It was meant to be a quiet lunch — a normal spring afternoon in Bozeman, Montana. But for Donna Ventura, 64, it turned into a nightmare her family will never forget.

Just 13 days after sharing sushi with her husband, Donna lay in a hospital bed, her body failing from toxic mushroom poisoning. The retired financial advisor and mother was hooked to a ventilator, unable to speak — but not to love. Using a red marker, she scrawled heartbreaking notes to her husband and son. “I’m not sure I can go on much longer,” she wrote. “I love you, Mr. C.”

The sushi roll Donna ordered was topped with raw morel mushrooms, a delicacy that turned deadly. Within hours, she felt ill; within days, her liver and kidneys collapsed. Doctors discovered that while cooked morels are safe, raw ones can release hydrazine toxins — chemicals that destroy organ tissue and blood cells.

Her husband, Jon, watched helplessly as Donna’s condition worsened. “Her whole body hurt,” he recalled. “She couldn’t breathe without the machine.” Despite treatment, Donna made a final decision — to decline the feeding tube and let go peacefully on April 29.

Months later, investigators confirmed 51 people had fallen ill after dining at the same restaurant. Two, including Donna, never came home. Jon is now suing the restaurant, determined to honor her promise: to hold someone accountable.

Even in her pain, Donna’s final message was love — a reminder that life’s most ordinary moments can carry the deepest meaning.