It seemed a longest drive in my short life.
We arrived at at small medical facility in Hollwood Riviera somewhere and the emergency staff proceedeed to cut away at me. My leg was immediately
packed in ice and then they made deep x shaped cuts up and down my right leg. I remember all these ugly red suction cups stuck all over my leg and
blood everywhere. I was really delerious and felt no pain. Then it was off to the South Bay Hospital in the Merc.with these things all over my leg.
Ah, the good ol days. One small -problem though. Not a whole lot of snakebite experts around LA back then. But there was one guy, Dr. Kiebler an
expert and author on the new anti-venom anti-toxin treatments. He was to leave for a holiday the next day. He stayed and administered the cure. Man,
you shoulda seen dem needles. To a child they appeared 2 feet long viewed as I went in and out of a stuper. They kept sticking me with shots until I
blacked out completely.
The first 12 hours are the critical hours and considering I had a full dose of a young snake and was not treated for at least an hour it was bad. My
toes looked more like plums than toes. Black and purple and swollen to the point where the skin looks to burst. The whole body swelled with adema and
toxin. My head the size of a basketball I was told later. My prognoses at best was not good. My foot and or toes was considered for amputation should
it gangrene. I would periodically, according to those around me, wake up and start having ludicrous conversations with imaginary thoughts.
My poor dad was the typical long hours type man who on that bad day decided to go play poker after work with the boys. He arrived at home at 3am to
find blazing lights and only my sister in bed. He took off for the hospital. Upon arriving he took one look at the swelled up kid with a black leg and
lost it. He was help to another room to recover. Now thats ugly! My condition stayed like that for many hours. Then , just as if to turn off the
faucet. My color started returning and the swelling receeded. I remember waking up a long time later . It was as if I had rigor mortice in my leg and
foot for days to come.. It was also very painful now that that toxins were waning. It was almost like a severe sprain for a couple weeks and improved
daily.I still bear small scars. I have not so far had long term probs but time will tell I suppose.
I always carry a snakebite kit in the desert outdoors. If you do not and you don,t do something you may die. Usually an adult will survive the strike
but it depends on many variables. This includes snake type and location, age and size, your health, and where you are bitten. A light tourney and a
sharp knife or razor and sucking it out are important for trying to minimize its effects. Then seek help immediately.Mainly, just keep yer dad burn
eyes open!.
|
