SARASOTA, Fla. (CBS12) — A honeymoon snake bite turned a Florida man’s life into a fight for survival, leaving him with a deadly lung disease and in need of a double transplant.
David and Sharyn Linton’s love story started with sunset walks and kayaking trips, culminating in a beachfront wedding at Reddington Beach, where they exchanged vows.
“Meeting her felt like it was written in the stars,” David told WWSB. Sharyn added that saying “I do” at sunset was the perfect start to their life together.
But during their honeymoon in Floral City in 2024, tragedy struck.
See also: Cap out-of-state enrollment at Florida’s top universities? Senate says no
David was bitten by a cottonmouth snake, a venomous species known to cause serious complications. Sharyn remembers the terrifying moment vividly, describing how David jumped in pain after the bite.
The snake bite set off a chain of medical complications, eventually leading to a diagnosis of stage four pulmonary fibrosis, a severe lung disease that has left David dependent on a breathing machine around the clock. He now faces the possibility of needing a double lung transplant to survive.
The couple says their insurance will not cover the cost of the procedure, leaving them searching for financial support. “We’re reaching out for help because my husband has always been a hardworking provider, and now he needs life-saving care,” Sharyn said.
Experts say that while snake bites are not uncommon in the U.S., cottonmouth bites are relatively rare.
Joseph Finley, a nurse practitioner and licensed venomous snake keeper, explained that only a small percentage of the 6,000 to 7,000 snake bites each year involve cottonmouths. He added that the venom can cause long-term damage to organs as the body reacts to muscle tissue breakdown and blood clot formation.
Despite the grim prognosis, David and Sharyn remain determined to fight and are raising money to help pay for the risky surgery.