Kevin's Snake Bite Medical Fund

Hi my name is Kevin Mack and I live in Tamarindo Costa Rica. I was bitten by a Toboba Gata snake on Monday the 16th, 2015 at 8:30 after a fitness class here in Tamarindo. I was lucky that I had a couple of friends with me (Bathsheba, Joe, Nicholas, and Kristen). I never saw the snake, but the second it bite me I knew what it was, and I knew this would be serious. I made my way to a well lit area and removed my sock and shoe, sure enough it was a snake bite. My friends used their phones to take pictures of the snake so we could try and identify it. We got in the truck and took off to the first emergency room in the area (Villareal), it was closed. We then head to the next town (Huacas) and their emergency room was closed as well. With the help and support of many people via Facebook on Tamarindo Garage Sale and Chit Chat we narrowed down the type of snake and thanks to Dr. Piloto we were directed to the Nicoya public hospital where they had the anti-venom. We arrived to the Nicoya hospital an 1.5hr later. We got signed-in and the waiting began. I felt so bad, there were tons of sick people, young, old, woman and children. We all needed urgent attention but we just waited until our names were called. 3 hours after the snake bit me we were able to see a doctor and 30 minutes after the consultation they gave me my first of four IV bags of anti-venom. I was in so much pain, my foot was on fire and itchy and the swelling was creating excruciating pain. I was in the hospital for 3 nights, the swelling got worse and worse everyday until it stop at my knee. The entire time I was at the hospital I couldn't lower my leg without feeling like my foot was going to explode, so I just laid there. On Thursday morning I woke up and the swelling had gone down from my knee to my calf, this was a good sign. Then a doctor came in and said that all my blood work looked good. With the help of the Nicoya hospital staff I was released around 10am that same morning. I am very grateful to be alive and still have a functioning foot but it has been quite the experience. Its been almost two weeks since the snake bite and I'm still recovering. Yesterday was my first day without crutches and everyday the foot is getting better. Now my body is having a reaction to the anti-venom which they say is normal but my entire body is itchy and breaking out in rashes. I'm constantly reminding myself that this is apart of the healing process even though it is uncomfortable at all hours of the day and night. What a crazy experience! I'm happy to know it is almost over but now the bills need to get paid. $3000 is what I owe the Nicoya public hospital. I created this gofundme to ask for your help, any amount is appreciated and if you can't donate possibly just share this link and story with your friends and family who might want to help. Thanks for taking the time to read my story, many thanks. Kevin Mack,
Pura Vida.