It was supposed to be a simple family night by the lake.
Britagne Miller was sitting around a campfire with her husband, Jake, and their four children at Cheney Lake in Kansas when several spiders suddenly crawled onto her body and began biting her.
At first, the mother of four didn’t think much of it.
She had no idea that those bites would eventually send her to the hospital, into emergency surgery and into a fight for her life.
Four days after the May 28 outing, one of the bites on Britagne’s calf became increasingly swollen and painfully bruised.
“This one kept swelling and swelling, and it was like, you know, a fire stir that’s metal,” Miller told KAKE. “It was like shooting down my leg into my foot, and it felt like it was being stabbed.”
The pain became so severe that she sought medical attention.
Doctors discovered blood clots had formed in her leg and determined that she needed surgery.
But Britagne already had serious health challenges that made the situation even more dangerous. She had a history of blood-clotting disorders, liver problems and allergies to certain medications.
Her husband later explained that complications surrounding the surgery became especially concerning because of her existing liver disease.
“This made surgery and routine care far more dangerous — doctors warned she could bleed out,” Jake wrote on the family’s GoFundMe.
Doctors ultimately determined that Britagne was suffering from end-stage liver failure. Her family was warned that she could have only days to a month to live and was encouraged to consider hospice care.
But Britagne wasn’t ready to give up.
“She refused to give up. She told the doctors she would fight to live as long as she could for her family, and she insisted they do everything possible to save her,” Jake wrote.
And the fight became even harder.
Britagne developed serious infections, including sepsis. Doctors had to perform additional procedures to remove dead tissue and treat the infections with antibiotics.
At one point, Britagne said she had reached her breaking point.
“I was like, I give up,” Miller told KCRA. “I’m done being cut open. I’m done being poked and prodded. I’m done hurting. Then I thought about all of them.”
Her four children were the reason she kept fighting.
After more than a month in the hospital and multiple procedures, Britagne was finally released on July 11.
But her battle isn’t over.
She still needs extensive medical care, including home health assistance, physical therapy and regular appointments with specialists. She also needs a liver transplant, although doctors want her to become stronger before moving forward with the procedure.
Doctors have not confirmed exactly what type of spider bit Britagne.
Kansas State University horticultural entomologist Dr. Raymond Cloyd told KAKE that brown recluse and black widow spiders are the two venomous spiders commonly found in Kansas.
For Britagne’s family, however, identifying the spider is only part of the story. Their biggest concern now is helping a mother get strong enough to return to the life she loves.
And the family is facing another painful reality.
Jake has stayed by Britagne’s side while caring for their four children, ultimately losing his job because he could no longer maintain a normal work schedule.
Between the loss of income and mounting medical expenses, the family has turned to the public for help.
“Asking for help is one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do. But right now, our family needs it.
“My wife, Britagne, is the strongest person I have ever known. She is an incredible woman, an amazing mother to our four beautiful children, and the person who held our family together.
“If you’ve ever met Britagne, you know she always puts others before herself. She has a servant’s heart and has spent her life caring for the people she loves.”
Her loved ones know there is still a long road ahead.
But after everything she has already survived, they are holding onto hope that Britagne will eventually get the transplant she needs and return to the role she fought so hard to protect — being there for her four children.
“We know there is still a long road ahead, but we are holding on to hope that one day this season will be behind us, and she will be able to continue doing what she loves most — being a mom, and someday a grandmother,” the GoFundMe states.
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