Last Saturday, February 28th, while I was preparing for my daughter’s bridal shower, I received a text that no parent wants to receive. My son, Collin, told me that one side of his face felt stiff, his tongue was swollen, and he could barely speak. I urged him to go straight to the ER. After several hours, he was sent home without answers—just an antifungal medication and uncertainty.

The next day, Collin called again saying he felt dizzy, weak, and thought he needed to return to the hospital. I picked him up to monitor him myself, and for most of the day he seemed stable — until he suddenly choked on a sip of water. I rushed him back to the ER.

Doctors were baffled. Nothing made sense.

After doing some digging, we discovered that two of Collin’s friends had been hospitalized with similar symptoms. The only connection was a meal they had shared prepared by Collin’s roommate. Doctors eventually determined the cause: botulism—a rare and dangerous illness that affects only about 20 adults per year in the U.S.

Botulism shuts down communication between nerves and muscles—almost like having Botox throughout your entire body. Because it’s so rare, many doctors will never see a case in their careers. The antitoxin had to be approved by federal agencies and flown in from California before treatment could begin.

Collin and his friends were transferred to St. Joseph’s Hospital to receive specialized care. Recovery from botulism is unpredictable. The body must slowly rebuild nerve connections, and progress can take weeks—or even months. Right now, Collin still cannot swallow on his own. If this doesn’t improve by Monday, doctors may need to place a feeding tube in his stomach.

Collin works as a server and bartender at Spinato’s, but he won’t be able to return to work until he can talk and swallow normally again. On top of the long recovery ahead, he’s facing a $10,600 out-of-pocket maximum on his insurance, a heavy burden for anyone, especially when unable to work.

As his mom, I’m stepping in to ask for help on his behalf. I want to support Collin in every way I can, even if that means reaching out to our community for assistance.

If you’re able to help, whether through a donation or by sharing this fundraiser — it would mean the world to us. Thank you for your kindness, support, and prayers during this difficult time.