{"id":38218,"date":"2011-04-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-04-27T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2011\/04\/27\/med-students-run-in-with-deadly-viper-featured-on-animal-planet-tonight\/"},"modified":"2022-09-02T20:35:04","modified_gmt":"2022-09-03T01:35:04","slug":"med-students-run-in-with-deadly-viper-featured-on-animal-planet-tonight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2011\/04\/27\/med-students-run-in-with-deadly-viper-featured-on-animal-planet-tonight\/","title":{"rendered":"Med student’s run-in with deadly viper featured on Animal Planet tonight"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2007, fourth-year medical student Michael Alexander White nearly lost his life after an encounter with one of the world’s deadliest snakes. <\/p>\n

Below he briefly describes that experience. <\/p>\n


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\n Michael Alexander White, a fourth-year medical student at UNMC, was bitten by one of South America’s most venomous snakes in 2007. His survival story will be recounted today at 9 p.m. on the Animal Planet program, “I’m Alive.”<\/span>
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\n<\/TABLE>For the rest of the story, tune in to “I’m Alive” tonight at 9 p.m. on Animal Planet (Cox Cable Channel 67).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A sharp set of fangs sank deep into my middle toe and instantly I knew I had been bitten by a barba-amarilla<\/a> (also known as a Fer-de-lance), one of the deadliest pit vipers in Central and South America. “I’m going to die,” I thought to myself in that dark Guatemalan jungle. <\/p>\n

Time slowed down and my heart raced. Immediately, I informed camp personnel of my injury. My colleagues quickly aspirated the wound with a device from the snake kit. Two minutes after the bite, I was in the worst pain of my life. My head throbbed and my heart pounded uncontrollably. I became short of breath as the pain intensified. <\/p>\n

I was transported four hours away to the nearest hospital and received anti-venom before toxins permanently damaged my internal organs. The rural Guatemalan physicians nearly amputated my leg and I was eventually medically evacuated out of the country. All that remains is a scar and vivid memories. The experience has given me an indescribable appreciation for life and limb, and an interest caring for the injuries of others.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In 2007, fourth-year medical student Michael Alexander White nearly lost his life after an encounter with one of the world’s deadliest snakes. 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