On a common Monday night in Los Angeles, 28-year-old Emily Hartley had a bad headache. She thought it was just stress from work, not enough water, or just a rough day. She took a light pain pill, drank some water, and went to sleep.
Come morning, everything had changed.
Her boyfriend, Jake, tried to wake her at 8 AM, but something was very wrong. She did not react, her skin was cold, and she was saying odd things softly. Scared, he called 911.
Paramedics took Emily to the nearest hospital, where the doctors did a brain scan.
What they saw shocked not just the doctors but later, the world.
A Bug in Her Brain?
After a quick MRI, the brain doctor saw an odd shadow in Emily’s brain. At first, they thought it might be a growth. But it did not look right — it was alive and moving.
Further tests revealed a disturbing truth: Emily had a live bug in her brain. A worm baby had gotten into her brain, eating it, making it swell, and putting her near a deep sleep.
The illness is called neurocysticercosis — a rare but severe condition caused by eating pork worm eggs. The eggs can move in the blood and settle in the brain.
Yes, it is as bad as it sounds.
How Did This Happen?
Emily did not eat meat. She had not had pork for years. So, how did this happen?
The doctors looked at her food, life, and clean habits. After lots of talks, they found a clue — she had food from a roadside food shop on a beach trip with friends. The food person did not wash their hands well and might have had the bug.
It’s not only meat that brings the sickness — it can be dirty water, bad cleaning habits, or even raw veggies washed in unclean water. In Emily’s case, it was most likely the salsa or veggies that were not cleaned well.
Brain Surgery or Worse
Emily’s state was bad. The baby worm was in her front brain part, very near to the parts that control memory and feelings. She needed a quick surgery, or she could have lasting harm... or die.
Within 12 hours of getting to the hospital, brain doctors took out the worm. It was a hard and dangerous job, but they got the live worm out — and it was still moving.
Her getting better was slow. She was in the care unit for two weeks, then many months of getting back to normal. The scar was deep. But against the odds, Emily made it.
She Tells Everyone Now
Once Emily woke up and knew what had happened, she was shocked. “I had no clue this could happen from just veggies,” she told a news station. “I thought I was eating well. I never thought a bug would almost kill me.”
She now works to tell people about safe food, clean habits, and bug sickness. She started a TikTok called “Don’t Eat That!” where she talks about what she went through and helps others not let it happen to them.
Her tale has been seen over 28 million times online, with many saying they now eat more carefully.
What the Experts Say
Dr. Mariana Gomez, a disease doctor, said, “Neurocysticercosis is more common than many think; many places have this issue. But going places and poor cleaning can bring the risk here — even in places like the U.S., U.K., or Canada.”
The CDC says about 1,000 people get this in the U.S. each year. In places like India, Pakistan, and parts of Latin America, it's more common.
Signs of brain bugs are:
Long headaches
Throwing up
Fits
Thinking hard
Acting odd
If not cared for, it can lead to lasting harm, coma, or death.
How to Stay Safe
Emily’s tale is shocking, but it also tells us that what we eat and how clean we are can truly save us.
Here’s what you can do to keep safe:
Always clean fruits and veggies well with safe water
Stay away from road food in dirty places.
Don’t eat raw or not well-cooked pork or meat.
Wash your hands before and after food and after using the bathroom.
Be careful in places with poor cleaning.
And if you feel odd or sick for a long time, see a doctor fast.
A Wonder of Modern Healing
Doctors say Emily's living was a wonder. If her boyfriend hadn’t been quick, she might not have made it.
Her bad time, now told online, warns many.
“I feel like I got another go at life,” Emily said. “If my story saves even one life, then it's worth telling.”
Would you eat from a road shop again after reading this?
Have you had a bad health scare like this?
Tell us what you think in the comments and tag someone who needs to see this!
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