I had a recent, very scary, reaction to something, still, unknown. I saw Susan Parks, FNP, at Atracare in Lewes, DE. She treated my hives and searched the earth to find the culprit. Not being able to identify the trigger, she supplied me with an EpiPen just in case I experienced anaphylaxis and hives again or on a worse scale than what she saw in the office.

Long story short, I traveled home for Thanksgiving. I am from a VERY rural area in South Dakota. The closest hospital is 58 minutes away - with speeding. We have 1 ambulance in the entire county. When I say rural... I cannot stress it! I woke up the morning after Thanksgiving around 6am covered, head to toe, in hives and I could not breathe. As my airway closed, I panicked, and my husband did not know how to help me. I remembered, like a flashback in a movie, the exact words Susan Parks said to me. I reached for my bookbag and self-administered a shot of Epi into my right leg. Within 30 seconds, my airway reopened.

I went into the ER shortly after for additional treatment and evaluation. I am proud to write this! Without her preparation, planning, and care for her patients, I would not be here. She literally saved my life! Had I gone 7 more minutes without oxygen, the ER physician said I would have been declared (deceased) by the time my husband was able to drive me in. That really sunk in.... I am thankful organizations like yours exist as a platform for patients to tell their story and remind the world that healthcare is a field worth looking into because of the impact you can leave on a patient's life. Please help me, help her! I know the toll medicine can take on a provider, let alone, a provider in Primary Care. She deserves this! Without her, this holiday weekend could have taken a darker turn.