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Girl Swallows Battery, Suffers Severe Esophageal Damage
21 Mar
Summary
- A four-year-old girl suffered a severely damaged esophagus after swallowing a toy battery.
- The button battery caused chemical burns, necessitating a medically-induced coma.
- A GoFundMe has been set up to support the family with medical expenses.
A four-year-old girl from Southern California has sustained severe damage to her esophagus and upper respiratory system after accidentally ingesting a button battery. The incident occurred when Camila Romero was initially taken to the doctor for a persistent fever.
An X-ray revealed the presence of a button battery, which her parents believe came from one of her toys. This battery caused significant chemical burns, creating a hole in her esophagus close to her lungs. Doctors at Loma Linda Children's Hospital removed the battery but had to induce a coma to manage the extensive damage.
Camila has remained in critical condition for approximately two weeks following the battery removal. Her parents, who were previously unaware of the dangers posed by these small, shiny batteries, are now advocating for increased parental supervision. They have created a GoFundMe to raise funds for Camila's medical expenses and to provide a financial safety net for their family.
The fundraiser has garnered over $16,000 towards a $22,000 goal. Camila's parents are hopeful her next surgery will be approved soon. The family is receiving community support as they navigate this challenging period.
