4-Year-Old Swallows Magnetic Bracelet and Suffers Life-Threatening Injury

A 4-year-old is lucky to be alive after enduring a traumatic medical saga that left doctors stunned. According to a new case study, which is set to be published in the February 2023 edition of the Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports, the boy was reportedly suffering from colic-like symptoms for several days when his parents rushed him to the hospital. But it took several more days for surgeons to determine the cause before discovering the boy had actually swallowed a bracelet containing 18 magnetic beads.

The boy’s parents say they had no idea their son had ingested anything harmful

According to Jam Press, which publishes the pediatric journal, the 4-year-old had apparently swallowed the bracelet when no one was around and said nothing about it. But days later, when he began experiencing “colicky” abdominal pains, his parents began to worry.

The symptoms persisted for about two days, bringing on bouts of both vomiting and constipation, before his parents realized this was probably more than just a passing illness.

After rushing him to the hospital, doctors quickly arrived at a diagnosis

The only problem? It was apparently the wrong diagnosis.

Doctors initially thought the boy was suffering from an acute appendicitis, and ordered an emergency appendectomy. But even after the surgery was complete, the 4-year-old’s stomach pain persisted, and by day three he began vomiting up bile.

Only then did the medical team begin to look deeper for answers

An ultrasound was performed, followed by an X-ray, which revealed a bracelet lodged in his intestines. And even worse, it had been there long enough to create holes in his bowels.

X-Ray showing magnetic bracelet in stomach
Jam Press

The boy’s parents were reportedly just as stunned as doctors by the shocking turn of events. But with little time to debate what might have happened, the boy was rushed into surgery for an emergency laparotomy.

X-Ray shows clearer images of magnetic bracelet in stomach
Jam Press

During the intricate surgery, doctors cut into the boy’s abdomen, carefully removed the magnetic bracelet, and repaired the holes that had formed in his intestines.

Once they laid the 18-bead bracelet on the table, the full extent of his ordeal became glaringly clear.

Bracelet after being removed by surgery
Jam Press

Luckily, the boy is said to have fully recovered and is no longer in pain now that the object is out of his system. But the shocking story — along with the jaw-dropping photos — is now making headlines.

This is far from the only story of its kind

In 2020, Indiana mom Jessica McNair spoke out after her own 4-year-old swallowed 27 magnets without her knowing. Luckily, it was discovered quickly, after her son Peyton started crying and told her what happened. Still, the hours that followed were terrifying.

X-rays showed that 25 of the tiny magnets had bonded together inside Peyton’s intestines, while the last two were clinging to his uvula. Through a slow and careful procedure, doctors were able to remove all of them by inserting a long, thin scope down the boy’s throat, which attracted the magnets and made their removal possible without invasive surgery.

“Most people don’t realize the dangers of swallowing magnets,” McNair told Today. “It can happen to anyone, and it can happen in a split second.”

Other similar stories have also made headlines recently

Just a few months ago, Folichia Mitchell of Berwick, Maine, issued an urgent warning to parents everywhere after her 9-month-old daughter swallowed a water bead. The tiny, pebble-sized bead expanded in the little one’s stomach, causing a life-threatening blockage that eventually led to sepsis. But thanks to a dedicated team of doctors who performed emergency surgery, the water bead was removed and Mitchell’s daughter was able to return home after an extended stay in the PICU.

You may also remember the story of a Texas teen, who went viral in October for accidentally swallowing a small dog toy. Justin Serrano was seen on TikTok after the unfortunate mishap, which left the squeaky dog toy lodged in his throat after he swallowed it while intentionally “annoying” his mother. Luckily, the case wasn’t life-threatening.

In the TikTok video, anytime Justin inhaled, exhaled, or laughed, the toy would produce a comical whistle sound that would send him and his mother into hysterics.

Doctors were ultimately able to remove the toy without much trouble, but his story definitely wound up being a cautionary tale.

That said, swallowing foreign objects is no laughing matter

Especially when it comes to small kids.

According to federal data, roughly 140 children under the age of 18 choke to death each year in the United States. Thousands more wind up in the ER, just like Johnathan.

Unfortunately, not every story has a happy ending. In some cases, the damage can be permanent, leading to chronic issues with internal organs and even brain damage.

That's why the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics frequently urge parents to become well-acquainted with common choking hazards. While the most common culprits are often food-related (including things like nuts, seeds, and grapes), other objects around the house, like coins, buttons, and magnets, are just as dangerous if they aren't put away.