Snakebite Victim Hit with $1.3 Million Medical Bill

A family trip to California turned into a medical nightmare for one Idaho man after a rattlesnake bite left him fighting for his health — and facing a jaw-dropping $1.3 million hospital bill.

Chris Howarth was visiting family in Oroville, California, when he accidentally stepped on a rattlesnake outside on a rainy day. At first, he thought the sharp pain came from thorns in his mother’s garden.

It wasn’t long before he realized something was very wrong.

Howarth had been bitten twice. Soon after, he developed shortness of breath, a numb tongue, and swelling in his lymph nodes. His wife, Jenny Howarth, quickly rushed him to a hospital in Oroville.

Doctors began treating him with antivenom, but his case turned out to be far more serious than expected.

According to Jenny, Chris needed 36 vials of antivenom before the hospital ran out of its supply. He was then transferred by helicopter to Stanford Hospital, where he received 18 more vials.

In all, Chris required 54 rounds of antivenom.

The treatment may have helped save him, but it also came with a staggering price tag.

Jenny said the antivenom alone cost about $13,000 per vial. On top of that, Chris needed transfusions, CT scans, blood work, and other hospital care. Each night at Stanford Hospital cost $61,000, she said in a GoFundMe created to help the family.

The total bill came to $1.3 million before insurance. Jenny said insurance is expected to cover some of the cost, but the family is still bracing for major out-of-pocket expenses.

The GoFundMe is seeking $12,000 to help ease the financial strain and has already raised about $10,000.

Even while Chris was still receiving treatment, the family was worrying about the mounting cost.

Jenny told Need to Know that her husband is now home and about “80%” recovered, but he is still dealing with pain, swelling, and fatigue.

“He still has some soreness and swelling in his leg, which gets worse with more activity,” she said.

“The worst part for him has been the lingering fatigue. He gets exhausted pretty easily,” she added.

Chris initially seemed to be doing better after the bite. But two days later, his condition took a frightening turn, and doctors determined he needed more antivenom.

One of the scariest moments came when he developed DIC, or Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation. The dangerous condition causes the body’s clotting system to go into overdrive, forming small clots throughout the bloodstream.

“The whole incident was pretty scary for our family while he was in the hospital and his condition was so up and down,” Jenny said. “We all got scared one night when he went into DIC. That’s when things got scary.”

Now, the family is grateful Chris is home, but the ordeal has left them shaken.

“We are so glad to have him home and on the up and up,” Jenny said. “We’ve definitely learned not to take our time together as a family for granted. You never know when it can be your last day.”

The medical crisis has also taken a heavy financial toll. Jenny said Chris has not been able to work since May 26 and has used up his paid time off and sick leave.

The family has not received a paycheck from his employer in nearly two months.

“Just knowing we have big medical bills coming and he hasn’t received a paycheck in over seven weeks has us stressed about the future,” Jenny said.

She also thanked the people who have donated to help them through the crisis.

“We are so grateful for those who have donated,” she said.