Mom Warns About the Serious Risks of Water Beads After Baby’s Terrifying Medical Saga

The first symptoms Mitchell noticed in Kennedy was loss of appetite, followed vomiting and lethargy. Still, the mom wasn't sure of what could be behind it all.

Concerned, Mitchell rushed Baby Kennedy to the ER, where she hoped doctors could provide her with answers.

“She went two days without eating anything,” the mother later told a reporter. “By the time we made it to Portland Hospital, she was not off the stretcher before she started vomiting bile."

Unbeknownst to Mitchell, her daughter had swallowed a tiny water bead she'd found on the floor when no one was looking, and the after-effects had clearly taken their toll.

The tiny, pebble-sized bead was part of a larger sensory kit Mitchell had purchased for her 8-year-old son, who has autism. The toy beads typically come dehydrated, but after being submerged in water or fluid, they can expand to the size of a marble or even a small bouncy ball — which is exactly what happened inside Kennedy's stomach.

@fo_bby4 Recap #waterbeadinjury #picu #ineedallyourhelp #spreadtheword #mykenny #momx4✨ #prayersneeded #healingtiktok #warriorbaby @target ♬ original sound – youhavethelyricsnowsing

And, despite a successful surgery that removed the water bead full and intact, it had caused other life-threatening issues.

“I’m just scared every single second right now,” Mitchell told WMTW at the time. “The bead blocked her small intestine, which made it swell so large it leaked into her body, and that caused sepsis and an infection. She’s had three surgeries this week. Her lungs were struggling, her heart was struggling, and her kidneys were struggling."

“I just really hope people can think about my daughter in a positive way or pray for her so that she could make it through,” Mitchell added.

As of November 10, Mitchell said her daughter had undergone five surgeries — and doctors still weren't sure whether more would be required.

@fo_bby4 I can’t wait to hold you again #mykenny #waterbeadinjury #healingtiktok #prayersneeded #momx4✨ #picu ♬ original sound – Folichia Mitchell

In the meantime, friends, family members, and even strangers have tried to lend any support they can. A GoFundMe page was even set up to raise money for Kennedy's medical bills and share updates on her progress.

"We are hoping to help gain some support for a dear friend's daughter and her family in this most difficult time," the page summary reads. "In this moment, baby Kennedy Jane is in PICU since [November 1] and is fighting for her life with her Momma by her side. Her little body is fighting sepsis and a blood clot, among other serious complications to her kidneys and lungs, after undergoing multiple surgeries. Her parents and family are desperately trying to be there to comfort her, while also caring for her three young brothers at home."

"Let's come together to help them while they are navigating all that is going on with Kennedy and having a daughter in the PICU," the page continues. "All support, well wishes or prayers are more than greatly appreciated."

@fo_bby4 #mykenny #waterbeadinjury #surgery #prayersneeded #momx4✨ #healingtiktok #picu #healingtok #warriorbaby ♬ original sound – Folichia Mitchell

It's also brought in a flood of supportive comments from people who remain shocked and heartbroken by Mitchell's story.

"I’m a mother and childcare provider and never want to use water beads again," wrote one person.

"I have a little 7-month-old boy," added someone else. "This hits me where it hurts."

@fo_bby4 #mykenny #picu #waterbeadinjury #warriorbaby #healingtiktok #healingtok #keeppraying #dangerous #relentless #resilient #waterbeads #mygirl ♬ i say hoooooo – bestspedup

According to an update posted on the GoFundMe November 16, she recently "graduated" from the PICU and is no longer in critical condition. The family is also happy to report that Kennedy is off all medications, except for a small dose of pain meds that she's currently being weaned from. Doctors have also said that they don't believe the baby will suffer from any neurological damage as the result of her injuries and multiple surgeries.

That said, she still needs to remain hospitalized.

"They have not updated us to when she can come home, but she's turned the corner and is doing her very best to heal," wrote Jessica Rauhauser, who organized the GoFundMe.

@fo_bby4 #mykenny #waterbeadinjury #healingtiktok #picu #ineedallyourhelp #healingtok #momx4✨ #warriorbaby #keeppraying #dangerous #relentless ##resilient##waterbeadscanbetoxic ♬ KEEP GOING – Motivational Speech

For weeks, the mother has been sharing updates on Kennedy's progress from inside the PICU, and opening up about her own fears and insecurities, with her followers. She's also been urging others to learn about the unseen dangers of water beads — something she wishes she'd been aware of much sooner.

@fo_bby4

https://www.change.org/p/ban-water-beads-now?recruiter=1267410335&recruited_by_id=67525a90-df79-11ec-9e6e-b1d83f80844d&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=petition_dashboard

♬ original sound – Folichia Mitchell

The packaging for Ultimate Water Beads does include warnings about a potential choking hazard, but Mitchell says that neither the box nor the instructions feature any warning about what could happen if the beads are ingested.

"They're not marked properly for safety, and I recommend you throw them away and you don't purchase them for your home," Mitchell told parents, during an interview with WMTW. "They're in schools and day cares too, which is super dangerous because parents aren't even there to supervise that."

In August, Trittney Powell shared a similar story on Facebook, after her 1-year-old son Archer swallowed a water bead belonging to his older sister.

At the time, Powell assumed her son had a stomach virus, since his first symptoms included frequent vomiting and lethargy. In fact, when she first brought him to the ER, that's what doctors assumed it was, too. But after his symptoms worsened, a full-body scan showed the toddler had a blockage — and a surgery soon revealed the real culprit.

"I was always strict with the rules of the water beads, as they were only an outside toy," the mother wrote in her Facebook post, which has since been made private. "But somehow, some way, one managed to slip through and [Archer] ate one."

"Usually, they're advertised as non-toxic, able to pass, and doesn't get larger than 9mm-13mm," Powell added. But "unfortunately, that was not the case for us."

But now, all the mother wants is for her daughter to return home safely and for her story to help others.

@fo_bby4 #mykenny #waterbeadinjury #picu #warriorbaby #momx4✨ #keeppraying #healingtiktok #healingtok #resilient ♬ Night Trouble By Petit Biscuit – Tyler

"Parents don't have the chance to make an informed choice before buying," Mitchell told WMTW. "If I had seen 'toxic if ingested,' 'seek medical attention,' 'can cause blockage,' I never would have bought them and brought them into my house."

As for Target, the company recently issued a statement acknowledging Kennedy's story, and has said that conversations with Chuckle and Roar have already been started.

"We’ve recently been made aware of this tragic situation and send our heartfelt sympathy to this child and her family," the statement reportedly read. "Target requires our vendors to comply with all product safety standards, and all state, federal and local laws. We are working with the vendor of this product to better understand the situation."

EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the date that Baby Kennedy was admitted to the hospital. She was admitted on November 1, not October 31. In addition, her first symptoms were loss of appetite, vomiting, and lethargy, as opposed to loss of appetite and breathing trouble, as previously written. Both errors have been updated.