Updated AF Collective
Another Chapter From My Book "Subject to Change"
Hold onto your seats as Magan recounts an adrenaline-fueled story of an allergic reaction gone wild. Despite knowing her severe nut allergy, a nut-laced cookie triggered anaphylactic shock, sending her on a frantic quest for Benadryl. The drama peaks with an unexpected traffic stop and the revelation of a stolen vehicle, turning an already critical situation into a high-stakes emergency. This gripping tale not only underscores the importance of medical preparedness but also keeps you riveted from start to finish.
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XOXO,
Meg
Check out the new site! UPDATEDAF.COM
Hold onto your seats as Magan recounts an adrenaline-fueled story of an allergic reaction gone wild. Despite knowing her severe nut allergy, a nut-laced cookie triggered anaphylactic shock, sending her on a frantic quest for Benadryl. The drama peaks with an unexpected traffic stop and the revelation of a stolen vehicle, turning an already critical situation into a high-stakes emergency. This gripping tale not only underscores the importance of medical preparedness but also keeps you riveted from start to finish.
Love what you hear? Wanna be featured on Updated AF? Shoot me a DM!
IG: Tx_Realestatedoll
Or
IG: UpdatedAFCollective_Podcast
Please don't forget to subscribe and leave me a review!
Email: UPDATEDAF@GMAIL.COM
XOXO,
Meg
Check out the new site! UPDATEDAF.COM
Are you a parent of a toddler struggling with potty training, or do you know this phase is coming but you have no idea where to start? Hi, I'm Katie Fenske, a mom of three and certified potty trainer, and I've made it my mission to take away the frustration and fear around potty training Using my research-based, proven potty training method. I work with clients virtually to teach them the most effective steps or to get things back on track if they didn't start off well. Whether your child seems afraid of the potty, holds their poop for days, just seems clueless, or struggles with nighttime dryness, I have the answers to all of your questions. Visit wwwburntpancakescom slash potty training for a list of all of my services. Let me help you ditch the diapers for good.
Speaker 2:Hey guys, what's up? Welcome back to Updated AF Collective, the podcast. I am your host, megan Wirth. How are you guys doing? I'm doing great.
Speaker 2:Today's episode is going to be another sneak peek chapter of subject to change my book that I'm writing, and it got really, really good feedback from the first time that I shared a chapter from the book and it made me want to share one more, just one more, and something that is more like comedic, funnier, not so heavy, something that I can read without having like a nervous breakdown and going to go drink a bottle of wine right after I recorded that episode. I'm just joking, I really didn't do that, but no, it was like really emotional. So I want to share another chapter Also. I have an update, so I want to share another chapter Also. I have an update. Get it update. So I have an update.
Speaker 2:My website is live updated AFcom. It is live. It is active. There's not a lot on it. If you guys want to go check it out, go ahead. You can create an account and you'll start to receive my blog posts. I'm going to start blogging and you'll get updates on when there's new episodes as well, as I am offering one-on-one business coaching. I'm just going to be starting out with business coaching because I feel like that is where I thrive in. If a random girl like me could leave California and become a real estate agent in Texas, not knowing a single person, not even having a real estate license or whatever, can do really, really well, then anybody can. And I will just share with you for 45 minutes exactly what I did to get to where I'm at today. And don't get me wrong, it does have a lot to do with the people around me and the networking and trying to find my tribe, and I will teach you how I did all that fun stuff. So updatedafcom is active. It's live. There will be more things on there later to come, but I just wanted to get that up and running and I bought the domain. I'm really proud of myself. I created the website alone. It took me six hours. But, like I said, guys, just bear with me here because it is bare bones. But you can schedule a one-on-one business coach with me If you guys want to. It's over Zoom. It's virtual.
Speaker 2:Also, thank you to the ones that reached out that are asking for mediumship readings. I will square you guys away. I have already reached out to you. Some of you are okay with coming on the podcast and letting me do the reading live, and some of you want something that's more private and that's fine too. It's giving me 2020 vibes doing these readings, cause I mean, I still do them for friends and family, but I haven't done them for, like, complete strangers since COVID.
Speaker 2:And if you listen to that episode about how, um, I think it was the last episode where I talked about that whole journey, how, for one straight year, I think, I knocked out 100 readings because there was nothing else to do during COVID. So, anyway, guys, like I said, go check out updatedafcom and welcome back to the show. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Like I said, it's more lighthearted. Also, I forgot to tell you from the first time that I shared a chapter. My maiden name is Martin and since the Marine Corps, I've been called Martin. I was, I was never called Megan. So, um, yeah, if, if you, if, if you're like, who the hell is the character? Martin? Like, it's me. I have always been called Martin for like years since the Marine Corps.
Speaker 2:It just kind of caught on again, I believe that every woman has a unique strength within her waiting to be unleashed. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a leader, a creative, a caregiver or simply on your own personal journey, this podcast is for you. Together, we'll share stories of triumph, discuss strategies for success and provide a supportive space for women to connect and grow. Get ready for real, authentic conversations that ignite your inner strength and inspire you to chase after your dreams fearlessly. Welcome to the Updated AF Collective. Okay, guys, ready for another chapter? This chapter, like I said, it's not going to make you cry. I'm not going to cry, you're not going to cry. So you can listen to this at the gym or wherever you're at, cause I know some of you said that you would have waited to listen to this more privately my last chapter if I would have, I guess, expressed how dark or how traumatic the last chapter was. So this chapter is a lot better. It's not better, but you know what I mean. Like it's, you're not going to cry. Okay, so the chapter is called Shit Magnet. Yep, if you are a first responder, you know where I'm going with this. Okay, so sit back and relax and enjoy the next chapter.
Speaker 2:I once saw something on social media that made me laugh and even question my career decision. I saw a meme of this young girl who appears to be looking up into the sky contemplating a serious question. She then hears a voice speak to her from above that tells her to listen to your heart. The young girl then looks down at her chest and there's a little door on her sweater. She opens the door and inside it says I should have been a firefighter.
Speaker 2:Since the beginning of time there has been a friendly rivalry between cops and the fire guys. Police officers like to make fun of the firefighters for having all of the luxuries of home, conveniently located at their station, like a fridge full of fresh food, big comfy lounge chairs complete with big screen televisions, warm, comfy beds to curl up in at the end of a long day, and one station even had a large popcorn machine. Many of my night shifts I would wait until the fire guys left the station for a call and I would sneak in to grab a bunch of popcorn. The fire guys would give a shit for choosing the wrong career. I swear police officers are treated like the stepchildren of the first responder world. Emts have it better than most of us most days, but ultimately we all serve the same mission and are on the same team, or so I thought. What I know to be true is the grass really is greener on the other side.
Speaker 2:It was 2014 and a very chilly Christmas Eve night. Of course, because I was a rookie cop, I had to work a major holiday to allow more senior officers to take the night off to be home with their families Rightfully so, and, to be honest, I didn't mind. I loved my job and would happily do it if it meant another officer with children and a spouse at home would be with them instead of in a patrol car with their work partner. Seniority had its privileges and that was understood across the department. I was used to working solo in my patrol vehicle, but that night I didn't want to spend Christmas Eve alone, so I decided to ask another officer on my squad if he wanted to partner up with me. Kevin was a more senior officer at the division with five years on, but decided to work the holiday for the overtime pay. Time and a half was a pretty good incentive to work a holiday, and sometimes it was enough to make officers want to work instead of spending time at home with family. I was back to working the night shift. So after getting changed over into my uniform, I walked over to the lineup room and waited for Kevin to arrive.
Speaker 2:Kevin was a young officer who started his career right out of college. He was a pretty boy, tall, with shiny brown hair, a cute face and in good shape. Girls were always flirting with him when he would be out on a traffic stop or even just standing outside near the seawall in Pacific Beach. What I always found weird was the dispatchers would be just as flirtatious with him as well. One even called Kevin her work husband in front of me one night.
Speaker 2:I remember one night I was at a little get together. Another officer was putting on at his home. When I ran into her You're that girl that gets to work with my work husband, aren't you? The dispatcher said, slurring her words. Clearly it was the red wine she had been drinking, giving her the confidence to say that out loud your work husband. I asked Kevin. She screamed back, taking another sip of her wine. Oh yeah, he's on my squad. He's cool, I guess. I said back, trying not to laugh. Cool, he's fucking gorgeous. She said, walking away from me. She openly flirted with Kevin every chance she got and would send him little messages on his laptop in his patrol car.
Speaker 2:But Kevin was one of those good guys who loved his wife more than anything, and I really liked that about him. He was also a great cop, always knowledgeable when it came to the California laws, department policy and procedures. So having him on our squad was invaluable. He was always. He was who I went to if I had any questions regarding an arrest or elements of a specific crime. He was a good one and I really wanted to get to know him more, since he too worked primarily alone.
Speaker 2:Kevin, I said slapping the leather chair that was next to mine at the lineup table. Martin, kevin said back, king up with me. I said to him, pushing out the chair, gesturing him to sit. Okay, kevin said sitting down. The rest of the night squad officers walked in and lineup started.
Speaker 2:Hey, sarge, kevin and I are going to king up tonight. I told my sergeant who was typing up the roster for the night Martin, we barely have enough officers working to cover the division. Can you just ride solo Please, Sarge? I begged I don't want to work alone on Christmas. I said, leaning back into my chair. Fine, but the two of you will work the busiest beat tonight and I'll need you to handle it. 122, king, is your call sign. You got it, sarge.
Speaker 2:Kevin said giving me a high five. Hey, I just got a text from one of the fire guys working tonight. I whispered to Kevin. A bunch of restaurants just dropped off so much donated food they don't even know what to do with it all. He wants us to stop in. No one donated food to us. Kevin said smiling. Well, my buddy Ryan says there is a ton of cookies and cake, so let's stop in after we log on. Sounds good to me, said Kevin.
Speaker 2:Kevin and I walked out to his patrol car and we loaded up our gear then headed out for the fire station that wasn't too far from our station. When we arrived, the firefighters had just finished eating their Christmassy feast, but there was still plenty left over. The families of the firefighters who were working that night had all just left and the station Christmas party was coming to an end. It was roughly 10 PM and the guys were slowly starting to make their way to bed. Meg, you came.
Speaker 2:My firefighter friends Ryan said running up to me to give me a hug. How are you? He asked. I'm good, this is my partner, kevin. Well, hey, we don't have. Well, sorry, I'm not editing this, you guys, so just bear with me. Well, hey, we don't have. Well, sorry, I'm not editing this, you guys, so just bear with me. Well, hey, we have so much food left over. What can I get you? Ryan asked, showing me the buffet of food sitting at the table. You told me you guys had cookies, so I'm here for those. Perfect.
Speaker 2:Ryan said, grabbing a paper towel and filling it with a variety of cookies. Oh, and please make sure there are no nuts in the cookies. I yelled to Ryan, who oh, and please make sure there are no nuts in the cookies. I yelled to Ryan, who was overflowing my bowl with sweets no nuts, you got it. Ryan said. Walking over, here you go.
Speaker 2:Ryan said, handing me a bowl filled with 10 different types of cookies, and none of them have nuts. I grabbed the bowl and my eye immediately saw a cookie that looked like a rainbow. The child inside of me wanted to try that one first, so I did. I grabbed the rainbow-colored cookie and bit into it. Immediately I could feel my tongue beginning to swell up, then my throat, as I swallowed the large bite that I just taken. I placed the cookie back in back into the bowl, then handed the bowl back to Ryan.
Speaker 2:There's nuts in these cookies, I said to Ryan, trying to act cool, like I wasn't about to die. Wait what Ryan said with panic on his face. Are you okay? Kevin asked me, clearly concerned. Yeah, I'm fine. I said, trying to play it off while trying not to throw up. It's fine, I'm fine.
Speaker 2:I tried so hard to stay calm and even walked around the station so that the guys couldn't see my face was swelling up. Meg, you're not fine, let me grab you something. Ryan said running to his paramedic bag here, take this. Ryan said, handing me a round small white tablet. What is this? I said while putting it in my mouth. It's a type of epinephrine we give to patients who are experiencing an allergic reaction. Does it normally work? I asked Ryan with a sarcastic tone. Yeah, ryan replied. Well, today it's not.
Speaker 2:I said walking back to my patrol car. Kevin, I need you to drive me to the nearest open store. I need Benadryl. I said getting into the passenger seat. Hey, side note, guys, if you're experiencing allergic reaction, you need to go to the hospital. Okay, that's my. You know, don't sue me, this is just a book. Okay, I made the wrong mistake. Anyway, back to the book. Okay, you need to go to a hospital. Both Ryan and Kevin said in unison no wait, did I miss it? Hold on, I need you to drive me to the nearest open store. I need Benadryl. I said getting into the passenger seat. You need a hospital. Both Ryan and Kevin said in unison.
Speaker 2:Kevin got back into the patrol car and we headed for the closest 7-Eleven gas station. It was 20 minutes away and every second that went by I became sicker and sicker. I could feel my throat swelling and my breasts were getting more and more shallow. I opened the window in the patrol car to feel the cool night air on my face as Kevin drove us as fast as he could to the store. Seriously, martin, we need to get you to a hospital. Kevin kept insisting. Kevin, I go into anaphylactic shock once a year and Benadryl has never let me down. I said back, still trying not to vomit Again. Guys, bad idea, you go into anaphylactic shock once a year and you don't carry an EpiPen on you. Kevin replied slightly shouting yeah, people put nuts in everything, kevin. Clearly the cookie was made with almond flour. Oh my God. Kevin said, throwing his hands into the air in frustration.
Speaker 2:We stopped at the red light and I could see the 7-Eleven sign. Only one more block away. One more block. I thought to myself what's up with this guy in front of us? I asked Kevin, waving my hands in front of me while pointing to a small four-door sedan. The vehicle stopped at the red light in front of us, didn't have any lights on.
Speaker 2:Kevin flashed his high beams at the car in hopes the driver would get the hint to turn the lights on. Kevin flashed his high beams at the car in hopes the driver would get the hint to turn the lights on. Flash the overhead lights, I told Kevin. Kevin flashed the overhead red and blue lights quickly, then turned them off, but still the driver remained there at the red light, still with no lights on. What the hell? I said, looking over to Kevin. Let's just stop him. You can run up to him and tell him to turn his lights on. It'll only take a second, meg. That's not a good idea. What if he's a drunk driver? Kevin said, worried the traffic stop would delay me getting the Benadryl. Just do it, I said, typing the license plate number into my laptop. I'm letting our dispatcher know we will be on a traffic stop.
Speaker 2:I was now holding back from throwing up all over myself and the patrol car. It had been a very cold night but my whole body was feeling hot. I could feel my throat starting to close. But this stop would have been quick. Kevin could just run up to the driver and let him know that he had no lights on. The driver would tell Kevin the vehicle is new and he had simply forgot. That's how the stop would have went in my head and it made complete sense. But I would soon find out I was very wrong.
Speaker 2:122 King dispatch chimed up on the radio. 122 King. I replied back to her 122 King, that vehicle you're stopping is coming back. 10-8-5-1 stolen. Kevin and I looked at each other in complete shock. Oh, what the hell? I said to kevin. 122 king 10 4. Kevin replied we have to make the stop dude. I told kevin as I placed the vehicle's red and blue light overhead. Red and blue overhead lights on 122 king show was stopping the vehicle on balboa and mission kevin advised dispatch. 122 king 10 4. Dispatch replied. Seconds later I heard multiple other officers advise over the radio. They were en route to us for backup. I could hear the sirens coming from all over the division.
Speaker 2:The driver of the vehicle immediately pulled the car over without hesitation. They're actually stopping. I said to Kevin okay, you're ready to make the stop? Kevin said, looking over at me a little nervous. I wouldn't make it much longer. I was pale, white, with very shallow breathing. At this point my whole body felt warm and I was sweating. I felt like my body was going into shock and, mixed with the adrenaline rush of making a traffic stop on a stolen vehicle, made it even harder to hold back the vomit.
Speaker 2:The driver of the vehicle pulled off to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off. The driver of the vehicle pulled off to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off. Kevin and I got out of the patrol car, pulled our guns out of the holster and pointed them at the vehicle. Hey, if I pass out, just focus on the driver. Okay, I said over to Kevin. Okay, kevin replied. Driver Kevin began to give verbal commands to the driver while standing behind the cover of the driver's side door Place your hands in the air. I saw the driver place both of his hands in the air from the driver's side seat. I am not okay, I whispered to Kevin. I placed my gun back into the holster, then collapsed.
Speaker 2:Multiple other officers arrived on scene and I felt as one picked me up from behind and dragged me to the back of my patrol car. I saw it was Scott. Another officer was on another. I saw it was Scott, another officer, who was on my squad. I was in and out of consciousness and felt incredibly dizzy. Then it happened. I started vomiting all over myself in the ground around me. What the fuck happened to you? I heard Scott asked me, but my vision was so blurry I could barely see him or respond. Kevin rushed back over to me and let me know the driver had been taken into custody hey, the guy's in the backseat and I called for an ambulance for you.
Speaker 2:Kevin told me what happened to her. I heard my Sergeant ask Kevin running up behind us. We stopped into the fire station and they gave her a cookie and it had nuts in it. She's an anaphylactic shock. I already called for medics. They should be here soon. Does she have an EpiPen? My sergeant asked Kevin. She said no. She told me to drive her to 7-Eleven so she could drink a bottle of Benadryl. Then somehow you ran a plate of a car that came back stolen. My sergeant was pissed off at this point. You two are shit magnets. You know that. I heard Scott say.
Speaker 2:Ryan and the rest of the fire guys from his station arrived along with the paramedics. Ryan ran over and immediately gave me a shot of epi, something I should have had on me to begin with. The effects were almost immediate. I felt the swelling in my throat start to go down and breathing got a little easier. The paramedics helped me up to place me on the gurney and I could see Kevin standing near our patrol car. I mouthed to him. I am so sorry. Kevin walked over to me and smiled. Thanks for not dying, martin. He said, grabbing onto my arm.
Speaker 2:Ryan, who was on the other side of me, felt immense remorse, but this was not his fault at all. The food was all donated, so there was no way for anyone to know what was in the food. The families that baked all of those cookies probably had no idea they would potentially be taking out a cop. I'm so sorry, meg Ryan said while walking along the side of the gurney. It's not your fault. I try to tell him. This happens to me all the time, I said, laughing.
Speaker 2:My sergeant walked over to the ambulance as they put me into the back. Oh, you're the guy that tried to kill my officer, so the sergeant. My sergeant asked Ryan hey, sarge, I apologize, I had no idea there were nuts in the cookies. Ryan replied Sounds like attempted murder of a peace officer. Sarge, I heard Scott yell out jokingly. Everyone laughed, except Ryan. He really did feel terrible, but he was right. I needed to always carry an EpiPen with me, especially on duty.
Speaker 2:This traffic stop could have happened very differently and I wouldn't have been able to help Kevin if shit had hit the fan. I was a liability and I couldn't, and I could have gotten my partner killed If the driver had been resistant, like most drivers of stolen vehicles are, he could have tried to shoot Kevin If he chose not to. If he chose not to stop and pull over, how long would the vehicle pursuit had gone on for? The what if? Spilled my head and I started to panic again. I knew I would have to answer to my command about this whole ordeal After I get discharged from the hospital.
Speaker 2:The ambulance driver started to shut the door when I saw my sergeant run up. Hey, I'm going to follow the ambulance to the hospital. Okay, my sergeant said, sounding very concerned. Is Kevin okay? I asked, feeling extremely guilty I'd put him in this mess? Yeah, he's good. The driver complied and followed commands. We were able to take him into custody with no issues. Okay, good, I'm really sorry, sarge, I said, wiping some tears from my face. We will talk at the hospital. Kevin is going to process the arrest, so I'll be with you until you're discharged. Thanks, sarge. The door shut and we left for the hospital.
Speaker 2:The paramedic handed me a few paper towels to help clean some of the vomit off my uniform. How are you feeling? I heard one of the paramedics sitting next to me ask I'm okay. I couldn't help but obsess over what had just happened the cookie, the traffic stop and the hospital visit. Sarge was right, I was a shit magnet. When we arrived at the hospital, I was already feeling much better, but because of the severity of the anaphylactic shock, I still needed to be monitored for a few hours. The nurse who was taking my vitals asked me how, asked me how I was feeling and if I still felt nauseous. I smiled at her and told her that I was feeling fine. She asked me when the last time I had vomited was, and I told her it had been almost an hour. Okay, good, the nurse said, turning around to face her computer. At that moment I stood up, grabbed the wastebasket and vomited. Yeah, you're going to be here for a while, officer, the nurse said. The nurse told me, shaking her head as she continued to type her notes onto the computer.
Speaker 2:The next day I walked into the lineup room. After changing over into my uniform. I went to sit down when Scott handed me a plastic bag filled with liquid bottles of Benadryl. Here you go, martin. Scott said, laughing. I don't need this much Benadryl. I said, pulling out the bottles from the bag. Oh, they're not for you, they're for us. Scott took the bag from his hands or Scott took the bag from my hands and walked around to all of my squad mates, handing everyone one bottle to keep. If any of you partner up with Martin, make sure you have a bottle in your gear bag, scott announced to the room while passing out the medication. I stood there smiling. I deserve this and I was lucky enough to have squad mates who could laugh at this. Laugh this off instead of hate me.
Speaker 2:I was wrong for not putting my own health and safety first and vowed to never allow myself to be put in a situation where I could potentially get myself killed or, even worse, my partner. Later that week I spoke to my primary care doctor and was prescribed two EpiPens that I always kept on me at all times. Lesson learned that is the chapter. Again, you guys, I don't recommend doing any of that Any first responders out there. You know that was like the probably the stupidest thing I could have done. I put a lot of people in jeopardy again Like I. I think I was completely new, I think I'd only been off face training for like six months and if you know what it's like to be a female first responder, you know the pressure it is to like be perfect at all times. And I really did want to obviously like try to fix the situation myself and don't ever do that, especially when it comes to like your health. Okay, I was dumb, but again I I was fresh out of the Marine Corps and I thought, you know I had to always be perfect and put on a brave face and just fix it myself so that nobody knew I was struggling.
Speaker 2:Again, I don't recommend the bottles of Benadryl. I don't do that anymore, but that's how I used to fix it, especially when I was in the Marine Corps. I remember this one time I was at the gym on base I was actually on Camp Pendleton and there was a smoothie shop right outside of the big gym and I, even though I told the girl, like, don't put any nuts, no peanut butter, or whatever, well, she put something in there that had nuts in it and I went into full blown anaphylactic shock and the guy that I was with working out drove me across the street to the PX and I downed a whole bottle of Benadryl and it works. But again, I don't recommend it. It's not supposed to work like that. You're not supposed to overdose on Benadryl. So it was my fix. It was like my end-all, be-all fix and again, I don't recommend that.
Speaker 2:But I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Nobody's crying. There are some heavy chapters in this book. This was just one of the chapters that I thought I would share because, again, like we needed something that had like a little bit of a comedic tone, lesson learned kind of thing. Anyway, I will see you guys next Friday. Bye.