Stacy Elkins

Four-year-old Stacy Elkins never dreamed that when she stepped off her grandmother’s front porch to play, that something dangerous was lurking in the grass. By the time her young cousin saw the rattlesnake in the flowerbed it was already too late; Stacy had been bitten on her right foot. Acting quickly, Stacy’s grandmother got her grandchildren to safety, called 911 and Stacy’s parents, John and Jennifer. Stacy’s mother recalled that Stacy was very frightened during the ambulance ride to Hendrick Trauma Center, 30 minutes away. Before her arrival, her little leg began to swell and turn shades of blue and black. Time was scarce and it wasn’t long before doctors had to administer the anti-venom.

When it was safe, Stacy was moved from the Trauma Center to a special kid-friendly room at Meek Children’s Hospital to recover. The nurses and doctors watched Stacy closely as she began to improve and measured the extent of the spreading poison with a marks on her skin made by a magic marker. Within a couple of days the swelling decreased and normal coloration returned.

Stacy stayed at Meek Children’s Hospital for observation until it was clear no permanent damage had been done to her leg and all that time, her parents were able to stay with her overnight in special chairs that converted to beds.

Her mother says Stacy was afraid to play outside at first but she is now playing outside whenever she gets the chance-everything is back to normal! But Stacy’s story could have ended much differently if it hadn’t been for the equipment and resources provided through Children’s Miracle Network. Everything from the special pediatric monitors to the toys Stacy played with in the hospital made her traumatic experience just little more manageable. Thanks to donations to Children’s Miracle Network, Stacy’s scary encounter with one of nature’s fiercest creatures had a happy ending.