Two-Time Cancer Survivor Contracts Botulism from Homemade Fermented Fish
Trinity Peterson-Mayes, a 24-year-old from Arizona, has faced immense health challenges throughout her life, surviving two childhood cancers. However, a recent dinner with friends led to a new and terrifying ordeal: she contracted botulism, a rare and potentially fatal neurotoxin, after consuming homemade fermented swordfish.
A Fatal Dinner Decision
Last month, Peterson-Mayes and her friends gathered for a meal where one companion served fermented swordfish. "It tasted horrible, I’m going to be so honest," she told 12 News. Despite the unpleasant flavor, she tried it, thinking it might be healthy and expecting at most a stomach ache. Instead, within days, she experienced severe symptoms, including an inability to swallow water or speak clearly, prompting a hospital visit.
Rapid Deterioration and Diagnosis
At the initial hospital, doctors struggled to identify her condition and considered discharging her. Sensing something was critically wrong, Peterson-Mayes was transferred to a neurological institute, where she was diagnosed with botulism. Two of her friends who also ate the fish received the same diagnosis. Botulism is a rare neurotoxin that causes paralysis and is often only seen in medical textbooks, typically stemming from improperly canned or fermented foods.
Life-Saving Treatment and Recovery
Her condition worsened rapidly, leading to intubation and placement on a ventilator to protect her airway. Doctors waited for an antitoxin to be delivered from another state. "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 recounted. After receiving the antitoxin, the paralysis halted, and she began her recovery journey.
Long Road to Rehabilitation
Released from the hospital on March 10, Peterson-Mayes is now in an inpatient rehabilitation program. Her recovery is expected to take months, as she must relearn how to swallow and regain normal movement. A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $9,700 to support her medical expenses. "She is already fighting hard every day to regain the basic abilities most of us take for granted - speaking, swallowing, and moving normally again," her mother said, highlighting her resilience from surviving cancer twice.
Previous Health Battles
Peterson-Mayes's strength has been tested before. She was first diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer, at just two months old, and later with osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer, at age 11. This latest health scare has left her fearful of canned foods and even sushi, altering her eating habits significantly.
Understanding Botulism
Botulism is caused by the neurotoxin Clostridium botulinum, which can form spores in improperly canned or fermented foods. Symptoms, such as trouble swallowing, dry mouth, blurred vision, and paralysis, usually appear 12 to 36 hours after ingestion. In the United States, only 100 to 300 cases are reported annually, with most occurring in infants. This incident underscores the dangers of homemade food preparation and the importance of proper food safety practices.
