Radiothon to be Held for Hould on Thursday from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Tuning your radio into KMMR-Malta 100.1 on Thursday, May 4, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., will give you a chance to help Corine Hould, a Malta citizen who has been fighting complications due to the West Nile Virus.

The following is a story sent to the PCN last week.

Corine first had difficulty walking; she was having reoccurring falls with numbness in her legs.

Her initial hospitalization was in Great Falls in May of 2020 where she received a diagnosis of West Nile. When you combine that hospital stay with her rehabilitation stay, she was an inpatient in Great Falls for about two months following her diagnosis.

West Nile virus is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes then spread West Nile virus to people and other animals by biting them. West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. 

There are no vaccines to prevent, or medications to treat, WNV in people. Fortunately, most people infected, 8 out of 10 people with WNV do not feel sick. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.

Corine’s serious experience with this disease itself has been mostly neurological but the side effects from her treatments is where the majority of her issues have been since diagnosis. These side effects have led her to many doctors, including neurologists, cardiologists, oncologists, dentists, kidney specialists, liver specialists, dermatologists and more.

Corine had two mercy flights in 2020 and 2021, add that to the countless doctor's trips between Billings, Havre, Great Falls and Salt Lake City. It has greatly impacted their life. Not only are Scott & Corine trying to keep up with her health concerns, but they are also trying to keep up with their family ranch, and their two young daughters, all while trying to stay on top of both of their immediate family’s health concerns as well.

Corine is scheduled for her sixth trip to Salt Lake City in a month, where she’ll meet with her dermatologist, neurologist, cardiologist, oncologist, Kidney Specialist, and last but not least her Liver Specialist to determine the state of her liver and decide if she will in fact, need a liver transplant.

Scott stated, “At this point, we are just rolling with the punches and taking it day by day. It’s all up in the air and we aren’t sure what to expect next.” From May of 2021 to current day, Corine has had four months of hospitalizations, her most current flare-up occurred in November and they are still dealing with the many effects of that. Salt Lake City will hopefully bring some answers to let them know what punches they need to prepare for next.

In addition to the KMMR radiothon, there is a Medical Fund Account at First State Bank.