18-9-2023 (SAN JOSE) Laura Barajas, a 40-year-old mother of one from San Jose, California, has tragically lost all four of her limbs after contracting a severe bacterial infection, believed to be linked to eating undercooked tilapia fish. Her life took a dramatic turn as she battled the infection, eventually resulting in quadruple amputation.
Laura Barajas became seriously ill shortly after consuming a fish she purchased from a local market in late July. Her friend, Anna Messina, shared the harrowing details of Ms. Barajas’ ordeal. She revealed that Laura’s health deteriorated rapidly, leading to her hospitalization for over a month as she fought against the infection.
” She almost lost her life. She was on a respirator,” said Ms. Messina in an interview with San Francisco Bay Area news station Kron4. “They put her into a medically induced coma. Her fingers were black, her feet were black, her bottom lip was black. She had complete sepsis, and her kidneys were failing.”
Anna Messina strongly suspects that the infection was caused by Vibrio vulnificus, a bacterium that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had issued a warning about on September 1st.
According to the CDC, Vibrio vulnificus infections can occur when individuals consume raw or undercooked seafood or when an open wound is exposed to seawater. The CDC also states that about 150 to 200 cases of this infection are reported in the United States each year, and approximately one in five individuals with the infection do not survive.
Anna Messina and Ms. Barajas’ family are actively seeking answers regarding the cause of the infection. Ms. Messina hopes that this tragic incident serves as a reminder of the fragility of life. “Be thankful for what we have right now because it can be taken away so quickly, so easily,” she emphasized.
Throughout her challenging journey, Laura Barajas has had the unwavering support of her partner, Jose Valdez.
To help cover Laura Barajas’ medical expenses, Anna Messina initiated a GoFundMe campaign. So far, over $35,000 has been raised for her recovery.
