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Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki hospitalized after severe allergic reaction
Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki hospitalized after severe allergic reaction
MILWAUKEE -- A brush with death. The Archbishop of Milwaukee says if it weren't for some luck and a lot of help, he may not have survived a severe allergic reaction.
On Sunday mornings, many times all that priests ask is that we listen.
"Strangely enough, last week's gospel was you know not the hour, or time of day. You got to be ready," Listecki said.
Just a day after a lesson on how life should not be taken for granted, no one expected Archbishop of Milwaukee Jerome Listecki to deliver a dramatic example in a lengthy post on the “Archdiocese of Milwaukee blog."
"I returned from Poland for World Youth Day, and I had a sinus infection," Listecki said.
Jerome Listecki
Listecki says Monday, he grabbed medicine at his home before going to a meeting.
"I opened it up and took a swig of Robitussin," Listecki said.
He didn't realize it was Robitussin CF, which has an added ingredient.
"And it has acetaminophen, I'm highly allergic to acetaminophen," said Listecki.
Listecki first called his housekeeper.
"She said you want me to call 911? She said no why don't you just come over and we'll go over to the ER," the blog post read.
By the time he made it outside, his throat was closing.
"Luckily I had the cell phone in my pocket," said Listecki.
As paramedics arrived, another priest happened to be walking by and delivered the sacrament of the sick.
"He grabs the holy oil. And anoints me," said Listecki.
Listecki was rushed to the hospital and kept overnight as precaution.
An unexpected way to make a point about a sermon that was worth reflecting on.
"I don't care if you're the archbishop of Milwaukee or a police officers, you've got to be ready when God will call you," said Listecki.
Listecki says his guardian angels were working overtime. He says if it wasn't for his cell phone, and a lot of other good fortune including the fact he had Benadryl early on, which likely slowed the reaction -- there's a good chance he wouldn't be here.
We're glad he is.
Read Listecki's full blog post here: