I would like to take this opportunity to send out some special thank yous to people in our community who helped me to get through an emergency.

Yesterday, as I was weeding a friend's yard, I was stung by two bees. They may have been honey bees or yellow jackets; I didn't stop to ask them. It was only a matter of a few minutes before I started feeling badly. My eyes were swollen, glazed and weepy; my tongue and lips were tingly and swollen. My toes and hands were tingly; most of my body was covered with a rash.

I want to thank Eda Keith for snapping into action and calling 911. Leroy, a lawn care provider, thanks goes to you, also a person who is allergic to bee sting. Leroy helped me to recognize the symptoms of the stings.

The Emergency Response team and the Medic 1 team - seven people in all - helped with immediate action and that great ride to Swedish. The response team arrived five minutes after Eda's call.

Dave, my hubby, left his job to be at my side, as he has been for the past 44 years. It didn't take much longer before the Hope Lutheran Church prayer chain got into action with calls, prayers and gestures of support and love.

The Emergency Room team treated me with kindness, using their expertise to help me in my crisis. These wonderful people may not long remember the incidences of the day, but I will remember and will never forget them and what they did. I felt rescued, cared for, and just downright loved!

Finally, I want to thank God, publicly, for bringing me through this. Wouldn't have made it without you, Lord! For friends, parishioners, husband, for professional workers - Seattle Medic 1 program and Swedish Hospital ER - I am grateful for your work in the Seattle area for so many people. And I thank God that I live in a country where there are people and programs which care and help.

Irene Gehring

Admiral