Ole Mister Copperhead Poem by Loyd C Taylor Sr

Author’s notes:
To help you understand the purpose for the poem and its dedication, I have included some of the facts surrounding my wife Kathy’s bout with a copperhead.

Copperhead snakes are very common in the state of North Carolina, especially in wooded areas, rocky places and on farmlands. Their bites are very deadly and no one should underestimate the danger they pose.

Since we moved to this small apartment, which is located on a large farm, we were warned to keep an eye out for snakes. Kathy loves the farmland and the country atmosphere but has told me since this incidence that being snake-bitten was her greatest fear. On this day, her fear would become reality, for she would be bitten by a poisonous Copperhead snake.

It was Monday, September 27th. My wife and I had returned from running some errands. She'd planned to go into town and had gone into the laundry room to retrieve some items to take with her. I had gone upstairs to take care of our dog. Kathy grabbed the items and opened the trunk of the car to place them inside. Obviously, when she was walking towards the trunk of our car she must have stepped on the Copperhead snake, or at the least startled it.

Looking back, she explained how it all happened so fast that it seemed a blur. When the snake bit her, she recalled it felt like several bees stinging her all at once. But when she looked down she realized it wasn't bees at all but a snake which had bitten her. She had on sandals, so her foot was mostly exposed, thus the snake bit her just above the heel of her foot below the ankle.

I was busy upstairs when I heard her screaming uncontrollably. I immediately stopped what I was doing and rushed down the steps to where she stood.

She was standing there screaming, 'I've been bitten by a snake! '

Sure enough, I looked where she was pointing to her foot and I saw bite marks and blood. Then I spotted the snake, coiled and ready to bite again. Instinctively, I grabbed a rock and knocked him unconscious, after which I hastily moved Kathy to safety. I set her down in a nearby chair as I proceeded to call 911 for the EMT. The rescue workers arrived in about 5 minutes. Wasting no time, they started their routine of questions and administered treatment as best they could. Then, while one man worked with Kathy, another of the crew took a shovel and cut the head off the still-alive snake. It was decided that we should take it in for verification, so we placed him in a bag. As we suspected, it was later confirmed to be an adult Copperhead of about three feet in length.

After Kathy was placed on a gurney and hooked up to an IV, she began to slip into a state of shock. Her blood pressure was high and she felt clammy. The pain was terrible, as evidenced by her screaming as if someone was cutting her leg off.
I felt so bad for her, but could do nothing more than comfort her with the assurance that I would not leave her. As quick as possible, we all jumped into the rescue vehicle and headed towards the Emergency Department of the Forsyth Hospital.

Once we arrived at the ER, Kathy was taken into a room and there the good doctors and nurses took over. In short order, she was given anti-venom, antibiotics and much pain medication. In the ER she passed out and had to be revived through smelling salts. It was important that she stay coherent in order to describe her pain levels and answer a barrage of questions. On a side note, while they continued to treat Kathy, it seemed that everyone in the ER had to get a look at the snake.

Kathy's foot, leg and face all showed signs of swelling. Her heel began to turn red and developed a bruised look on her ankle as streaks also began to run up her leg. The medical staff measured the degree of swelling about every twenty minutes or so. Her foot, leg and abdomen revealed extreme pain at the slightest touch. She became nauseated and began running a high temperature as well.

At the place where the snake's fangs went in there were two small puncture wounds and some trickling dried blood could be seen. In this same place, there developed a pocket of blood, venom and fluid about the size of a silver dollar.

We later learned that the poison causes the flesh of the snake's victim to liquefy in order for it to be digested. We also found out that death occurs in humans in about one out of every 5000 bites and that a baby snake bite is far worse because they cannot control their venom as an adult can.

From the ER she was taken to the ICU and carefully watched from Monday through Tuesday until she was out of danger. Her ankle and leg continued to swell and the place around the bite continued to enlarge to about the size of a golf ball, turning to a blood red as bruising became more apparent.

Thankfully, in time, she started to improve, so on Wednesday was moved to a regular room. The following day it was decided that she could be discharged, but would need constant supervision and would need to faithfully take the medications prescribed.

The entire story is written in my book, 'Using My Muse' which may be purchased from me or from Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

Thanks for reading. Loyd