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Rattlesnake bites man eight times
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| Man still recovering from rattlesnake bites |
By Lisa Tindell
One rattlesnake bite can lead to a serious situation, but a Brewton area man is living through the ordeal of having been bitten eight times.
Johnny Lavon Odom’s family is thankful for his life. Odom’s wife, Nancy, said he has spent more than three weeks in intensive care as a result of the incident, which took place in the Little River community in western Escambia County.
“He has been in ICU for 24 days,” Nancy Odom said. “The doctors are saying we are just taking it a day at a time right now.”
Nancy said her husband is now able to sit up for a period of time, but will remain in ICU until a ventilator is no longer needed.
“He is still on the ventilator some,” Nancy Odom said. “The doctors are trying to build up his lungs so they can take him off the ventilator a little at a time. He will have to be off the ventilator before they can move him to a room on the floor.”
Nancy Odom said the medical bills are continuing to mount with no planned release from the hospital in the near future.
“I’m not sure what the bill is right now,” Nancy said. “A couple of weeks ago one of the hospital staff members told me it was already near six figures.”
The log truck driver does not have any medical insurance, Nancy said.
“I don’t know exactly what we will do about that,” Nancy said. “We’ll just have to see what we can do.”
A rattlesnake bite can be debilitating or even deadly. Jackie Word, director of Turtle Point Science Center in Flomaton, said the age of the snake could have a great bearing on the amount of venom injected into a victim.
“Younger snakes have less control on the amount of venom they inject into their victim,” Word said. “They are more reckless and careless with their venom. Older snakes, on the other hand, have more control over their venom.”
Although Odom was reportedly bitten eight times, Word said chances are that venom wasn’t injected on every bite.
“Typically, it’s my belief that a snake’s venom supply is exhausted after two or possibly three bites,” Word said. “Of course, in a defense situation, typically snakes inject venom in smaller doses in repeated strikes.”
Nancy said she is not sure just what happened to her husband in the woods of the Little River community — and he does not remember.
“I’m not clear on exactly what happened out there,” Nancy Odom said. “He’s very lucky though. He seems to be getting better. Right now, he’s just a little bored sitting in ICU.”
Physical therapists are working with Odom on a regular basis, Nancy Odom said. His physicians have not determined a possible date for discharge, she said.
Johnny Lavon Odom’s family is thankful for his life. Odom’s wife, Nancy, said he has spent more than three weeks in intensive care as a result of the incident, which took place in the Little River community in western Escambia County.
“He has been in ICU for 24 days,” Nancy Odom said. “The doctors are saying we are just taking it a day at a time right now.”
Nancy said her husband is now able to sit up for a period of time, but will remain in ICU until a ventilator is no longer needed.
“He is still on the ventilator some,” Nancy Odom said. “The doctors are trying to build up his lungs so they can take him off the ventilator a little at a time. He will have to be off the ventilator before they can move him to a room on the floor.”
Nancy Odom said the medical bills are continuing to mount with no planned release from the hospital in the near future.
“I’m not sure what the bill is right now,” Nancy said. “A couple of weeks ago one of the hospital staff members told me it was already near six figures.”
The log truck driver does not have any medical insurance, Nancy said.
“I don’t know exactly what we will do about that,” Nancy said. “We’ll just have to see what we can do.”
A rattlesnake bite can be debilitating or even deadly. Jackie Word, director of Turtle Point Science Center in Flomaton, said the age of the snake could have a great bearing on the amount of venom injected into a victim.
“Younger snakes have less control on the amount of venom they inject into their victim,” Word said. “They are more reckless and careless with their venom. Older snakes, on the other hand, have more control over their venom.”
Although Odom was reportedly bitten eight times, Word said chances are that venom wasn’t injected on every bite.
“Typically, it’s my belief that a snake’s venom supply is exhausted after two or possibly three bites,” Word said. “Of course, in a defense situation, typically snakes inject venom in smaller doses in repeated strikes.”
Nancy said she is not sure just what happened to her husband in the woods of the Little River community — and he does not remember.
“I’m not clear on exactly what happened out there,” Nancy Odom said. “He’s very lucky though. He seems to be getting better. Right now, he’s just a little bored sitting in ICU.”
Physical therapists are working with Odom on a regular basis, Nancy Odom said. His physicians have not determined a possible date for discharge, she said.
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susan o wrote on Oct 24, 2009 7:08 AM: