FT. GIBSON, Okla. -- A Green Country family hospitalized after E. coli exposure at campground.
"I never ever expected two weeks at the lake to turn into who knows how long at the hospital,” said Brittanie McClain, mother of the family.
But the family’s summer lake vacation turned into extended medical care.
Two girls, their mother and grandmother, fell ill with a dangerous E. coli bacterial infection.
The family is still trying to comprehend what happened here at Ft. Gibson Lake.
"It was just a bunch of kids and moms and dads playing in the water, feeding geese, fishing, boats, you know the whole thing," said Brittanie. "We had a good time until the end.”
The McClain-Plunk family was having a blast at Flat Rock Campground.
Those last days at the campsite the family started to get sick.
"It’s taken a real toll," said Blaine Plunk, father of the family. "Going back and forth to work from here trying to stay here making sure that upstairs she’s good to go. Seeing her go through everything she’s been through, seeing my mother-in-law go through everything she’s been through.”
Their little girls - Paisley and Presley - Brittanie and her mother all coming down with E. coli.
Brittanie thinks their kids may have taken a small sip of the lake water.
"My 3-year-old is actually in the PICU right now with some acute kidney failure and a little bit of anemia,” said Brittanie.
2 Works for You spoke with the Army Corps of Engineers and they say when they first learned about this incident they sent rangers to the campground site. At this point they believe its an isolated incident.
The Corps says it does regular testing for E. coli and other bacteria at swim beaches, but says none of the shoreline at Flat Rock is a designated swim beach.
They recommend people always take steps to limit exposure no matter where you are on the lake.
"You should come out, you should wash your hands before eating, don’t put your hands in your mouth — try to keep the water out of your mouth in general,” said Brannen Parrish, of the Corps.
Now, the family is just waiting for their daughter to come home.
"I want to make sure that the word’s out about the E. coli," said Blaine. "Make sure no child has to go through what I’ve seen mine go through.”
Check lake conditions at:
https://www.travelok.com/state-parks/lake-conditions
The family is asking for help with their daughter’s medical costs.
GoFundMe for McClain family:
https://www.gofundme.com/2uh6t-prayers-for-paisley
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