A quiet evening at home turned into a nightmare for Robert Burns and his family after his wife was struck by a venomous snake lurking just steps from their house.
The North Carolina mayor revealed that his wife, Lauren, was rushed to the emergency room after a terrifying encounter with a massive copperhead snake in their own backyard—and the aftermath has been brutal.
“So… word has gotten out that my sweet wife was bitten by a large copperhead last night,” Burns wrote in a social media post, adding that the couple scrambled to get her help as the situation quickly spiraled.
The frightening moment unfolded while Lauren was walking through a wooded area on their property, casually talking on the phone—until everything changed in an instant.
“All I heard was, ‘Babe, it’s not good, this is not good,’” Burns recalled. “She came running around the house and said, ‘I think I got bit by a snake.’”
What he saw next made his heart drop.
Two bloody puncture wounds marked her ankle—and nearby, a nearly 4-foot-long copperhead snake.
Copperheads are known for striking fast and without warning, and while their bites are rarely deadly, they can cause severe pain and serious tissue damage within minutes.
At the hospital, things only got worse.
Lauren’s leg began swelling so aggressively that doctors feared she might need anti-venom. While her condition eventually stabilized enough for her to be sent home, the danger—and the pain—are far from over.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Burns admitted.
And what she’s going through now is something he says he’s never seen before.
“I’ve not seen her in this consistent amount of pain,” he said. “We’ve had six children. I’ve seen kidney stones. I’ve seen it all—and this is excruciating.”
The mayor is now urging others not to take any chances when it comes to snake bites, warning that even a moment of uncertainty can turn serious fast.
“Any snake bite, you want to take seriously,” he said. “You don’t really know what you’re dealing with.”
As the family continues to deal with the painful recovery, Burns says they’re leaning on faith and support from their community.
“We truly cherish your prayers,” he shared. “We’re grateful for all the support… keep praying.”
What started as a normal day at home is now a chilling reminder that danger can strike when you least expect it—even in your own backyard.
Prayers are with you
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