Wednesday by Leah: Swarmed

On Saturday night, Mark and I were supposed to go to a super awesome Halloween party. But first, he had an engagement shoot outdoors in the beautiful fall weather. I was looking forward to a fun night out. My parents were looking forward to a fun night with their grandson. And then my phone rang. It was Mark, but he sounded funny. Really funny.

Why? He had been swarmed by a hive (nest? gang?) of angry yellow jackets. He had been stung. A lot. And while he had been stung in the past and never had an allergic reaction, it really sounded like his throat was swelling up and I got scared. He was 37 miles across town with our car. We only have one car. He asked me to call a friend who lived close to where he was to take him to the hospital. I urged him to get in the ambulance that was called instead. He protested. I used my stern voice. I called my friend. Mark called back and said he would go with the ambulance. I called my friend back and told her nevermind. I called my mom and asked her to pick me up and drive me to the hospital. Meanwhile, Mark collapsed, came to, couldn’t see for 20 minutes, and threw up a whole bunch. I’m glad I missed that part.

The EMTs were amazing and basically saved his life. I’m so glad they were stubborn and didn’t drive off like Mark suggested. Because by the time my friend could have gotten to him, my husband would likely have been dead. Or close to it.

When I got to the hospital, I rushed into the ER and found Mark hooked up to oxygen and fluids, shivering on a bed. Cue the Grey’s Anatomy theme song. It felt so surreal… just an hour earlier I was about to put on a costume and go to a party, and all of a sudden I’m in the Emergency Room holding my husband’s hand and kissing his puffy eyelids and feeling exceptionally grateful that he was able to open his eyes and squeeze my hand back.

The nurses pumped him full of fluids and antihistamines and steroids and something to make the shaking stop. He was covered in red welts. But he was alive! And reasonably well. He slept a bunch that night and woke up early the next morning to go shoot  a wedding. Yup, he’s crazy like that. We’re both just insanely thankful that he genuinely felt ok enough to shoot a wedding. That he was alive and breathing and not dead in a parking lot by a mountain.

Paying bills, running a business, parenting, prepping for a move – all the stressors that have been on my mind are suddenly so much less stressful. I’m not glad that Mark almost died, but it IS nice to have my priorities more in order! Also, EMTs rock.

And Happy Halloween!