A mother named Stephanie shares her son’s story in order to warn other parents of the dangers of ticks, small blood-sucking bugs which spread diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. They can also cause allergic reactions, pain and swelling, a burning sensation, blisters, and shortness of breath.

Stephanie started her story by saying that her son, Collin, went to bed all smiles. He’s a joyful young boy who loves running around and playing all sorts of games. The next morning, however, when she entered his room, he resembled a completely different person. He wouldn’t move and was only staring at her.

She panicked and dialed her husband Dillon’s number. Collin was taken to the closest hospital. He was paralyzed, and no one knew what caused it. Collin was transferred to a larger hospital after he was unable to eat or drink and his oxygen levels continued to fall.

Doctors performed numerous tests before determining the cause. A tick bit the boy and began sucking his blood. He could have died of a heart attack if they had arrived later. Collin returned to normal after they removed the tick. The paralysis was caused by the bug’s saliva, according to doctors.