KENOSHA, Wis. — What was supposed to be a routine cosmetic procedure has left a 32-year-old Kenosha woman fighting for her health and future.
On December 3, 2024, Kaley Acerbi underwent Botox injections, something she had done many times before. Just 72 hours later, she says she developed symptoms of toxin spread — an unexpected and rare complication that she says turned into a diagnosis of iatrogenic botulism.
According to a fundraiser launched by her family, Acerbi was never warned about the risk of such a serious outcome. In the days that followed, she reportedly advocated for herself but was repeatedly dismissed by medical providers. “She was left without proper and timely treatment after her symptoms started in December,” her family wrote.
Nine months later, the effects remain severe. The fundraiser says Acerbi continues to suffer from conditions including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), debilitating fatigue, food sensitivities, constant dizziness, tinnitus, hair loss, and other ongoing health issues. Once working in an operating room, she can no longer work at all, nor exercise, and has been forced to grapple with what she calls the loss of her former life.
“This drug did so much damage to her body. She’s lost her spark and light that so many of you know Kaley to have,” the GoFundMe page states. The campaign was set up to help cover alternative treatments that are not covered by insurance.
The emotional toll has been just as heavy. In July, Acerbi shared on social media: “If I could culminate into words how I feel.. I’d write an entire book on how this illness has robbed me of so much. I’m only 32 years old.. and because of Botox injections I no longer have a normal 32 year old life. I miss my old self and my old life so much. I will continue to fight and push forward for my health, but I just feel so much sadness and grief.”
Earlier this week, she posted another update: “Thank you all for your support during this time. Things have gotten more difficult for me in the past 6 weeks, but I’m continuing to fight and seek the best treatment. Sharing helps tremendously.”
The Acerbi family says they have turned to numerous medical specialists, tried medications, physical therapy, naturopathic and integrative approaches, and behavioral therapy, but with limited progress. Now they are asking the public for help in funding additional treatment options.
“We are tired of watching her suffer and not be able to live the life she wants and had at one point,” the family wrote. “Our hope is that with a lot of love and support from her friends, family and community we can get her back to functioning and getting her life back to a normal place.”
The fundraiser, complete with photos and updates, remains online at: GoFundMe for Kaley Acerbi.
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70 Responses
Where did she get the Botox injections and who was her injector? So many RN nurses out there injecting Botox when they aren’t qualified to do so.
Botox for cosmetic purposes? Well!
Hi there, it actually wasn’t done for cosmetic purposes, it was done for bruxism or teeth clenching and the injections were given in my jaw muscles.
There’s no shame in getting Botox for cosmetic reasons, but don’t lie about it while trying to raise money for yourself. It’s not a good look.
Botox for purely medical reasons like bruxism would have been done by a physician in a medical setting, not by a nurse at a spa. I’m going to guess this Botox was done at a spa, yes?
It 100% could be done by a nurse in a spa for that purpose. What the hell is wrong with these people?
did you take the covid scam jab? it could be that
Your so FN stupid, I hope you don’t take any Pfizer or modern meds let nature take your ass out
Someone worships at the alter of Pfizer LMAO
Put your mask back on 😉
Probably
You share the whole story on tik tok but leave out the one detail of it being done for Bruxism….🤔
I think the public needs to know where she got this botox done at!
I agree. This shouldn’t happen and is very rare. I wonder who the “provider” was.
For sure. Identifying the provider and giving it the chance to share its side of the story should be done here. 100% relevant to this story.
If she wants the money
Just saying obviously it was cosmetic as you said and if she can afford cosmetic surgery why does she need a fundraiser and im sure it was done by a friend otherwise you would of stated where it was done or you’re not sure on story if al facts check out r she signed a waiver saying she cannot sue because of it being cosmetic or elective surgery
Read the article. She isn’t able to work anymore, so I’m assuming she no longer has an income…
Vanity comes at a price!
IT WAS NOT DONE FOR COSMETIC PURPOSES. BOTOX INJECTIONS ARE USED IN THE MEDICAL FIELD ALL THE TIME.
Sure it wasn’t, “A”. Plenty of is have known her long enough to say she did it for vanity. Along with the gold digging lifestyle.
Was it a legitimate, qualified Botox injector? Like a dermatologist, plastic surgeon or board certified physician or PA? Because that’s a different story than if she went to a “med spa” where a nurse did the injections.
It doesn’t matter. ITS POISON!
Nurses can inject. They have a supervising medical director, which can be any form of an MD, tropically a plastic, derm, or ENT.
You need to zip it!
How does a RN not know the side effects of botox? As someone who know her personally, she has gotten botox for years for cosmetic purposes, quit her job to be a stay at home mom/influencer and when it didn’t work out with her fiancé, she blames it on botox for her lack of employment? Interesting…….
What a mean and horrible comment to post. How convenient to be anonymous.
Says the anonymous person….
No kidding! And watching too many movies can cause that. Or did you concoct that whole theory in that brain of yours?
Whatever you say, “A”. I would hardly call it a theory if they are facts. Shall I break it down for you? Should I post saved text messages from your little angel on her not actually loving these guys but is only with them for their money and doesn’t want to work anymore? She is a poor excuse for a human saying she cannot work. I see people with true disabilities on a daily working their ass off. She can walk her dog on long walks, do yoga sessions, but she can’t work? Give me a break “A”.
The Botox commercials even tell you of the risks. I’m guessing the covid jab had a part to play in this.
As a cosmetic drug it is used to paralyze tissue in the face and body.
Miss use or mistaken use is the chance anyone takes with this poison.
To say she wasn’t informed or didn’t investigate on her own is hardly believable.
Risk are risk. Be informed. Or don’t do it.
Why does she have a GoFundMe? Because she knows lots of suckers will donate based on her looks.
You people are flipping heartless!
You’re just now noticing people are heartless? People have been cheering Kirk’s death, I’m not surprised they are incapable of scrolling past a story. If you don’t want to donate- don’t. It’s not that difficult to be a grown up.
No I am not just noticing that PEOPLE ARE HEARTLESS I am just stating a fact here , pointing out the obvious. And YOU Are a moron!
Well, when someone does something stupid and expects the public to pick up the tab, we have every right to point out how and why they screwed up. “Thats what happens”….
Don’t go around begging for money then
Thats what happens when you inject foreign particles into the body. Dumb broads always want the easy way out….
You get what you deserve.
Just wondering if it was effective in helping with the teeth clinching/ jaw issue. If she has relief from that? Also, maybe in time it’ll work its way out of her system and she’ll be back to normal. Botox doesn’t last forever and the wrinkles & lines will eventually reappear with natural aging. Just age naturally.
I do not know Ms. Acerbi, and truthfully it does not matter. She is a person, a human, that has suffered a systemic, debilitating and permanently life altering reaction to a recommended treatment. As described, her reaction sounds like the anaphylactic (allergic) reaction I suffered from an antibiotic in 2007. So, I have empathy for her and know the journey to recovery on which she finds herself. It will be a lifetime journey requiring focus and dedication with good days and bad days.
I wish Ms. Acerbi well and prayers for a rapid recovery.
Amen to that and I will join you. Finally, someone that is not concocting such crazy ass theories!
Actually, looks like 8 of them gave it thumbs up. Although, I certainly don’t agree if this person is taking advantage of others, I think the world could just be a little nicer today….
You say “…life altering reaction to a recommended treatment”.
Please explain how a purely “cosmetic procedure” she had preferred is anyway “…a recommended treatment”? This whole situation was for cosmetic purposes ONLY.
Nothing personal…
Why would ANYBODY inject something that says TOXIN right in the name? Botulinum toxin type A
It’s sort of like, why would you drink something you can run an internal combustion engine on?
I can’t imagine donating to this instead of a charity that will help people that are actually in need.
I am aware of (2) men that thankfully dodged this bullet that’s looking for a payout.
I haven’t seen this many jealous white women since Sidney Sweeney! LMAO
The Botox was definitely used on her forehead. Look at the video and the still picture
No morals in her life. Karma gonna get you
So far 2 anonymous 16 all women how bizarre
My bad 19 all women
Sounds like a bunch of jealous women on here lol
I’d be embarrassed as hell if this were my fiancé……
Hmm, maybe it was the doctor fiance who injected her ?
Injection was done by an RN.
This whole article is false. She didn’t even get Botox. She got Juveau, which is not approved to use in that part of your body. It’s a completely different neurotoxin. It’s clearly shown in her videos. Why is everyone saying Botox? She didn’t use that product.
I think if you guys watch this video you’ll better understand. I don’t think this article or the go fund me was written as well as she describe in this video.
I’ve know her since high school not close at all but have always been friend on fb. She’s worked hard in her career, holds a BSN, did travel nursing for a while, and has always worked hard.
Anyone can bring up her past / what she’s done this article isn’t just for donations but she has been boasting awareness on Botox since she’s had this experience. And she admits she was getting it cosmetically at first & was just talking to her provider about other symptoms and they offered this – it was her 1st time with this brand, she trusted her provider went to her for years.
All of her signs and symptoms are consistent with the botulism primarily nerve damage. And to have medical professionals who should have answers refuse to treat you, state they’re unable to help, think you’re lying about symptoms. I cannot imagine the hopelessness and I don’t think you could either. She either bounces back or progressively gets worse and thus far nothings helping. She can’t work because as a nurse how do you control your environment to make sure you & your patient are safe when your about to pass out randomly or are too fatigue weak or whatever to even care. This is just a 360 from her usual life I don’t think this is a lie. I’ve never heard her to be this way in the behavioral manner you’re all accusing.
You all could eat 1 wrong thing and get botulism, imagine that! I’m sure she prays nobody has to go through this but everyone’s in here throwing all the low balls.
I’m not one to ever comment on these articles but you’re all pretty bold thinking this could never happen to you or your loved one. If this was your daughter doing it even behind your back I’m sure you’d be advocating for her. Even if it was cancer (yourself or a loved one) from what processed meats or smoking, radon exposure, WHATEVER you would fight even though you fed your own cancer. Just saying be humble ya’ll!!!
VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CgDFXetVh/?mibextid=wwXIfr