Social media’s speed can save lives—just ask Andrea Pergola. Her 15-year-old son Logan was gathering tree branches for a volunteer job when he felt a sharp sting. Within minutes, a strange red, grid-like mark appeared on his arm, spreading into a painful rash up to his chest. Logan turned pale and dizzy as Andrea tried home remedies like garlic, but nothing helped.
Logan’s grandfather identified the culprit: a fluffy, deceptively cute caterpillar—one of North America’s most venomous. Realizing the danger, Andrea rushed Logan to the ER, where doctors confirmed the severity of the sting.
Andrea now shares their story as a warning: unusual rashes or grid patterns on the skin after contact with insects or plants can signal toxic exposure. Rapid online research and fast medical attention likely saved Logan’s life.
