over $2,000. To donate, click this link.

Only six of Florida's 44 snake species are venomous, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The water moccasin is one of them.

They are generally found throughout Florida in wet areas, including streams, lakes, marshes, swamps, retention ponds, and roadside ditches, although they can wander far from water, wildlife experts say.

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.