Pest Management Professional, September 2018

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 94 B y mid morning the next day Marci was finally conscious enough to perceive her surroundings Best she could tell she was in a hospital Machines whirred IV pumps pumped heart monitors beeped She looked around Her vision was blurred and her mind groggy Someone was slumped in the chair beside her bed either asleep or dead Marci couldnt tell which She tried her best to examine herself was she injured Had she been in a car accident The slumped over woman must have noticed Marcis movements because she raised up wide eyed Marci thank heavens youre awake Then Marci realized it was Donna Am I dead No Donna smiled Youre in the hospital You had a severe allergic reaction last night Dont you remember calling me No I cant remember much of anything to be honest She looked around the room I guess its a good thing I did call you huh A young man in a lab coat tapped on the door and walked into the room Ms Ainsworth Im Dr Jones How are you feeling today Marci shook her head trying her best to smile although her lips were still swollen OK I guess What happened to me Why exactly am I here The doctor looked toward Donna When your sister brought you in last night you were in full blown anaphylactic shock A systemic allergic reaction Marci tried her best to recall the event What caused it What am I allergic to To be honest we dont know Youll need to see an allergist to determine that When do you think I can go home The doctor walked closer to the bed Well see maybe this afternoon or tomorrow morning But one things for sure Im not letting you leave this hospital without one of those emergency selfinjectable syringes of epinephrine We cant risk you having another reaction like that again Next time you might not be so lucky T hree weeks later Marci sat on the back porch of her home drinking coffee and enjoying her view of nature Her house was located on five acres along the west edge of town in the rolling hills overlooking the nearby national wildlife refuge She often spent time outdoors watching birds or butterflies or simply soaking up the sights and sounds of nature Marci inhaled deeply drawing in the cool September air She couldnt help being thankful to be alive after her terrifying allergic reaction a few weeks ago Marci felt in her sweater pocket for the epinephrine pen Good Her visit at the allergy clinic yesterday had been helpful but still no one could promise she wouldnt have another episode The doctors still didnt know for sure what she was allergic to It could have been a food allergy they told her They had taken blood samples to send off for analysis and scheduled her for skin testing Just then her chocolate lab Buster came around the corner of the house tail wagging wildly A broad smile erupted on Marcis face Hey Buster There you are As she petted the dog she noticed two large ticks in his ear Stupid ticks she said trying to pluck them As much as she didnt like killing things she knew there was a point at which one had to use pesticides to bring down out of control pest populations off Im tired of you guys getting on me and my dog so much lately As much as she didnt like killing things she knew there was a point at which one had to use pesticides to bring down out of control bug populations She went back inside to look for paperwork from the pest control company that had performed her termite inspection when she purchased the house two years ago Perhaps they could come spray the yard C rawley McPherson was at work early on Tuesday which just so happened to be the official first day of fall He often came in early to get paperwork done before other people began showing up The rapidly shortening days were difficult to adjust to but Crawley loved fall especially the holidays This in spite of the fact that he was alone no family nearby no girlfriend no nothing About 7 30 a m he heard Margie the office manager coming down the hall She had a distinctive shuffling gait which Crawley hated to hear because he knew she was probably looking for him She was always nagging about something There you are she snapped like a drill sergeant handing Crawley a slip of paper Heres a service call for you Ms Marci Ainsworth 2996 Shenandoah Drive What kind of service is shea wanting CONTINUED ON PAGE 98 96 September 2018 Pest Management Professional mypmp net