Whew! I don't know what spurred the national attention, but kids swallowing button cell batteries has been in the news ALL over the country today! Have you seen it?! Thanks to all my FB and blogger friends who have been sending me links, and texts, and messages about the stories. I'm GLAD that this issue is getting the attention it deserves. One of my friends said she had NO idea it was this common. I didn't either until Kellsey swallowed two of these batteries almost 2 months go.
Kellsey is doing ok now. She was one of the lucky ones. Since her hospitalization I have been reading stories about other children who have had to have part of their esophagus removed, they've had to have g-tubes put in and could eat no other way for many months until they healed. Honestly, I'm a little in awe of how well Kellsey HAS healed. From what the doctors think, those batteries were in her system much longer than some of the other kids who have been seriously injured, almost to the point of death. I often wonder how much her pain intolerance played a part in her healing... we'll never know for sure.
Right now, Kellsey continues to be on a soft food diet as her esophagus heals. Thankfully her favorite foods ARE soft foods so she's not having too much of a problem with this. She goes in regularly for check ups with her pediatrician and her GI doctor and will have to have more tests - MRI's and endoscopies - at some point to make sure her esophagus is healing well. There is always a risk for scar tissue forming where the abrasion was. If that happens, that tissue could potentially cut off her airway, so we have to be diligent in watching her breathing, looking for changes, especially since she can't TELL us if anything is wrong.
Once again, I must beg you all, if you have small children, check your house for these batteries! They are in more than you think... they're everywhere!! Please read this post for a list of things to check and what you can do... then check out all these news articles. Every 3 hours a child goes to the ER because they have ingested one of these batteries. Every 3 hours... that's WAY too much. Something has to be done.
Today Show - Swallowed Battery Hazards: ER Visits Double
Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital - Swallowing Button Batteries Can Be Serious
ABC News - More Kids in ER from Swallowing Batteries
Shine - More Batteries to Blame for Kids' ER Visits
MSNBC Nightly News - Hidden Hazard
Energizer to Raise Awareness of Button Batteries
And check out Emmett's Story. His story needs to be heard. On their blog they are sharing stories of other kids who have swallowed these batteries... some of them were lucky, like Kellsey, others... not so much. I can't stress enough how serious and life changing this can be.
Awareness is key. Like so many people, I had no idea about this danger or the havoc it could cause until it happened to us. Be aware. Be on the lookout and safeguard your home.
Monday, May 14, 2012
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6 comments:
So glad that Kellsey's doing so well!
No matter what happens, the Lord is our shield! Praying!
Psalms 5:11-12 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
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Found a cell battery in the remote for our electric heater (looks like a fire place) and in the remote to our digital picture fame.
I saw the story posted across the Yahoo news yesterday and on Today and thought of you too. Figured many people would be telling you about it. I told my husband about it and he couldn't believe all the places that batteries could be. We have a almost 2 yr old that gets in to everything so we are being way more diligent now that's for sure! Glad to hear she's doing good and praying her recovery is a continuous healthy road!
Glad to hear Kellsey is recovering well. And thank you for this warning! I had no idea this was so common.
The 5 year old son of someone I know just put one in his ear. :( Was removed, he's fine. But in lots of pain still. They have to do all sorts of ear drops to avoid infections and help the abrasion heal.
Know that you're in my thoughts and prayers!
Isaiah 43:1-3a But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel...
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