A family’s normal night out at the steakhouse turned into a nightmare when the alleged consequences of what they ate actually hit.
Keep reading to know more.
For Joe Belgio, what was supposed to be the average dinner out ended with a medical nightmare that has left him permanently disabled.
Belgio, a 44-year-old Marine veteran, retired Illinois firefighter, father and Little League coach, went to Gibsons Steakhouse in Oak Brook, Illinois, with his fiancée Melanie Stayer and family on June 30, 2025.
They were celebrating life together and ordered oysters as a starter.
Three days later, everything changed.
Joe suffered cardiac arrest and was unconscious for at least eight minutes before being revived by the Cicero Fire Department — the same department he had once served with.
He was rushed to hospital, where doctors found several pathogens in his system. His legal team alleges that he contracted EPEC and Plesiomonas shigelloides, dangerous bacteria that can be associated with contaminated food and shellfish.
Joe spent months in a coma and has now been left with severe brain damage, requiring round-the-clock care.
“He is most likely bedridden for the rest of his life,” his attorney Scott O’Sullivan said. “He is extremely brain damaged, with very little cognitive capacity, and will need care for the rest of his life.”
His fiancée Melanie said they had simply wanted to “celebrate life with his family” — a reminder of how quickly an ordinary evening can turn into something unimaginable.
His family is now facing more than $1 million in medical bills
Joe’s family launched a GoFundMe to help pay for his ongoing care, with medical expenses already exceeding $1 million.
His young daughter, Carmela, is now growing up without the father who had previously served his country and spent his career running toward emergencies rather than away from them.
Joe’s family has filed a lawsuit against Gibsons Steakhouse and Bar, as well as seafood suppliers Supreme Lobster and Seafood Company, alleging that contaminated oysters caused his illness.
But Gibsons has strongly denied responsibility.
The restaurant said there have been no other reported illnesses connected to its oysters and that its own investigation found no evidence that the restaurant caused Joe’s condition.
“We are confident that a fair and thorough legal process will agree with this conclusion,” a spokesperson said.
The case remains ongoing, meaning it has not been established in court that the oysters caused Joe’s condition.
Raw oysters can carry bacteria and other pathogens, and the FDA warns that eating raw shellfish carries an inherent risk of foodborne illness. But the bacteria identified in Joe’s case can also be contracted through other sources, including contaminated water, undercooked food and cross-contamination.
For now, Joe’s family is left waiting for answers — while a former Marine and firefighter who spent his life helping others remains in a hospital bed, requiring care around the clock.
Share this with others who like to keep up with the latest news stories.
READ MORE
