Snakebites and swimming holes

A lady came into the hospital this week after being bit by a coral snake. She was reaching behind some dried corn in their storage room and grabbed a snake. It bit her on the finger and by the time she came to us her arm and face were numb. We had six vials of antivenom and we gave it all to her. She got a little worse, then better, then worse again. So, since we were out of antivenom and we don't have a ventilator in case she went into respiratory failure during the night, we sent her into the city. Scary stuff!

This morning a few of us drove up a muddy road and then hiked across a river, past a waterfall, and down a dense jungle trail to a lovely swimming hole. As we struggled through the dense underbrush, the thought entered my head. I hope I don't run into a snake, since we don't have any more antivenom!!! We stepped very carefully. :) Then we went bouldering up the river in flip flops....lots of slipping and sliding! We swam across to where there is a natural hot spring. The sand was really warm (hot if you dug your feet in) and there was a nice warm mud hole! Gorgeous scenery!