Do you remember your foodborne illness?
I was in my 30’s at the time, and I remember it well. I remember the intense pain caused by the perforated colon. I remember the look and sound of concern on the surgeon’s face as he explained that I was going to have emergency surgery. I remember the weeks of IV antibiotics that followed. I remember the colostomy I had for eight months, until it was reversed.
Are there certain foods you avoid because of your experience?
I don’t eat rare meats, though living in Japan I do eat sushi. Because I have intestinal scar tissue, I can’t eat hard seeds, which can cause an obstruction.
Have you faced any obstacles because of your foodborne illness?
I had no lingering emotional or other problems. I’ve always been a glass half full person.
You are a survivor. Do you live your life differently because of that?
In the long run, I wasn’t affected by what happened. I sometimes wonder if I took up flying (and aerobatics) because I felt a need afterwards to do as much as I could in my life.
What message would you like to send to the food industry?
Taking care of us, is taking care of yourself.
What message would you like to leave with our readers?
If you see something wrong at a restaurant or food store, speak up. While you can’t spot pathogens with the naked eye, you can tell when conditions are dirty or dangerous. Talk to the manager. Don’t be afraid to call the local health department, either.
As the voice of people affected by foodborne illness, we collaborate with partners in academia, the food industry, and government to prevent foodborne illness. We advocate for effective food safety policy and facilitate culture change to increase food safety.
Stop Foodborne Illness is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent the law allows.
