CELINA, Ohio -- The Jenkins family is hoping their story may be a red flag for their neighbors around Grand Lake St. Mary's.

The Jenkins' lost their beloved pet and their husband and father is so ill that he was hospitalized for days with partial numbness and blindness.

Doctors say they believe this is the first case of human illness that has been caused by the toxins in Grand Lake.

Through tears, Laura Jenkins told WHIO-TV her family's story.

She said a few weeks ago, their family dog, a black lab named Casey, went for a swim in Grand Lake.

Laura said Casey came back to their house covered in blue-green algae.

It was a busy day for the family, so Dan Jenkins immediately gave Casey a bath. He grabbed the hose and a bottle of Dawn soap and went to work.

Laura said a couple of days passed, and Casey and Dan did not feel well. She said she could tell the dog was not feeling good and Dan was showing symptoms of the flu.

Casey died last Sunday at a Celina veterinarian's office. On the same day, Dan was hospitalized in St. Marys. Doctors said they could not figure out what was wrong with him.

Some thought it was s stroke or a heart attack. However, an infectious disease specialist determined that there was only one cause--Dan became sick because the toxins in Grand Lake got on him when he gave Casey the bath.

Dan has returned home, but is still not feeling well. He's having trouble moving his left arm and leg and he said his vision in his left eye is a little hazy.