Deadly Snake Bite

Once I was on helping a friend set up her hammock on a beach. Suddenly a strong pain shot all the way through my arm as if someone drove a sharp nail into my finger with Thor’s hammer. Or at least that’s what it felt like.

Turned out to be a bite of a poisonous snake.

Anxiety, horror, panic, and shock; heart racing, breathing accelerating, entire body stiffening in a powerful, primitive fear – this is how it felt like. I froze at the realization that this had happened to me, that I will not live another day, and there is absolutely nothing I can do to change it.

What do you do when you can’t change what happened to you? You accept it.

So did I.

I also accepted that if I live, I will most likely lose my arm or, in better case scenario, a finger.

Nonetheless, despite this gloomy prospect, the choice was still there: life or death. I only had a few seconds to make that choice.

I chose life. 

I wrapped a sling tightly around my wrist, put my shoes on – and ran back to the mainland as I’ve never run before.

With the help of Good Samaritan and my friend, I made it to the hospital – and faced an unexpected obstacle: I had no apparent symptoms, so I first had to convince the nurses that I was in fact bit by a poisonous snake, and every minute of delay can cost me my life.

I spent three days in an ICU – days filled with lots of medication and long dreary hours between life and death, not knowing which one it will be.

Finally, I was out of danger.

One important thing I learned from that incident – you have no control over some events in your life. And when they happen, the best thing is to accept them. And of course, you should always keep a positive attitude, even if it seems that an ordeal you are facing is insurmountable. At the end of the day, it may save your life.

Lesson learned: accept that there are things outside of your control, make your peace with them – and keep your spirit up