Woman has been bit several times in the past, but recently, she found out she's allergic
EMMET CO., MI -- To most of us, being bitten by a black fly is just part of life in Northern Michigan, and to one local woman, it was the same story, until her last bite.
A rare allergy almost killed the Emmet County woman.
Mary Mitchell has been bitten by a black fly hundreds of times, but the last time changed everything.
Wilderness Golf Course in Emmet County has been in Mary Mitchell’s family since the 1970's, and now, Mary and her husband Greg own it. Back on July 12th, she was out giving popsicles to the kids on the course when a freak bug bite sparked a major problem.
“The hives started, the rash started all over my body, and it was insane itching, I grabbed one of the scrub brushes for the golf carts, and I was scrubbing my arms and it just itched insanely," explained Mary.
“The way she was responding to it, everything was happening very quickly, and when she said it's time to go to the hospital, I knew it was bad," said her husband Greg.
Greg put Mary in the car and headed to the hospital, and on the way, her head continued to swell. He pulled off on the side of the road and called 911. First responders stabilized her, and she spent almost three days in the hospital.
Doctors told her it was because of a black fly bite and she had an extremely rare allergy.
“What they told me was the first time it happens is the most minimal, you body then knows how to respond, so the next time, you only have one to two minutes to hit yourself with an Epi-pen, and get some Benadryl and Zantac in you and call 911," explained Mary.
Now, everywhere Mary goes, she carries an Epi-pen like everyone carries their cellphone, because the next time she gets bit, it could be the matter of minutes.
“Is she going to get bit, or is she not going to get bit," Greg said he wonders all the time.
The stresses of this black fly allergy have been life-changing. The course that has been a part of the family for so many years may soon be sold because Mary and her family have to move away from Northern Michigan.
“It's a tough decision to make, but one we have to make," said Mary.
The Mitchell’s aren't sure what the future holds, but they say they'll definitely be somewhere where black flies aren't.
Mary says doctors told her there used to be a serum for the black fly allergy, but because so few people have it, companies have stopped making it.
She says she now pays attention to all of the bugs around her at all times.