### Colorado Teen Suffers Serious Health Issues from McDonald's E.coli Outbreak Linked to Quarter Pounders

A 15-year-old girl from Colorado has faced severe health challenges following her consumption of Quarter Pounder burgers from McDonald's, which were linked to an E.coli outbreak. Kamberlyn Bowler of Grand Junction encountered dire health consequences after eating the burgers towards the end of September and early October, according to a press release from Ron Simon & Associates.

Bowler’s experience began with gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea and excruciating abdominal and kidney pain, starting on October 8. "I couldn't get out of bed. I couldn't eat. I couldn't drink. I was surviving on Popsicles. I felt like crap," Bowler conveyed to The Associated Press. By October 11, her condition had worsened, necessitating hospitalization.

As her health deteriorated, Bowler developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious complication arising from Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection, which prompted her to be airlifted 250 miles to a hospital near Denver on October 17. There, she underwent dialysis for ten days as doctors worked urgently to save her kidneys.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, in a recent update, cleared beef as the source of the E. coli contamination. The investigation now centers on Taylor Farms, which supplied slivered onions to the affected McDonald's locations. Despite efforts to reach out, Taylor Farms has not responded for comments regarding their involvement.

In response to the outbreak, McDonald's has ceased sourcing slivered onions from Taylor Farms indefinitely. The company has instructed its beef suppliers to resume the production of fresh patties, anticipating the return of Quarter Pounders to all stores soon, although slivered onions will remain unavailable as a topping.

Addressing the concern of its customers, McDonald's U.S. President Joe Erlinger issued an apology in a video released by the company, reassuring affected individuals that the fast-food giant remains committed to making things right. "You trust us to serve you safe food every time. On behalf of the McDonald's system, I want you to hear from me: we are sorry," he stated.

The financial strain following the health crisis has significantly impacted Bowler's family. Her mother, Brittany Randall, expressed her worries regarding the escalating medical bills and uncertainty about her daughter's future health. "The hospital bills are racking up," she said. "And I'm a single mom and I just don't know that I can necessarily afford all of what's coming after all of this."