Unique program celebrates babies recovering from botulism with heartwarming gesture

The group has recently included numerous infants affected by a botulism outbreak linked to contaminated ByHeart formula NewsWorldAmericasUnique program celebrates babies recovering from botulism with heartwarming gestureRecently, this group has included numerous U.S. infants affected by a botulism outbreak linked to contaminated ByHeart formulaJonel Aleccia Tuesday 24 February 2026 23:43 GMTBookmarkBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoverFamilies filing lawsuits due to botulism in ByHeart baby formulaYour support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreA unique California program, offering the world's sole medical treatment for potentially fatal infant botulism, also provides a heartwarming gesture to recovering families: personalized birthday cards.Each year, staff at the state’s Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program craft and dispatch around 200 cards, celebrating the recovery of children afflicted by this rare and dangerous condition.Recently, this group has included numerous U.S. infants affected by a botulism outbreak linked to contaminated ByHeart formula.Amy Mazziotti, from Burbank, California, received a birthday card for her son, Hank, in September, months after his 12-day hospitalization due to botulism contracted from the ByHeart formula.Hank Mazziotti, 8 months, being treated for infant botulism in March 2025 in Los Angeles. (Amy Mazziotti via AP)“The fact that they take the time to send hand-drawn cards to each baby is incredibly special," Mazziotti said. “When you’re worried about your baby, it’s the small acts like this that somehow feel really big.”The cards are coordinated by Robin Hinks, a program assistant whose duties include decorating, tracking and mailing them.“I am a big fan of drawing animals with party hats,” said Hinks, who favors crayons and colored pencils. “Like, here’s a frog with some balloons and a little penguin.”The program’s primary purpose is to help diagnose and treat the disease that occurs when babies ingest botulism spores that germinate in the intestine and produce a dangerous toxin that attacks the nervous system, causing paralysis. Death rates were once as high as 90 percent, but now are less than 1 percent with treatment.The only treatment, known as BabyBIG, is an IV medication made from the pooled blood plasma of adults who have been immunized against botulism. California’s program is the sole source worldwide.Because the disease is so rare, with about 200 cases treated each year, the botulism center has become a source of information and connection for families facing the ordeal.“Support of the babies and their families remains paramount to our program and our mission,” said Dr. Jessica Khouri, the program’s senior medical officer.Heather Goody, of Gallipolis, Ohio, said she felt alone when her daughter, MaryEllen, contracted infant botulism in 2016. Nearly a decade later, Goody still runs a Facebook group, Infant Botulism Awareness, to connect the parents of sick babies. It now has more than 500 members.She still recalls how touching it was to receive a card on MaryEllen’s first birthday.“It brought all the feels, but most importantly the feeling of gratitude that she was thriving in all areas of life,” Goody said.Maintaining that connection was a priority for the late Dr. Stephen Arnon, who with colleagues in 1976 identified the rare form of botulism that affects babies younger than 1 — and then spent the next 45 years figuring out how to treat it.Arnon, who died in 2022, stayed in close touch with families of kids sickened by infant botulism, updating them as his scientific work progressed.Today, nearly 1,500 families are part of the botulism program's parent network, which includes children treated two decades ago. The group shares everything from preschool graduations to college acceptances and other milestones.“Former patients have gone on to have families of their own and keep in touch with us,” Khouri said. “It really is an incredible part of the work we do.”More aboutCaliforniaBurbankbabiesDiseaseMost popularPopular videosBulletinRead next