After botulism treatment, babies get a treasured birthday card from California program

The California program that identifies and treats cases of dangerous infant botulism also comforts families by sending silly cards on their babies' first birthdays

The California program that provides the world’s only medical treatment for potentially deadly infant botulism also offers traumatized families hope of a different sort – silly cards on their babies’ first birthdays.

Every year, staff at the state’s Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program decorate and mail roughly 200 cards to celebrate the recovery of children affected by the rare and dangerous condition.

In recent months, that group has included dozens of U.S. babies affected by an outbreak of botulism tied to contaminated ByHeart infant formula.

Amy Mazziotti, of Burbank, California, received a birthday card for her son, Hank, in September, months after he was hospitalized for 12 days with botulism after drinking ByHeart formula.

“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.”