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Cancer Survivor Battles Botulism After Trying Fermented Fish
15 Mar
Summary
- Trinity, a two-time childhood cancer survivor, contracted botulism.
- She fell ill after consuming homemade fermented swordfish last month.
- Botulism can cause paralysis, affecting breathing muscles.
A young woman named Trinity, who had previously survived two childhood battles with cancer, recently contracted botulism. The illness occurred after she consumed a friend's homemade fermented swordfish dish last month, which she described as tasting "horrible." Within days of eating the dish, Trinity experienced alarming symptoms, including severe difficulty swallowing and breathing, necessitating emergency medical care.
She was transferred to St. Joseph's Medical Center and Barrow Neurological Institute, where doctors diagnosed her with botulism. Trinity awoke in the hospital intubated and unable to move or speak, a frightening experience following her prior victories over cancer. She is currently undergoing rehabilitation and is expected to be released soon.
Trinity is one of three individuals among six who sampled the fermented swordfish to develop botulism. While her two friends have since recovered, Trinity's ongoing recovery requires intensive therapy. Foodborne botulism, often caused by improperly preserved fermented foods, can lead to paralysis, including that of respiratory muscles. The U.S. experiences about two dozen cases of food botulism annually.
