A Special Birthday Thank-You Note

To the Editor:

Although there is no adequate way to thank the people who saved my husband’s life this past Saturday –– his 40th birthday –– a friend suggested this letter of recognition.

It all started when Jim came into the house, telling me two bees stung him. He took some Benadryl, but within two minutes, his feet were itching like crazy. He was stung on the shoulder and ear, so I knew that he was having a “systemic reaction.” Not good. I called my neighbor, Kimberly Mather, who has a child with a peanut allergy, asking that she come over quickly with her Epi-pens. She ran through the woods and was at the door in no more than two minutes! I had the phone in hand, while we were watching him, trying to decide what to do. In only another minute, he was breaking out in hives all over, told us he was feeling light-headed, and then lost consciousness.

While Kimberly and I were catching him from falling on the floor, Kimberly was injecting an Epi-pen (adrenalin) and I was calling “911.” I instructed our 12-year-old daughter, Paige, to call our neighbor-nurse, Dee Davis. Seconds later, Jim woke up like Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction and we breathed a sigh of relief. Dee arrived, we filled her in, and Jim started to go again. He had only had an Epi-pen Jr dose, and needed more. Dee kept checking vitals, and yelling for me to be sure to ask the dispatcher for a paramedic, while Kimberly gave Jim the last Epi-pen Jr and I just paced, panicked, and begged to the “911” dispatcher.

Jim’s whole body was so gray and swollen, where he wasn’t covered in hives, even after he came-to the second time. He was talking coherently to us, but Dee and Kimberly still looked grim. Jim’s pulse had dipped, at times to 10 and 14 bpm. Once, Kimberly admitted later, she couldn’t find it at all. They knew there were no more Epi-pens at hand. Dee assured us that two “Jr”s is the same dose as one regular adult dose, but what she didn’t say was that if it wore off before the Benadryl took affect, he’d need more. It turns out that a paramedic can give another dose, but EMTs need to radio the doctor to get permission. I sent my daughter out to meet the ambulance, and called Jane Nickerson, next door, to help Paige.

The ambulance arrived in about 15 minutes, with a few extra cars, and in came three EMTs: Tom, Don, and Bob. Dee knew Tom, and was filling the guys in on the timeline: vitals, drugs, and doses. They acted calmly, which was very reassuring, got the stretcher, and after a few minutes, they assisted Jim in walking a few steps out the door to the stretcher. The paramedic arrived and jumped in the ambulance. Thinking that everything was okay and not wanting them to wait with me for six hours, I assured the neighbors that I could drive and followed the ambulance.

I didn’t know it, but in the ambulance on the driveway, the paramedic started an IV and had to give Jim another dose of adrenalin. In hindsight, I should have jumped in the ambulance. I lost them at the first turn onto Route 25, and even though I did drive a little too fast, they beat me to the hospital. Dr Dhumale and nurses in Danbury ER gave him steroids, and more Benadryl, and hooked him to heart monitors. Jim was gray, swollen, covered in hives, and now shaking from the meds. The doctor watched him for a few hours, and then released him. Within four hours of the stings, Jim looked completely normal. It was surreal. The unforgettable birthday present!

No words can express our gratitude. I’d like to thank the following people –– heroes all –– each a necessary part of the series of actions that saved Jim’s life:

Kimberly Mather –– for running over in two minutes, having Epi-pens and knowing how to use them!

Dee Davis –– skilled nurse, former EMT, and wonderful neighbor

Bob, Don, Tom (all EMTs –– and volunteers!), and the paramedic of Newtown Ambulance Service and the “911” dispatcher –– fast, calm, efficient; Newtown is so lucky to have them all.

Dr Dhumale and nurses at Danbury ER.

Allergy & Asthma Associates –– taught me to look for a “systemic reaction.”

Jane Nickerson –– flagging the ambulance up our long driveway, and keeping our kids company while we were at the hospital. She managed to make cupcakes and do crafts with Paige to work off Paige’s nervous energy, while fielding birthday phone calls and calming our 13-year-old son, Alex, who ran home to see his dad being put in an ambulance.

Paige –– helpful and calm under pressure, and who knows, maybe future EMT, paramedic, nurse, or doctor?

The reaction Jim had is called anaphylaxis. It turns out that fire ants are related to bees, and Jim’s combined history of stings built up his allergic reaction to the danger point. He’s going to have to wear a Medic Alert bracelet and carry Epi-pens for a few years while undergoing allergy injections.

I urge you to find out about allergic reactions from your doctor, check out www.aaaai.org (website of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology), and have liquid Benadryl in your home emergency medical kit. You can’t get Epi-pens without a prescription. Knowledge is power. If you don’t have it, get it!  We did. Thanks to all our heroes.

Sincerely,

Jill Fleming

11 Bridle Path Trail, Newtown                         September 10, 2003