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Touching a napkin left on her car door handle on Tuesday caused a Houston proprietress to fall ill and spend her birthday in the hospital, per a report from Houston NBC affiliate KPRC.
KPRC reported that Erin Mims went from marking another year to wondering if it would be the last birthday she’ll experience after the discovery following a celebratory brunch at Prospect Park Willowbrook in northwest Houston.
Mims, who runs a hair salon with her husband, told the station that she didn’t think anything removing the napkin only to experience bizarre symptoms.
“I felt like I couldn’t breathe,” she said, per KPRC. “My chest started hurting, I was getting hot flashes, my heart was racing, just a whole bunch of stuff. I told my husband that I didn’t feel well.”
According to the report, Mims removed the napkin with her nails.
She attempted to throw it away when it got on her vehicle.
Though she subsequently washed her hands, KPRC reported, whatever laced the napkin ended up on the door handle and her body.
The incident dashed her plans of continuing her special day at the spa, per the station.
Instead, she checked into HCA Houston Healthcare, where doctors and staff ran tests and helped her rid the unknown contents out of her system.
KPRC reported that Mims, who was told by a doctor that she suffered acute poisoning, recounted her ordeal on social media and learned her situation wasn’t unique.
“Someone reached out to me and let me know it wasn’t just my car but they saw it on multiple cars,” Mims said, the station reported.
Spouse Bobby Marshall added that they’re taking their surroundings into account from now on.
HCA Houston Healthcare advised in a statement that anyone who may have been exposed to a poisonous substance to promptly seek medical attention or call 911, KPRC reported.