Colorado Mom’s Heart‑Racing Experience Highlights Christmas Gift Safety
Jess Sandoval, a mother of five from Colorado, has become a cautionary voice after her four‑year‑old daughter, Elana, accidentally swallowed a button battery hidden inside a light‑up bracelet. The incident, which took place on the afternoon of December 7, has prompted the family to share a stark warning with other parents during the busy holiday season.
“We can be the most observant, most caring parent in our household but … it can happen,” Sandoval said in an interview with ABC News from Children’s Hospital Colorado, where her daughter has remained under close medical supervision since the night of the incident.
Button batteries, the small coin‑sized cells that power remote‑controlled toys, are difficult for children to spot. They’re commonly found in devices ranging from watch batteries to LED bracelets, and when ingested, the rapid mixing with saliva can trigger a chemical reaction that burns tissue inside the esophagus.
Elana discovered the battery at a family entertainment event earlier that day, where she received the bracelet as one of many gifts handed out during a Christmas‑lights show. While the family was later gathered on their living‑room couch watching a holiday movie, the toddler began to choke. Initially, Mrs. Sandoval suspected a food‑related cough, but Elana soon cried out, confirming that she had swallowed a small battery.
The mother promptly rushed her child to the emergency department, where a battery was found lodged in her esophagus. The patient underwent urgent surgery the following day to remove the foreign object and repair the damage: a hole had formed where the battery had burned through tissue.
Dr. Edwin de Zoeten, Director of the Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado, explained to ABC that although the battery was removed, the damage it caused could worsen for several weeks. “Her prognosis is guarded, as button batteries can cause continued expansion of inflammation and burn even after the battery is removed,” he cautioned. He added that complications such as bleeding in larger blood vessels can persist for 20 to 30 days post‑removal.
Given the frequency with which children might encounter these little power sources, Dr. de Zoeten urged parents to err on the side of caution. If a child does swallow a battery, he advises an immediate visit to the emergency room and feeding the child small amounts of honey on the way, as honey can dilute the corrosive effect of the battery’s content.
Jess Sandoval reflected on the terrifying moment when Elana was choking, describing how her daughter’s expression had hinted at impending distress. “I didn’t think anything of it because the other toys I had around have screws on them… then I looked at her and she looked at me and I could tell she looked like she was gonna choke,” she recounted.
Now, with the holiday season in full swing, Sandoval has urged other caregivers to exercise vigilance. “Christmas is coming. Make sure your little ones are careful with any toy that they have. It’s just that one little thing that can make a big difference with those children,” she advised. “I don’t want that to happen to any other parent.”
Elana remains under medical supervision and has required a feeding tube since her surgery, but her family is hopeful for a full recovery. In the meantime, Jess Sandoval’s story stands as a timely reminder of the hidden dangers lurking in even the most innocuous‑looking gifts.
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