In August, Luis Ortiz, a senior at Sacramento State, was visiting his mother in Napa when he suddenly experienced a severe headache. Paramedics rushed him to Queen of the Valley Medical Center after his mother dialed 9-1-1. A brain scan revealed a tapeworm in Luis’s brain, requiring immediate surgery. The physician informed him that he had mere minutes left to live.

Emergency brain surgery was promptly performed to remove the parasitic tapeworm larvae obstructing circulation in Luis’s brain. Equipped with a camera, medical staff detected and extracted the larvae during the procedure.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Luis expressed shock at the sight of the wriggling tapeworm being removed from his brain. He pondered the odds of harboring such a parasite in his head, contemplating possible sources of infection.

Doctors speculated on potential sources of the parasite, including consuming raw pork, swimming in rivers, or traveling to underdeveloped regions. Luis denied engaging in these activities but remained uncertain about the worm’s duration in his skull.

Tapeworms, originating from animals, can infect humans through the consumption of undercooked meat or poor hygiene practices. Larvae can migrate to the brain, causing severe infections.

Despite the harrowing experience, Luis remains determined to complete college and embrace life’s opportunities. He expressed gratitude for his survival, acknowledging that waiting longer could have been fatal.