NW Tucson woman shares near death experience after rattlesnake bite, wants others to not let guard down | News

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) — What was supposed to be an easy trip to take out the recyclables quickly turned into a near death experience for Maria Rodriguez. She got bit by a rattlesnake and ended up having to go to the emergency room.

“I decided to go check my mailbox and as soon as I did the step I stepped on a rattle snake,” said Maria Rodriguez, a northwest Tucson resident. 

That’s what Rodriguez says happened September 12th after she decided to take out her recyclables just before 7 p.m. 

The rattlesnake which Rodriguez didn’t see behind the recycling bin took a bite on her right foot.

Pictures taken by Rodriguez show how badly she got injured by the reptile from.  

“I felt a lot of pain 10 seconds, 20 seconds later,” Rodriguez said. 

Rodriguez’s children and husband were home at the time and rushed her straight to Northwest Medical Center. 

“Thirty minutes later I felt a lot of pain on my stomach both sides, so I told my husband I don’t feel good I think I’m going to throw up so he got me the garbage and I threw up blood,” Rodriguez said. 

The doctors decided it was time for Rodriguez to take 40 vials of antivenom. 

Eventually Rodriguez says she had to be intubated because her health was not looking good. 

“I started thinking about my kids,” Rodriguez said. 

Rodriguez getting emotional thinking at that time it was going to be the last time she was ever going to see her kids. 

“My son is only 11, and my daughter worked so hard to get to the U of A,” Rodriguez said. 

Almost a month after that Rodriguez is starting to gain her strength back although most of her walking right now has to be done using a stick. 

“About 60 plus percent of the bites will occur at someone’s residence,” said Geoffrey Smelski, a clinical education director for the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center. 

Rodriguez’s story is not surprising for Geoffrey Smelski. 

Smelski says do not let your guard down when it is cooler because rattlesnakes will most likely want to go outside too. 

The biggest advice he can give is situational awareness. 

“We recommend that people keep their house kind of shut up front doors closed, garages closed. Paying attention when you’re outside doing basic life activities. You can install physical barriers,” Smelski said. 

Advice that Rodriguez hopes people take so they don’t go through what she went through. 

“I want people to know you can’t let your guard down,” Rodriguez said. 

Rodriguez says she was in the ICU for three days before she could get back home. She says she couldn’t cook, walk or clean much at that time.

If anyone is ever bit by a rattlesnake call 911 immediately.