Mum becomes quadruple amputee after eating undercooked fish

A mum in the States has become a quadruple amputee after falling ill from an undercooked fish dinner.

Laura Barajas, from San Jose in California, contracted a vicious bacterial infection from the fish she bought at a local market in 2023.

According to friend Anna Messina, Barajas had cooked the fish herself at home.

On September 14th 2023, she underwent life-saving surgery that involved amputating both of her arms and both legs as she battled the infection.

“It's just been really heavy on all of us,” Messina told KRON 4. “It's terrible. This could've happened to any of us.

Barajas in hospital (KRON 4)

“She almost lost her life. She was on a respirator.”

Barajas was placed in a medically-induced coma after contracting sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection.

"Her fingers were black, her feet were black her bottom lip was black. She had complete sepsis and her kidneys were failing." Messina explained.

The medical staff said the infection was likely caused by Vibrio Vulnificus, which reportedly affects 150-200 Americans each year. Around 1 in 5 people who contract the bacterium will die from its effects.

"The ways you can get infected with this bacteria are, one: you can eat something that’s contaminated with it,” said Dr Natasha Spottiswoode, an infectious disease expert from UCSF. “The other way is by having a cut or tattoo exposed to water in which this bug lives.

“People should take sensible precautions. If you have a cut, avoid getting immersed in water until it's well-healed,” she added.

“If you are someone who is immunocompromised, keep an eye on these things and avoid high-risk activities and foods.”

Messina set up a GoFundMe fundraising page to assist with Barajas’s medical care and ongoing recovery.

"This family is in desperate need of our help,” she said. “While Jose has health benefits through his work, it remains uncertain whether they will cover Laura, his partner of eight years.

It's believed that Barajas was infected by undercooked tilapia (Heather Paul/Getty Images)

"Jose's paid time off (PTO) has been exhausted, and the Family Disability program provides only 60 percent of his normal income.

"The mounting hospital bills are overwhelming, and Laura's physical condition will necessitate significant changes to their lives as they adapt to her new circumstance."

As of April 2025, the page has raised $147,085 (£111,234). It’s unclear how Barajas is getting on now, but hopefully the strangers’ generosity has had a positive effect on her recovery and adjustment to her new circumstances.