Gilbert Girl Bounces Back: A Remarkable Recovery After 3 Surgeries and 40 Antivenom Vials for Rattlesnake Bite

The Town of Gilbert is considering implementing wildlife warning signs for residents following a recent and alarming rattlesnake incident.

GILBERT, Ariz. — Seven-year-old Allie Brasfield is on the mend after a frightening encounter with a rattlesnake last month. The second grader suffered a severe bite while walking with her father near Gilbert Regional Park. Complications arose when doctors failed to diagnose her injury for nearly 30 hours, as it showed no visible puncture marks, according to her mother, Amber Brasfield.

“That’s been the biggest shock for us,” said Brasfield, reflecting on the ordeal.

Thanks to three surgeries and an astonishing 40 vials of anti-venom, Allie’s life was spared, alongside her leg. “It’s a miracle how much she’s improved and how there’s been no permanent deficits,” her mother added.

Now recovering, Allie has started physical therapy and has been cleared to resume her favorite activities, such as hiking and wrestling—where she recently secured second place in a tournament.

“It’s a huge blessing and a huge sigh of relief that she’s doing so well,” Brasfield expressed.

The incident raised alarms among members of Gilbert’s Park and Recreation Advisory Board. During an October meeting, board member Florence Daniels advocated for warning signs in the vicinity of the bite. She learned that, because the event occurred on county property, the board lacked the authority to place signs there. Instead, she proposed a Public Service Announcement on social media, aimed at notifying the community about local wildlife.

Brasfield supports this approach, saying, “Even though we’re in the middle of Gilbert, we’re in their habitat.”

As Allie continues to heal, the Brasfield family faces another concern—whether their insurance will cover the staggering $400,000 medical expenses incurred from the rattlesnake bite.