Middle-schooler Devin Waxman would not have imagined that when he went to toss a water bottle in the trash between classes Monday, he would soon fear for his future.
- Markham Woods Middle student bitten by snake earlier this week
- Snake was venomous but didn't inject venom; snake slithered away
- Boy is thankful his dream of dance, choreography career are intact
- RELATED: Snake experts warn of more snake encounters after student bitten
He was bitten on the leg by a venomous snake.
“It startled the snake,” said Waxman, an eighth-grader at Markham Woods Middle School in Lake Mary. “If it bites you and injects venom into you, you could be done.”
The 14-year-old said he was able to rip the snake off of him and get to a school nurse.
But as Devin underwent tests at a hospital, he pictured his dreams of a famous dancing and choreography career fading away.
“Oh my gosh, am I going to lose everything?” Devin wondered. “If it got infected, would I lose my foot or something?”
Devin wants to dance professionally and eventually become a choreographer. He says he wants to be famous.
“If I were to lose that, all my chances would be gone,” Waxman said.
Fortunately, the snake, which slithered away before anyone could tell what kind it was, didn’t inject any venom.
Devin's leg, his life — and his dreams — were spared.
His mother was relieved it wasn't worse.
“(It was) my worst nightmare," Kim Waxman said. "But he handled it so well, he was so calm and he handled it way better than I could have,” she said. “I am thankful.”
The Waxmans had actually spotted a snake in their yard just before Devin was bit at school and saw another one in the days since. At least one of those they think was also venomous.
“Until the rain comes, they're just going to be out there, so watch your step,” Kim Waxman said.
Devin Waxman is expected to make a full recovery after a venomous snake bit him on the leg at Markham Woods Middle School earlier this week. Fortunately, the snake did not inject any venom. (News 13)