In coma, receiving experimental drug
Riley, an honors student who has qualified for the Junior Olympics three times in cross country, is in a medically-induced coma after contracting Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) as a result of amoeba Naegleria fowleri. Doctors believe the amoeba entered through his nose and got into his brain when he jumped into a lake at the Sam Houston National Forest on Aug. 13. A week later, Riley developed a fever and headache, and his mother took him to a local clinic. which sent him home. A few days later, his symptoms got worse. He was disoriented, with a fever, severe headache and neck pain similar to symptoms of meningitis. His parents took him to Texas Children’s Hospital, where doctors recognized the condition from having recently treated another case in the area. His family says he is now receiving an experimental drug that was used to save Kali Hardig.