Jen Thomas
A 30-year-old woman has tragically died two years after drinking a margarita on Valentine's Day.
Holly Hill, a school teacher from Oklahoma, ordered the drink while out on a romantic date with her husband Brandon at the Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill.
The mum-of-three was enjoying a couple's night out, when it all went horribly wrong after she ordered a margarita cocktail as a treat.
Holly's mother Kelly Hunter told a local news outlet that her daughter's 'mouth was on fire' after taking a swig of the drink and 'immediately' knew something was wrong.
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She recalled: "She knew immediately something wasn't right, she immediately jumped up and ran to the bathroom, started throwing up, started rinsing her mouth out with water."
Holly went on to endure dozens of surgeries after drinking the fateful cocktail.
It is alleged the cocktail was found to contain 'industrial-strength' degreaser, and Holly suffered severe chemical burns to her mouth and oesophagus.
On October 1, shortly before undergoing her 30th surgery, Holly wrote on Facebook: "It's been one year and seven and a half months since I took one swallow of what I thought was my margarita."
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"To say it’s changed my life is an understatement. I continue to pray and believe in my doctor to lead the way through this never ending journey that I now call life."
In May 2023, the restaurant shared a post on Facebook: "Good afternoon Elgin community. Please accept our apologies for our delay in addressing the situation we encountered a few months ago.
"We are very sorry for what happened and we feel deeply since the moment it occurred because during these 10 years we have never had a situation like this, a situation that should not have occurred in the first place."
"The manager in charge at the time of the situation, Miguel Esparza, has always tried to constantly communicate with her and her family. We have never walked away from responsibility and will continue to support them in any way possible while our insurance company is on the case.
"We again want to apologize to her, her family, and the Elgin community. Our prayers continue for her and her family. The support you have given us over the years is greatly appreciated and we are here to assist you in any way we can. Thank you."
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News9 reports that a confidential settlement with the restaurant was agreed after Holly and her family sued them.
The mum tragically died following her latest round of surgery.
Her obituary explained: "For the past two and a half years, while continuing to teach and care for her family, Holly faced a long and difficult medical journey.
"Through fighting to survive countless procedures, hospital stays, and uncertain days, she met each challenge with courage, faith, and a quiet strength that inspired everyone around her. Her perseverance and love were nothing short of remarkable."
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She underwent a final procedure on October 17, her mother confirmed on Facebook: "The hole in her esophagus wasn't healed but it was a bit better and not as inflamed."
Kelly Hunter said the family wants justice, telling News9: "The number one thing that we really want at this point, and out of this, is we want people to be aware of what happened at that restaurant and to quit supporting them.
"We want them to be held accountable for taking my daughter’s life; because they did. It might have been a long fight, but ultimately, they are the cause."
The Elgin Police Department shared that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation.