Valley fever challenges woman in ongoing health battle
By Jazmon DeJarnette
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SALINAS, California (KSBW) — Valley fever, a fungal infection caused by inhaling fungus from soil and dirt in certain areas of California, is rising in Monterey County, affecting residents like Lidia Paramo, who has been battling the illness since September of last year.
What began as a routine trip to visit her brother turned into a long health journey for Paramo.
On the way back from that trip, both she and her son fell ill. While her son recovered, Paramo did not.
She underwent numerous diagnoses, ranging from pneumonia to stage 4 cancer.
“That was my reality. For a week, I thought I had stage four cancer. We didn’t know where it was coming from. We didn’t know what was happening. We just didn’t know. I have a young son. He just turned three and just everything that goes through your mind is so scary,” Paramo said.
After continuous misdiagnoses and another trip to the emergency room, Paramo experienced a breakthrough.
“My surgeon comes in and she’s running through the hallways. She’s like, yelling. It’s not cancer. It’s not cancer. She comes in and she’s like, it’s just some, like, some valley fever. And we just, like, we were all crying. Just hugging, just really celebrating,” she said.
However, the relief was short-lived as the fever had disseminated throughout her body due to the delayed diagnosis.
Paramo described her daily struggle: “It looks like a lot of crying. Just being in a lot of pain. It looks like not being able to carry my son right now. You know, I went from going on hikes, going to the beach, doing water activities to now walking from here to my car. That’s a workout.”
“My son is only with me. I’ve struggled a lot with daycare and just things like that. So it’s trying to find out, like, who’s going to take care of my son while I do this,” Paramo added.
The Monterey County Health Department has provided guidance on reducing exposure risk, especially in a region closely tied to agriculture.
“If you do need to be outdoors and it’s dusty and windy, people can choose to wear a well-fitted face covering,” they advised.
Signs of valley fever include increased coughing, shortness of breath, and fever.
Paramo emphasized the importance of understanding others’ struggles: “I don’t look sick. However, just because I don’t look sick doesn’t mean that I’m not. It doesn’t mean that my day isn’t just trying to survive.”
For those experiencing symptoms, it is crucial to visit a doctor promptly.
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