Mary was only 16 years old, in 1980, when she contracted a Campylobacter infection from eating undercooked chicken served at a restaurant. She had severe cramping and diarrhea and she was unable to keep any food in. She soon began to lose significant weight. Her doctors failed to offer a diagnosis, so her older sister, a laboratory manager, took matters into her own hands. Samples she collected and had tested determined that Campylobacteriosis the cause of Mary’s affliction.
Mary’s road to recovery lingers as she continues to endure long-term mobility consequences she believes are directly related to her bout with foodborne illness.
Today, Mary has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Lyme Disease, chronic diseases of the central nervous system, which she believes could be a direct result of her battle with Campylobacter. Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune condition similar to MS and Lyme Disease, in which the immune system attacks the nerves. GBS is a known side-effect of Campylobacteriosis; one in every one thousand patients diagnosed with a Campylobacter infection also develops Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Stop Foodborne Illness stands with individuals like Mary whose quality of life has been permanently altered—or lost—because of food poisoning.
