California mom, 40, loses all four limbs after catching Vibrio eating undercooked TILAPIA for dinner
- Laura Barajas, 40, has lost all four limbs after contracting a bacterial infection from undercooked Tilapia fish
- The mother underwent life-saving amputation surgery on Thursday after a months-long stay in hospital battling the devastating infection
A California mother has lost all four limbs after contracting a bacterial infection from undercooked Tilapia fish.
Laura Barajas, 40, underwent life-saving amputation surgery on Thursday after a months-long stay in hospital battling the horrific infection.
Barajas, mother of a six-year-old boy, became ill in late July after eating fish she bought at a local market in San Jose and made at home for herself, a friend revealed to News 19.
‘It is very difficult for all of us. It’s terrible. This could have happened to any of us,” Barajas’ friend Anna Messina told the newspaper.
‘She almost lost her life. She was on a ventilator,” Messina said.
Laura Barajas, 40, underwent life-saving amputation surgery on Thursday after a months-long hospital stay battling the devastating infection
Barajas, mother of a six-year-old boy, became ill in late July after eating fish she bought at a local market in San Jose
“They put her in a medically induced coma,” she explained.
“Her fingers were black, her feet were black, her lower lip was black. She had full-blown sepsis and her kidneys were failing.”
The infection is believed to be caused by vibrio vulnificus, a bacterial infection that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently warned about.
“The way you can become infected with this bacteria is one, you can eat something contaminated with it, the other way is by having a cut or tattoo exposed to water in which this bacteria lives,” explained UCSF infectious disease expert, Dr. Natasha Spottiswoode, out. .
About 150 to 200 cases of the infections are reported annually and about one in five people with the infection die, the CDC said.
According to Spottiswoode, the bacteria is especially concerning for people with weakened immune systems.
“People should take sensible precautions, for example if you have a cut, make sure you don’t get immersed in water until it has healed properly,” Spottiswoode said.
“If you are someone with a weakened immune system, keep an eye on these things and avoid risky activities and foods.”
Barajas’ partner of eight years Jose Valdez (right) was by her side during what her friends say was her ordeal
Barajas, now a quadruple amputee, is the mother of a six-year-old boy named Gael
“Be grateful for what we have now because it can be taken away so quickly and easily,” Messina added.
Messina has set up a GoFundMe page to help her friend cover her medical expenses and ongoing care needs. ‘
‘This family urgently needs our help. While Jose has health benefits through his work, it remains uncertain whether they will also cover Laura, his partner of eight years Messina wrote on the page, which has raised more than $26,000 so far.
“Jose’s paid time off (PTO) has run out, and the Family Disability program only provides 60% of his normal income.
“The mounting hospital bills are overwhelming, and Laura’s physical condition will necessitate significant life changes as they adjust to her new circumstances,” she added.