Meet the ‘Toxic Lady’ That Makes Everyone Sick

The mysterious case of Gloria Ramirez, also known as the “Toxic Lady,” has puzzled scientists and medical professionals for years.

In 1994, Ramirez was admitted to a hospital in Riverside, California, with late-stage cervical cancer. However, her presence in the emergency room had unexpected and devastating consequences for the staff and patients around her.

Who Is Gloria Ramirez?

Gloria Ramirez was a resident of Riverside, California, with a husband and two children. Reverend Brian Taylor described her as a friend to everyone she met and someone who brought joy to others through her sense of humor.

On February 19, 1994, Gloria Ramirez was brought to General Hospital in Riverside. She died that night, and her body inexplicably caused illness in those around her. Despite no conclusive explanation, she is still referred to as the “Toxic Lady” today.

Why Is She Called the “Toxic Lady”?

On that fateful night, Gloria Ramirez experienced rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, and difficulty breathing. She could barely speak coherently, answering questions with disjointed sentences. Gloria Ramirez, aged just 31, had late-stage cervical cancer, contributing to her deteriorating health. Despite medical efforts, including administering various drugs, doctors and nurses couldn’t stabilize her vital signs.

During medical intervention, nurses observed an unusual oily sheen on Gloria Ramirez’s body when they removed her shirt for defibrillation. They also detected a fruity, garlicky odor from her mouth. When they attempted to draw blood, her blood smelled of ammonia and contained manila-colored particles.

What Happened to the Medical Staff?

The ER doctor, upon examining the blood sample, concurred with the nurses that something was amiss with the patient beyond heart failure. Then, a series of alarming events unfolded: one nurse fainted, another experienced breathing difficulties, and a third nurse passed out and later found herself unable to move her limbs.

Six doctors and nurses in total were incapacitated while attempting to treat Ramirez, experiencing a range of unusual symptoms such as fainting, shortness of breath, nausea, and temporary paralysis. These symptoms seemed somehow linked to the patient herself.

Ramirez passed away that night. Despite her death, the events at the hospital took a strange turn, becoming even more peculiar.

What Happened After Gloria Ramirez’ Death?

A hazmat team, clad in protective suits, was summoned to manage Ramirez’s body. They meticulously searched the ER for signs of poison gas, toxins, or other foreign substances but found nothing that could explain why the medical staff had experienced fainting spells.

The hazmat team sealed Ramirez’s body in an aluminum casket, and an autopsy was delayed for nearly a week. When it finally occurred, it took place in a special room, with the autopsy team wearing hazmat suits as a precaution.

The press dubbed Ramirez “The Toxic Lady” because anyone near her body experienced medical issues, yet shortly after her death, no definitive cause could be identified.

How Many Autopsies Did the Toxic Lady Go Through?

Officials conducted three autopsies on Gloria Ramirez: one six days after her death, another six weeks later, and the last just before her burial. The most comprehensive autopsy occurred on March 25, over a month after her passing. This examination revealed the presence of Tylenol, lidocaine, codeine, and Tigan in her system. Tigan, an anti-nausea medication, breaks down into amines in the body, which are related to ammonia, possibly explaining the ammonia smell detected in Ramirez’s blood sample at the hospital.

The toxicology report revealed that Gloria Ramirez had high levels of dimethyl sulfone in her blood and tissues. While this compound naturally occurs in the body and typically dissipates rapidly with a half-life of three days, Ramirez had three times the normal amount in her system six weeks after her death, suggesting a significant accumulation.

How Was the Death Explained?

On April 12, 1994, county officials disclosed that Gloria Ramirez’s cause of death was heart failure resulting from kidney failure due to late-stage cervical cancer, diagnosed six weeks before her passing. Although unusual substances like elevated levels of ammonia and dimethyl sulfone were found in her body, they were deemed too low to explain her death. Due to concerns over toxicity levels, it took officials two months to release her body for a proper funeral, fearing that exposure could cause people to faint or pass out.

The family of Gloria Ramirez was outraged. Her sister attributed her death to the hospital’s deplorable conditions, although past violations had been reported. However, the county’s investigation found no evidence implicating the hospital’s conditions in Ramirez’s death.

What Was the Conclusion of the Toxic Lady’s Death?

After a months-long investigation, officials determined that the hospital staff experienced mass sociogenic illness, also known as mass hysteria, triggered by an odor. Medical staff pushed for a closer examination of the case, leading the assistant deputy director, Pat Grant, to reach a surprising conclusion.

But, How Come She Made Everyone Around Her Sick?

Gloria Ramirez applied dimethyl sulfone (DMSO) all over her body as a potential treatment for her late-stage cervical cancer, despite medical science having deemed DMSO toxic since 1965. Her use of this substance harks back to a time when DMSO was widely touted as a cure-all, with research in the early 1960s suggesting it could alleviate pain and anxiety. Athletes even used DMSO cream to soothe muscle aches.

A study in mice revealing DMSO’s potential to harm eyesight led to the decline of its popularity as a cure-all in the medical community. However, it gained an underground following for treating various ailments. By the late 1970s, the only available DMSO was in hardware stores as a degreaser. It had a purity of 99 percent, compared to the less concentrated form found in muscle creams in the 1960s.

What Was the Revelation?

Grant made a significant discovery when researching the effects of DMSO exposure to oxygen. He found that it converts to dimethyl sulfate, not sulfone, by adding oxygen to its chemical structure. Dimethyl sulfate behaves differently from dimethyl sulfone, leading to a new understanding of the situation.

Dimethyl sulfate vapors are highly damaging, destroying cells in the eyes, lungs, and mouth upon exposure. Inhalation can lead to convulsions, delirium, and paralysis. Remarkably, 19 of the 20 symptoms reported by medical staff that night match those of individuals exposed to dimethyl sulfate vapors. Consequently, the medical staff did not suffer from mass hysteria or stress but rather from dimethyl sulfate poisoning.

The Story Doesn’t End Here

Gloria Ramirez’s family refuted claims that she used DMSO. Nevertheless, the tragedy of her situation remains profound. Diagnosed with cancer too late for effective treatment, she sought relief through unconventional means. Ultimately, the moniker “Toxic Lady” serves as a reminder of her final days.

What do you think happened to Gloria Ramirez? Do you think her nickname Toxic Lady was necessary?

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