Holding out hope for a cure

In the summer of 2022, everything seemed to be going well for Lisa (Harper) Montez. Along with starting a family, she had a career in technology, was healthy and active and living in the state of Washington.

After returning home from visiting family in Wyoming and Colorado, her health began to decline. With a month, she she knew she had to look for help. After several visits to urgent care with no progress, Montez turned to her primary care doctor. Following a broad scope of laboratory work, the result was a positive test for West Nile Virus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), eight out of ten people infected with West Nile Virus don't develop symptoms. One in five develop a fever with other symptoms including headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. While most people recover completely, fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.

Montez is one of the 1-in-150 people infected who develop a severe illness which affects the central nervous system such as encephalitis-inflammation of the brain-or meningitis, inflammation of the membranes which surround the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. Recovery can take several weeks or months. Some effects to the central nervous system might be permanent.

West Nile Virus is transmitted through a bite from a mosquito infected with the virus by biting an infected bird.

Montez has struggled with the virus since last summer. Before the infection she was healthy and active with a career in technology. Her life has now been turned 180 degrees.

She can no longer enjoy the adventures she went on with her husband and daughter. Her capacity for physical activity is limited and the long-lasting cognitive symptoms have decreased her ability to function in her career. Montez cannot drive a car or perform day-to-day tasks alone including grocery shopping, knitting, reading and keeping up with her daughter. 

Montez first sought out and received care from a team of infectious disease neurology specialists at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in October 2022.  She is now under the ongoing care of a primary care physician, two neurologists, an otolaryngologist, a clinical audiologist, a psychiatrist and a vestibular rehabilitation therapist.

Montez credits the care she is receiving from this team with putting her on the path of recovery and rehabilitation. Since December 2022 she has been undergoing Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) for unilateral vestibulopathy which was likely caused by the West Nile Virus. 

Montez discovered Dr. John Beckham at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Beckham mainly uses flaviviruses such as West Nile virus to complete laboratory-based projects. His laboratory investigates how viruses interact with the host immune system in the periphery and in the brain. The laboratory is working to identify these mechanisms and develop drug therapies or vaccines to treat or prevent viral infections in the nervous system.

Their work has led them to investigate how inflammation may trigger events related to the development of Parkinson's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. 

At the moment, there aren't any treatments or therapies for those infected with West Nile Virus or any of the Flaviviridae viruses. While most people are asymptomatic others, like Montez, find themselves faced with a broad range of long-term symptoms which can last for months or years. Montez said after learning about Beckham and his team's research, and their fight against these viruses, she is inspired and hopeful.

Montez said that she is hopeful this research will not only give doctors and physicians an even greater arsenal of knowledge to fight the viruses but may also mean one day they no longer have to sit across from a patient and say that there are no therapies or treatments available. 

Montez grew up in Saratoga and is the daughter of Ralph and Marilee Harper. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and daughter.

Montez is asking for support for ongoing research by giving to the Anschutz Crowdfunding available on the University of Colorado website.