Honeymoon Bliss to Lung Disease: Florida Couple’s Fight for a Double Transplant
Sarasota, FL – A Florida couple’s dream life together has been tragically altered after a cottonmouth snake bite during their honeymoon in 2024 led to a stage four pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis for the husband, requiring a double-lung transplant.
A Love Story Interrupted
David and Sharyn Linton’s relationship blossomed with shared passions for sunset walks and kayaking along Florida’s Suncoast. Their connection was immediate, as David described feeling drawn to Sharyn the moment they met.1 The couple married in a sunset ceremony at Redington Beach in 2024.1
The Venomous Bite
During their honeymoon in Floral City, tragedy struck while the couple was kayaking. David Linton was bitten by a cottonmouth snake, a venomous species.2 Sharyn vividly recalls the moment, describing David jumping in pain after the bite.23
A Devastating Diagnosis
The snake bite initiated a complex medical journey. Just one month ago, David was diagnosed with stage four pulmonary fibrosis, a serious lung disease that hinders proper lung function.3 “No cure. The only cure is an organ transplant. I need a double-lung transplant,” David Linton stated, now reliant on a breathing machine.3
Financial Hardship and a Plea for Help
Adding to the couple’s hardship, their insurance will not cover the cost of the necessary double-lung transplant.31 “So, we are reaching out for help. Any help that we can get because my husband, just a year ago, was a hardworking, providing husband,” Sharyn Linton said.3
Rare Bites, Serious Complications
Experts note that while snake bites occur in the U.S., cottonmouth bites are relatively rare. Joseph Finley, a nurse practitioner and licensed venomous snake keeper, indicated that cottonmouth bites account for approximately 6% of the 6,000 to 7,000 snake bites reported annually in the country.3 Finley explained that the venom can cause serious long-term complications as the body reacts to muscle tissue breakdown and blood clot formation.3
Despite the challenging prognosis, David and Sharyn Linton remain resolute in their fight and are actively fundraising to cover the costs of the life-saving surgery.2
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