In a heartbreaking incident, a Montana woman suffered a devastating and fatal poisoning after consuming poisonous mushrooms served at a local sushi restaurant. Donna Ventura, 64, tragically passed away after a harrowing battle with food poisoning that caused severe organ damage and excruciating pain.
Her husband, Jon Ventura, shared the painful details of her final days in an interview with KBZK, revealing the deep emotional and physical suffering he endured. The ordeal began last April when Donna, after eating a salmon roll that included morels at Dave’s Sushi, quickly fell ill. Just an hour after eating, it became clear that something was terribly wrong.
She was rushed to Bozeman Deaconess Regional Medical Center, where she was placed in the intensive care unit. For the next two weeks, Donna fought for her life as the fungal toxins devastated her liver and kidneys. As her condition worsened, Donna lost the ability to speak due to severe damage to her throat. In her last days she communicated with her loved ones by writing messages with a red magic marker.
His notes conveyed his desperation and unbearable pain. Jon Ventura recounted some of his last words: “I’m not sure I can last much longer, how are we going to manage, I can’t stand the pain.” Among his last written messages were declarations of love to her family, telling her husband and son: “I love you,” and specifically to her son: “I love you, Mr. C,” he reported. he. Mirror.
Donna Ventura’s death was not an isolated incident. She was one of two people who died after the meal at Dave’s Sushi, and the local Gallatin County Health Department’s investigation revealed that at least 51 other people were suffering from similar symptoms. He Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) later identified morels imported from China as the likely source of the outbreak.
Although they are usually edible, morels must be cooked thoroughly to neutralize the toxins, a precaution that was evidently overlooked at the sushi restaurant. Reflecting on the tragedy, Jon Ventura expressed disbelief at how a simple lunch could lead to such a catastrophic outcome. He described his wife’s physical changes as the disease progressed, noting her tight skin and fluid buildup in her system, all indicative that her organs were failing.
Determined to seek justice, he filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the restaurant, which had closed briefly after the outbreak but reopened a month later. As legal proceedings continue, Jon Ventura remains deeply concerned about the safety and health of others who may dine at the restaurant, citing multiple health code violations documented by the Gallatin County Health Department.
The case has drawn attention to the critical importance of food safety and the devastating impact of negligence in food preparation and sourcing. The community and Jon Ventura await answers from the restaurant’s legal representatives, hoping for accountability and action to prevent these types of tragedies in the future.