A dinner with friends turned into a nightmare for 24-year-old cancer survivor Trinity Peterson-Mayes after she suddenly lost the ability to swallow, speak, and move within 24 hours.
Doctors traced her symptoms to fermented swordfish she had eaten, which caused botulism—a rare but potentially deadly illness that attacks the nervous system.
Her condition quickly worsened, leaving her paralyzed and on a ventilator until she received a life-saving antitoxin. Two other friends who ate the dish were also diagnosed but later released.
Peterson-Mayes is now recovering, though it may take months to regain her strength. The experience left her shaken, admitting, “I’m scared of sushi now.”