Aspen, Colorado – A young Brazilian woman participating in an exchange program in Colorado finds herself paralyzed and fighting for her life after contracting a rare bacteria, as reported by her family. Claudia de Albuquerque Celada, 23, was admitted to the hospital on February 17 with symptoms including paralysis, dizziness, double vision, and shortness of breath. Two weeks later, she was diagnosed with botulism at the Swedish Medical Center in Denver.
Since her hospitalization, Albuquerque Celada has been reliant on a breathing aid and is receiving treatment to address her condition. Her sister, Luísa Albuquerque, shared on social media that the hospital in Denver is arranging for her to be transported back to Brazil by air ambulance, believing that being close to family will aid in her recovery.
Albuquerque Celada had been working in Aspen as part of an exchange program since November. According to her sister, she began feeling unwell one day in February, experiencing shortness of breath, blurred vision, and dizziness. Her condition rapidly deteriorated, with friends finding her barely able to breathe on her own, subsequently leading to facial paralysis and total body paralysis.
While the family suspects foodborne contamination as the source of the infection, the specific culprit remains unknown. Albuquerque Celada’s family has been raising funds to cover her extensive medical expenses, with each day in the hospital costing around $10,000. The Denver hospital’s decision to cover her transportation costs back to Brazil has provided some relief, but the family now faces a $500,000 hospital bill to settle.
Botulism, a rare but severe illness that affects the body’s nerves, has left Albuquerque Celada in a critical condition. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that symptoms typically begin in the eyes, face, mouth, and throat, spreading to other parts of the body and potentially impacting breathing muscles. Health officials in Pitkin County have assured the public that Albuquerque Celada’s case is isolated with no risk to public health.