Lyme Aware

Community Mourns The Loss Of Emilee Russell

Emilee Russell, a local six-year-old child who had just finished kindergarten, died last week as the result of a tick bite. The Swannanoa Valley community remembered her bright smile and warm personality as they heard news of her passing. Charlie Russell, battalion chief for the Black Mountain Fire Department, removed the tick from his daughter’s arm on Memorial Day. “It was a small tick, and was just on her arm,” he said. “There was no swelling and no symptoms from the tick bite, but we told her local doctor about the tick bite. The doctor thought Emilee had strep throat, prescribed antibiotics, and said we could take her on a family vacation to Texas, and that she would probably feel good by the time we got there.” Read more.