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Shark attack victim returns to hospital
©Associated Press
© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 23, 2001
PENSACOLA -- An 8-year-old shark attack victim has returned to a hospital and was in stable condition Wednesday after becoming agitated over the weekend from a medication intended to relax his muscles, doctors said.
Jessie Arbogast, who had been recuperating at his home in Ocean Springs, Miss., since Aug. 12, returned to Sacred Heart Children's Hospital by ambulance Monday afternoon, said hospital spokesman Michael Burke. He remains in a light coma and has been unable to communicate.
"Jessie has continued to make slow progress since he went home, and this return to the hospital should not be seen as a significant setback," Dr. Ben Renfroe, a pediatric neurologist, said in a hospital news release.
"Everyone felt it would be best to have him back in the hospital for a few days to do another neurological evaluation and get his medications adjusted."
Burke said the boy remained stable and was expected to return home later this week. He had become agitated after being started on the muscle relaxant.
Jessie suffered massive blood loss and brain injuries from the July 6 attack in the Fort Pickens area of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. A 61/2-foot bull shark bit the boy's thigh and severed his arm, which doctors were able to reattach at Pensacola's Baptist Hospital.
The limb was retrieved from the shark's gullet after Jessie's uncle, Vance Flosenzier, of Mobile, Ala., dragged the predator ashore by its tail.
Jessie was transferred to Sacred Heart a couple of days later and stayed there until returning home.
The boy received a follow-up brain scan Tuesday, Burke said. He said it showed no deterioration.
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