Trinity Peterson-Mayes probably did not think twice before eating a friend's homemade fish dinner. Unfortunately, the meal turned out to be tainted with botulism. The two-time pediatric cancer survivor was very seriously ill but is now reportedly recovering.
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According to KPNX, "Trinity Peterson-Mayes, 24, was perfectly healthy just weeks ago. But a meal with friends last month left her nearly paralyzed." The woman, an Arizona-based wedding planner, consumed homemade fermented swordfish. She never guessed what that simple act would lead to.
Peterson-Mayes said, "It tasted horrible, I'm going to be so honest. It's supposed to be healthy and I figured I might as well try, if it's bad and I'll just get a bad stomach ache." What she actually got was an unexpected fight for her life.
She Began To Experience Alarming Symptoms
Peterson-Mayes recalled, "I noticed that when I was chugging water, I wouldn't be able to chug it. It was going down the wrong pipe, and then slowly, over the course of 24 hours, I went from not being able to chug water to not being able to drink any water at all."
She raced to the hospital. Doctors initially were going to send Peterson-Mayes home. After being treated at two medical facilities, she was finally diagnosed with botulism. It's exceptionally rare.
Per the outlet, it's a bacteria that can flourish in "improperly canned foods," for example. It can wreak havoc on the human body.
Peterson-Mayes Is Doing Better Now
She went through a really rough patch before turning the corner. Treatment with an antitoxin helped her considerably. "I woke up and I had three IVs. I was intubated, I had a central line in my neck, and I had an NG tube... and I just woke up and I couldn't move at all. It was very scary," Peterson-Mayes shared. "I wasn't able to talk before. I wasn't able to walk."
Two of her friends who also contracted botulism from the homemade fermented fish have been released from the hospital. As for Peterson-Mayes, getting back to feeling normal again may still take quite a while. But at least now her journey back to health is underway.
