While most people won't even know if they have the West Nile virus, for one Columbus, Nebraska man, the virus has cost him dearly."I didn't think it would be four years down the road and I would still be in a wheelchair," Dave Shemek said.Even with all that the 66-year-old former car salesman has gone through, he still had a sense of humor as he checked his mailbox recently."No mail. No bills," Shemek said.But a mosquito bite and missed diagnosis nearly four years ago is not a joking matter."I think about that every day. Not only in lost wages, but being able to walk, hear normally," Shemek said.He said he wore insect repellent before mowing the lawn, but a mosquito still bit him on the back of the leg."Something wasn't right. I wasn't sleeping well. Food didn't taste right. I was tired all the time," Shemek said.A neighbor had similar symptoms.He was diagnosed with West Nile.So Shemek went to his doctor."I said, 'Doc, could this be West Nile with these symptoms?' The answer I got from him was, 'Oh God no, 8,000 to one you don't have West Nile," Shemek said.He said the doctor never sent his blood to be tested for West Nile virus.Ten days later, a friend took Shemek to the Columbus hospital with a 102-degree temperature.It wasn't until he was transferred to Omaha and two hospitals later, that he learned he had West Nile virus. "There is a cure for West Nile if you're sharp enough and fast enough to get it tested and get put on enough high doses of antibiotics," Shemek said.Nursing homes and medical bills forced Shemek to cash in his 401(k), which he believes in today's market would be worth over $700,000."All I have is my house. And I'll be darn if they're going to take that," Shemek said.He keeps working to get stronger and vows to walk again."I'm not giving up on walking again. I will walk someday, I hope," Shemek said.He has this message for others:"If you've got a mosquito bite and start feeling those symptoms, get it tested. Make sure you push it." A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Shemek pay for medical bills.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in 150 people who are infected by West Nile virue develop severe illness.Out of those patients, one out of 10 die.So far in Nebraska this year, there are 36 confirmed cases of West Nile virus.Two people have died, one whom was from Douglas County.Health officials said the patient was 65 or older and had other health conditions.