A mother tragically passed away over two years after consuming a cocktail during a Valentine’s Day date with her spouse.
Holly Hill, an elementary school teacher from Oklahoma, shared her experience of feeling as though her mouth was “on fire” after sipping a contaminated margarita at a Mexican restaurant in Elgin.
After drinking the harmful mixture, which was discovered to contain industrial-strength degreaser, Holly experienced immediate vomiting. This beverage was served by Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill on Valentine’s Day, 2023.
Her mother, Kelly Hunter, explained to News 9 that Holly quickly went to the bathroom to “rinse her mouth out with water.”
Despite these attempts, medical professionals established that Holly had ingested the cleaning chemical, resulting in a hole in her esophagus and ongoing health issues.
Holly eventually reached an undisclosed settlement with the restaurant after successfully filing a lawsuit due to the lasting health issues from the chemical burns in her esophagus, which necessitated numerous surgeries.
Sadly, her family announced that Holly passed away from her injuries on October 23 at the age of 30.
In the previous October, Holly mentioned that she had undergone 30 procedures on her esophagus, a condition resulting from “one swallow of what I thought was my margarita.”
“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,” she wrote on Facebook.
Hacienda Las Margaritas Bar & Grill addressed the incident publicly in May 2023, stating: “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 statement continued: “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 have always tried to give back to the community and will continue to do so.
“We again want to apologize to her, her family, and the Elgin community.”
Holly underwent another procedure on her esophagus shortly before her unexpected passing. During this, medical professionals reported that although the hole “wasn’t healed,” it seemed “a bit better and not as inflamed,” according to her mother’s social media post.
“They were able to call in a pulmonologist to assist in stitching it up. She will have to continue tube feeds for a while longer,” Kelly noted after the surgery on October 17. “She will have to come back in a few weeks for a swallow study with contrast to check on progress. Not exactly the news we wanted but overall good news.”
An obituary described Holly as a ‘passionate’ teacher and a ‘proud’ mother, stating: “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.”
A GoFundMe set up by a family friend for her family notes: “Holly was an amazing woman, daughter, wife, and mother. After 2 1/2 years of battling complications from ingesting industrial cleaner that had been served to her in a margarita at a local restaurant, she succumbed to her injuries.”
She leaves behind her husband of seven years, Brandon Hill, their three children aged six, 11, and 14, her parents, siblings, and numerous friends, according to the fundraiser.
The Elgin Police Department, in collaboration with the Comanche County District Attorney, confirmed publicly that they have contacted the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. An ‘initial inquiry’ is currently underway with the agency, as stated by Chief Ralph Parsons.
Donations to Holly’s fundraiser can be made here.