A couple in Vernon, Connecticut, have issued a warning about button batteries in children’s toys after their 18-month-old swallowed one. It led to serious damage to the baby’s body.
Back in December, when Cameron was playing with his toys, mom Marisa Soto’s instincts kicked in.
“He looked okay kind of, you could tell he was in discomfort and something was wrong but it look like he probably had a sore throat,” she told WTIC.
Out of precaution, the Mom took him to an ER down the street, and as the clock ticked, and what was wrong remained undiagnosed and his condition got worse.
The child refused food, then foamed at the mouth and vomited. Marisa then begged for an x-ray.
Doctors then discovered a button battery in his esophagus.
Cameron was taken to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center where the battery was removed, but a lot of damage was already done.
Button batteries are rather dangerous because they are small enough to swallow and not choke, but big enough to get stuck. It’s the reaction with saliva in the digestive system that is awful.
The battery discharges a current which creates a caustic injury to the tissue in the esophagus.
Doctors said that the battery burned Cameron’s esophagus, and he was severely inflamed.
He was swollen from the bottom of his brain to the top of his heart.
Cameron was intubated for two and a half months in order to increase his chances for healing. Over that time, the once thriving toddler lost the ability to eat, talk, crawl and walk.
The family was by his bedside each day.
His father, David Soto, said, “Just to keep fighting and we’re here for you.”
Mom Marisa said, “Every day, morning and night, would pray with our other two kids. Whenever we would get bad news, got good news, it was just keeping the faith and not giving up. Literally putting it in God’s hands.”
In months, Cameron learned how to walk and eat again.
He however still wears a trach to assist with the breathing, and doctors said only time will tell whether that will be permanent.
Marisa said that they shared their story to raise awareness.
“It’s so hard to keep reliving the same moment but it’s like super dangerous. If we had known, we would’ve never have had any toys that have those batteries in our house.”