Words from a Widow of Boar’s Head Listeria Liverwurst

A note I received from a widow. I hope everyone at FSIS and the FDA read this along with every owner of every company that produces food.

Hello, my name is _________________ I am the widow of ___________________ who died of Listeria from Boars Head Liverwurst on July 18, 2024.  __________ is better known as _______. 

________ was my high school sweetheart and the love of my life.  We dated in 1969 and in 1976 married.  Together for fifty-five years that is a lifetime that I will always treasure.

I am devastated beyond words.  

__________ had a horrible upbringing.  His father had mental problems and received electrical shock treatments.  His father tormented __________ with his belt and cigarette burns on his legs.  _________ lived on apples and peanut butter.  Thank goodness for his grandparents they saved him from foster care.  Despite _________’s past abuse he was always loving, caring, giving, comical, generous and humble.  He was a people person and was always there to lend an ear to everyone.  

When we were married Grandma said to me that I saved ___________’s life and it’s so nice to see him happy and in love.  My family welcomed __________ and he received love and stability.  

_________ always thanked me for marring him.  __________ and I always said to each other “I’ll always to there for you on earth and in heaven.  Amen.  Whoever gets to heaven first please wait for me.”  

On July 12, 2024 I called the Fire Department for_________.  He was weak, body aches so bad he had trouble turning over in bed, nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, fever and not coherent.  ________ was rushed to __________ University Medical Center in __________________.  __________ received good care in intensive care.  _________’s last words to me was in the emergency room and he said, “I love you.”  

I have trouble sleeping.  I wake up every two to three hours.  My life is so empty without __________.  I have trouble getting the images of intensive care out of my mind.  All the pain and suffering.  ___________ had seven grand mal seizures, elevated temperatures up to 103.6.  Very high temperatures that were so high the doctors placed a frozen blanket on _________.  He had nine drips, drawing blood from his neck, on a ventilator in intensive care for seven days.  

My family lives in Florida and my sister _________ was always by my side.  I had a hard time accepting _________’s sickness of Listeria and how fast he was deteriorating.   I will always to thankful for the love, guidance and support my sister gave me.  Our neighbors always came to visit _________ at home and in the intensive care unit.  I would be lost without them.

I spent endless hours being by _________’s side in the emergency room and in intensive care unit hoping I would receive a miracle.  It was hopeless but I kept on praying the rosary I just wanted ___________ back.  My heart was breaking but deep down inside I knew it was hopeless my _________ was leaving me.  The doctor took me aside and said it’s time to say goodbye.  There was no hope for survival and the doctor said it was time to terminate __________’s life and take him off life support.  I signed the DNA I cried and crumbled with pain.  

In my heart I truly believe that _________ would still be with me if it wasn’t being poisoned by Boars Head and getting Listeria.  Let’s face it, everyone has some medical problem and taking medication.  People are living longer in this day and age due to medication and the life expectancy is ninety and some live to be one hundred.  

Boars Head Virginia Plant should be held responsible for __________’s death.  I never thought my husband would die eating a Liverwurst sandwich.  Boars Head should be held libel for __________’s death.  ___________’s immune system could not handle the high bacteria in Boars Head Liverwurst and passed away from Listeria a painful death on life support in intensive care on July 18, 2024. 

I don’t know how Boars Head could be sympathetic toward me knowingly they had a filthy, roach infested, mold and water dripping on their meats.  The Virginia Boars Head Plant not once or twice but dozens of times were visited by the Health Department and were cited for violations, and they still remained open to distribute poison Liverwurst to the public.  Was Board Head ever concerned regarding their employee’s health working under these conditions?  Absolutely not!   My question to Boars Head is “Would you take poisoned meat home to your family and loved ones?”  We all know the answer!  I always bought Board Head but no more.  

I’m devastated, heartbroken and I feel I will never be the same.  I miss _________ beyond words. Regarding the future who knows what is in store for anyone.  We are all in God’s hands. 

My sister and I were sitting by ___________’s bedside in intensive care, and I left to go to the lady’s room.  As I walked back inside my sister said, “________ just passed away.”  (1:59 pm)

I ran over to him and said please come back I love you; I didn’t say goodbye and the monitor machine went back on.  __________ passed at 2:03 pm and was pronounced dead for the second time.  Even at the end he was sending his love, and I had my miracle to say goodbye.   

Source: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/11/words-from-a-widow-of-boars-head-listeria-liverwurst/