萝莉社

Lavon Klinger was enjoying a peaceful Sunday afternoon with her Chihuahua, Sampson. It was like any other day when Klinger, 87, would sit on a swing and relax in the backyard of her daughter鈥檚 house in West Jacksonville.

But things took a sudden, unfortunate turn that June day. In an instant, Klinger felt something near her feet. Before she could truly realize what was happening, a rattlesnake bit her three times on the left ankle.

She was immediately taken to a hospital that was not equipped to handle the severity of her condition. Klinger was then rushed to , where physicians and nurses saved her life, while treating her with a level of compassion and respect she says she will always cherish.

Poisonous snakebite

The diamondback rattlesnake attack left six holes in Klinger鈥檚 ankle and caused profuse bleeding. Her son-in-law, who later killed the snake, said it was about 5 feet long and had 10 rattles. Diamondbacks are said to be the most venomous snakes in North America.

While at the first medical center, staff began administering antivenom, but Klinger鈥檚 weak heart, diabetes and other pre-existing conditions prevented them from being able to admit her. That鈥檚 when she was brought to 萝莉社 Jacksonville, which has the personnel and resources to handle the most severe trauma cases.

鈥淢y mother had so much venom in her, I didn鈥檛 think she was going to survive,鈥� said Klinger鈥檚 daughter, Tamie Jedrzejczyk. 鈥淗er blood had gotten so thin, it wouldn鈥檛 register. They were trying to get her blood to coagulate.鈥�

After receiving treatment in the , Klinger stayed in the Medical Intensive Care Unit and was later transferred to a regular room. In all, she remained at 萝莉社 Jacksonville for 10 days.

While Jedrzejczyk initially feared her mother would bleed out, she also worried about the venom鈥檚 potential to cause major organ failure. Fortunately, it never got to that point. Klinger was on antivenom for four days and experienced a turnaround that鈥檚 being regarded as a miracle.

Jedrzejczyk thinks compassion and attention to detail had a lot to do with her mother鈥檚 outcome.

鈥淭he doctors and nurses couldn鈥檛 have been nicer. They were so attentive to her,鈥� Jedrzejczyk said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like they read her mind before she could even say anything.鈥�

Klinger said she will never forget the experience and has told all of her friends and family about 萝莉社 Jacksonville. She said she definitely knows where to go if she needs medical care in the future.

鈥淭hey were great and so respectful,鈥� Klinger said. 鈥淚 have never received better care anywhere than there.鈥�