The parents of a 13-year-old Alabama boy are cautioning others about a viral social media trend that led to their son's severe burns.
The teenager, who was 11 when he suffered the injury, had been watching videos on a popular social media platform that showed people microwaving sensory toys to soften them.
The toy, a squishy stress ball-like object called a NeeDoh, is marketed as a "gratifying super soft, super stretchy dough filled groovy glob."
When the boy squeezed the toy after it had been microwaved, the hot gel exploded onto his neck, chest, and hands, causing third-degree burns.
The boy's mother, a emergency call taker, said she was not aware of the trend before her child's injury and wishes she had known about it to have a conversation with her son.
The family's ordeal began when the boy was rushed to the emergency department at a local children's hospital and later sent to the burn unit for wound care and debridement.
The doctors initially recommended skin grafts, but due to the risks to his airway, they decided against it. Instead, the boy underwent weekly visits with the burn unit for four months, during which the doctors scraped off dead skin and performed wound care.
The treatment was painful, and the boy developed a rash from the bandages that quickly turned into a staph infection. He also experienced severe lower GI issues for months due to the burn pulling fluids from his body.
The family faced significant medical bills and wound care supplies, but they are now focused on preventing other families from going through a similar ordeal.
The boy's mother urges parents to be aware of social media trends, even if their children don't have social media accounts, as kids in school may hear about them from their peers.
The boy himself advises other kids to avoid participating in social media trends, especially those that may seem harmless but can lead to serious consequences.
The company behind the NeeDoh toy has faced criticism for its marketing and safety practices, and social media platforms have policies in place to remove content that promotes dangerous behavior.
The family's message is clear: social media trends can have devastating consequences, and it's essential to prioritize caution and safety above the allure of online content.
