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9:09:00 AM EDT
Feeling Loopy
Flying Rattlesnake
This is my first entry in May. Hooray! It finally feels like Spring! I have been
sick for the entire month of April, from bronchitis that led to pneumonia. I still have
an occasional cough but nothing like losing my breath, as I was often doing earlier. I
had never had breathing difficulties, except for one time that I was hospitalized thirty
years ago for accidentally inhaling a potentially lethal mixture of toilet bowl cleaner
and clorine bleach. (I actually knew better than to do this, but just wasn't thinking
and paid the price for my foolishness. After that, I have been really cautious.)
Anyhow, my breathing difficulties caused me to remember another traumatic event
that happened when my Darling Daughter was around ten years of age.
My little girl had been exceptionally healthy. Thank the Lord, she had reached
ten years old with very few doctor visits, except well-baby checkups and shots.
She had mumps, because the vaccine was new at that time and she hadn't got it.
She says she remembers mumps and measles fondly, because I devoted my entire
attention to her, reading, playing and entertaining. She loved being read aloud to and
I, tiring of juvenile books, introduced her to works from English literature and
Edgar Allen Poe. This new venture was thrilling to her and gave her a lasting
appreciation of the classics. While she lay in bed, I entertained both of us this way.
One spring day, my daughter was playing in the yard, when she got stung
by a bee. She came running in and I put baking soda on the whelp because I had
heard that soda or vinegar would neutralize the sting. (I have since heard that taping
or holding a copper penny on the sting will neutralize it , but I don't know if either
of these old wive's tales really work.)
Anyway, in just a few minutes, my daughter began to cough. It was apparent
that she was having trouble breathing. I ran into the yard, called to my Dad who
was outside and we (Mom, Dad, DDand I ) were in the car and on the way to
the emergency room in just a few minutes following the sting. For once, my Dad
was not a slow driver as we sped , emergency lights blinking , to the hospital.
As her breathing labored, I continued to work with her and all three adults were
praying audibly. I had read enough to know that a bee sting could cause a potentially
fatal reaction if an allergy has developed. I do not remember her ever being stung
before unless maybe once by a yellow jacket, but I knew there was a limited time
before the throat swelled shut and breathing stopped. Thankfully, we arrived in record
time as people let us by.
The doctor administered an antidote and almost immediately, the symptons began
to ease until she was completely free of them. The doctor gave us a prescription for
an epi-pen, a shot that could be given. He advised us to carry Benadryl at all times
to be given immediately upon being stung by anything. She did this faithfully for years.
In later years, I fear that she has become lax and is not as concerned as she should be.
Even adults get stung, and we do not know whether she would experience such a
severe reaction again or not, but it is still a likelihood. Once a person experiences a
reaction, they should never stop being cautious. It is literally a matter of life or death.
This fear followed us (especially me, because she could shrug it off) all the years
she was growing up. I was tempted to keep her away from outdoor events, like
picnics, where she might encounter the danger of a bee-sting. However, she was
not one to be easily confined and actually told me that she was not living her life in
dread. She had very convincing arguments about friends she had, who did not let
disabilities rule them and prevent them from leading normal lives. We were so
blessed that she was able to enjoy camping, picnicking, and water sports without
further incidents. I started to say "lucky", but I truly believe that God answered this
mother's prayer that I would not have to endure another ride like that one. Most
mother's would gladly exchange places with their child in such a situation, and I was
no exception to that rule. I would gladly have taken this allergy from her if I could.
At first, I have to admit that I felt some resentment toward neighbors who
had bee hives. I would look at them and think, "Don't they know that to us they
might as well have rattlesnake pits that they tend?" (Now, I have an inborn fear of
snakes far above normal, so that is a statement that is hard to make, but then again,
snakes don't fly!)
I started reading about the honey bee, and the important role it plays in the
food chain. Lately, it has become apparent that the numbers of honey bees have
drastically been reduced in recent years. Scientists are perplexed as to just why
this has happened, whether from pesticide use or natural causes. We are very
much in danger of suffering lack of pollination leading to food shortages. I am aware
that we must take the bitter with the sweet in this case. Allergies are fairly rare, though
deadly, and the benefits of the honey bee are universal. It is now possible to take
a series of allergy shots to build immunity to the bee venom, a step that we have
considered. I pray that some way my daughter will never have another sting.
I said that I resented bee-keepers because of my daughter's reaction. Well,
I finally accepted the fact that they had the right to pursue this hobby or business,
even though it involved considerable risk to me and mine. (I don't want truckers
off the road, for example, though it involves considerable risk on our narrow, winding
roads. I might take the ditch to avoid one coming head-on however.) The fact is
we are never going to get out of this world alive, no matter how hard we try. We
can only life to the fullest, love others as ourselves, and pray to God for His mercy.
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Pat, it would be so easy to get bogged down in all the things that could happen. I tend to worry about Ken getting in a car accident, for example. I'm definitely a worrywart! I try to remind myself that it's out of my hands. It sounds like you took all the precautions possible with your daughter's allergy, and after that, it was out of your hands.
It's very hard to stop worrying, though! :)
Beth -
As you pointed out we cannot live in fear, but rejoice in each day. We don't choose the hour or the day and since life is so fragile we can only celebrate the day we are given. We can take all the precautions in the world and when our time is up it won't matter at all. As a mom of 7, I know those moments of fear for a child. What I have learned to do is to place them in God's care and he does such a much better job than I for sure. I'm glad you are finally feeling better. Hopefully the sunshine will strengthen you more each day. 'On Ya' - ma
5/7/08 12:37 AM
Smiles, Leigh
p.s. the m is for Marsha