Kansas mom thought a spider bite was no big deal — then doctors told her she could have just weeks to live

Kansas native Britagne Miller went camping at Cheney Lake on May 28, and an encounter with a cluster of spiders changed the trajectory of her life. Miller said the outing took a frightening turn when several spiders crawled on her, leaving multiple bites across her body. Months later, after repeated trips in and out of the hospital, Miller is still recovering while awaiting a liver transplant.

According to The Independent, Miller initially did not think the bites were serious. However, a few days later, one bite on her calf developed into a severe bruise, prompting her to seek medical attention on June 4.

Miller said the pain eventually began shooting down into her foot. Doctors soon discovered she was suffering from severe blood clots and determined that she needed emergency treatment. Unfortunately, her medical history meant the road ahead would be far more complicated than anyone expected.

She was close to giving up

Miller explained that her health problems began years earlier during her pregnancy, when she was diagnosed with two blood-clotting disorders. Those conditions later developed into liver disease, along with multiple food and medication allergies, making surgery significantly more complicated.

Miller said, “I’m terrified of surgery, that I’m going to go to sleep and not wake up, or that I’m going to bleed out.” She continued, “They came at 9 o’clock in the morning, and they’re like, we need you to sign this paper. We’re going into surgery.”

The procedure successfully removed the blood clots, but her recovery took another devastating turn. Miller said that five days after surgery, her wounds became infected with dangerous bacteria, including staph.

Miller was finally released from the hospital on July 11 after rejecting hospice care in favor of continuing treatment. She recalled reaching a breaking point, saying, “I was like, I give up. I’m done being cut open. I’m done being poked and prodded. I’m done hurting.” But she said thoughts of her family gave her the strength to keep fighting.

She has now undergone multiple surgeries followed by lengthy recovery periods, but she is not out of the woods yet. Miller still needs to improve her health enough to qualify for the liver transplant she urgently requires.

Throughout the ordeal, doctors have suspected that the spider bites may have triggered the chain of medical complications, but they have not been able to conclusively confirm that they were the cause.

Her husband had to take a leave of absence to care for her

Reportedly, only two spider species in the area are considered venomous: the black widow and the brown recluse. Whether either was responsible for Miller’s condition remains under investigation. For now, her family is focused on helping her recover. Her husband, Jake, reportedly took a leave of absence from work to care for her, and the family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover mounting medical expenses.

So far, the fundraiser has raised more than $50,000 toward its $60,000 goal. In the campaign’s description, Jake wrote in part, “We believe God is walking with us through every step of this journey. Britagne has already overcome obstacles that seemed impossible, and she continues to remind us every day what faith, courage, and perseverance look like.”