:04:04
Every time l go on one
of these flights to rescue Zoe,
:04:07
l remember the summer
we almost lost her.
:04:11
She was three years old.
:04:14
lt happened one morning
at this cottage we used to rent.
:04:19
We were all together,
sleeping in bed.
:04:23
lt was a wonderful time
in our lives.
:04:27
We still felt we had a future
together, the three of us.
:04:36
Did you ever visit
that cottage?
:04:38
l don't think so.
:04:43
l remember l was...
awakened by Zoe's breathing.
:04:48
lt was labored.
:04:49
l looked across
and noticed that...
:04:51
she was sweating...
:04:54
and all swollen, and l...
:04:58
l grabbed her...
:05:00
and splashed some water
on her face.
:05:02
-What happened?
-l didn't know.
:05:04
l was in a complete panic.
:05:07
l guess she'd been
bitten by some insect.
:05:09
But there was no doctor.
:05:11
The nearest hospital
was 40 miles away,
:05:14
and she was continuing
to swell up...
:05:19
Clara took her in her arms
and tried to breast-feed her...
:05:22
while l dialed the hospital.
:05:26
l finally got a doctor.
:05:30
He surmised
that there was a nest...
:05:33
of baby black widow spiders
in the mattress.
:05:37
He said they had to be babies,
:05:39
or else, with Zoe's body weight,
she'd be dead.
:05:41
He said l had to rush her
to the hospital.
:05:44
He said, ''Mr. Stephens,
there's a good chance...
:05:46
''that you won't get her here
before her throat closes.
:05:48
''lt's very important
that you keep her calm.''
:05:51
He asked if there was one of us
she was more relaxed with,
:05:55
and l said, ''Yes. Me,''
which was true enough...
:05:58
because at that
particular moment,