Addy, a 3-year-old in Santa Clarita, was bitten on her left hand by a Southern Pacific rattlesnake hidden beneath an Amazon padded envelope. She received three doses of antivenom and spent two nights in a pediatric ICU before beginning recovery. Her parents launched a GoFundMe to help cover medical bills and lost wages. Officials note several recent rattlesnake incidents in California and remind the public to be cautious when handling packages and encountering snakes.
Father Issues Warning After 3-Year-Old Bitten By Rattlesnake Hidden Inside Amazon Package
A Santa Clarita father has issued a stark warning after his 3-year-old daughter, Addy, was bitten by a Southern Pacific rattlesnake concealed beneath a padded Amazon mailing envelope.
Young Addy in the hospital Gofundme
According to Manuel Barajas, Addy reached for what she thought was a gift and was bitten on her left hand. Her mother, Lynn, rushed her to meet firefighters and an ambulance in a nearby grocery store parking lot. Addy received an initial dose of antivenom at a local hospital and was then transferred to a facility with a pediatric intensive care unit for further treatment.
Pictures of Addy can be seen in the GoFundMe Gofundme
Doctors administered two additional doses of antivenom and Addy spent two nights in the hospital as she recovered. Manuel, who was out of town on a work trip when it happened, flew home immediately to be with Lynn and their daughter.
A picture of Addy and what appears to be her father, Manuel Gofundme
"We are doing everything we can to support Addy's healing, but the costs are overwhelming," Manuel wrote on the family's GoFundMe page, asking for help to cover medical bills and lost wages after missing work to care for his daughter.
The family launched a GoFundMe that had raised $200 toward a $4,500 goal at the time of the update. Antivenom, pediatric ICU care and time away from work have placed significant financial strain on the family.
Addy's family is struggling to pay for her medical bills Gofundme
Context And Safety Notes
California has seen several serious rattlesnake incidents this year. Reports include a 25-year-old man who died after a rattlesnake bite while mountain biking in Irvine, a visitor bitten twice who required 54 vials of antivenom and faced extraordinarily high medical costs, and a hiker who died in Ventura County in March. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 people in the U.S. are bitten by venomous snakes each year, with roughly five fatalities annually.
Addy is only 3-years-old Gofundme
Officials urge caution: inspect packages before allowing children to handle them, keep a safe distance from any snake, and contact local animal control or emergency services if you encounter a venomous snake. Prompt medical attention is critical after any suspected venomous bite.
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