Parents Caution Others After Son Nearly Dies From Button Battery
January 08, 2016
Something terrible happened to Karla and Michael’s one-year-old son, Emmett, and it nearly ended his life. By God's grace, the boy recovered. But the culprit behind his serious illness was a complete shock to his parents -- a button battery.
It’s an unsuspecting danger that you can probably find in just about any home. And that’s why Emmett’s parents are making it their mission to share their story in order to educate and warn others.
The Day Everything Changed
The day that began Emmett’s journey was supposed to be one of excitement. It was the day the family was hosting a joint birthday party for their two sons -- Emmet, who was turning one and Ethan, who was turning three. But plans changed when Emmett woke up with a fever.
The tiny tot was so ill his dad took him to the urgent care, where he was diagnosed with the flu and sent home to get better. But instead of getting better, Emmett’s symptoms only got worse over the next two days. After vomiting up blood, his heartsick parents rushed him to the ER.
Credit: Facebook / Emmett’s Fight (left) / Babyology (right)There, he was given breathing treatments and a chest x-ray. The x-ray revealed that something was lodged in his esophagus.
Button Battery Is To Blame
Credit: WikipediaThat something was a button battery. These small, round batteries are found in dozens of everyday items -- remotes, hearing aides, musical greeting cards, watches, calculators, thermometers, just to name a few.
And they’re something that not even the most conscious parents is likely to think of when baby proofing. And yet, more than 3,500 people of all ages in the US swallow them each year, which is just as poisonous as drinking drain cleaner.
The discovery of the button battery washed Emmett’s parents in a wave of emotions -- confusion, embarrassment, sadness, anger, nervousness. There’d been no choking -- no signs to suggest to the couple that their son’s fever and illness was a result of swallowing something he shouldn't have. They finally concluded he must have found a battery that had inadvertently fallen out of the DVD remote.
Saving Emmett
Emmett was rushed into surgery to remove the battery, and hearing the severe damage such a tiny object had inflicted on their son washed his parents with another wave of terrible emotions. The battery had burned through the sweet boy’s esophagus, and he had to be put on a ventilator in order to breathe.
Credit: Emmett's FightThere were two perforations to Emmett’s esophagus and trachea, and he had to undergo multiple serious reconstructive surgeries. For several years, Emmett was unable to eat solid food, and instead relied on a feeding tube for nourishment, as well as a trach for breathing.
Helping Others
Credit: Facebook / Emmett’s FightOver the past few years, Emmett has undergone 65 surgeries in all. He is much improved, but still has regular doctor visits and therapy.
But his parents thank God for Emmett’s miraculous survival and improvements. Once ingested, button batteries will begin burning the tissue within two hours. The damage inflicted often turns fatal, especially because the initial symptoms are so similar to common childhood illnesses.
And this is precisely why Emmett’s family started the Emmett’s Fight blog and Facebook page. Their goal is to spread the word about the hidden danger of these batteries. They provide updates on Emmett’s progress, educational resources about this issue, and they call for support and prayers as they meet other families in the midst of this terrible experience.
Praise God for saving little Emmett, and for giving him and his family a calling to help others. I know I’ll be warning every parent, grandparent, aunt/uncle and so on about this danger, and hope you will too!
WATCH: Emmett’s Button Battery story
Credit: Emmett’s Fight
h/t: Sunny Skyz
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Little boy who survived the unthinkable is a living miracle
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Joy Amidst the Heartache - Your Daily Prayer - November 12
It's hard to find joy when you're struggling, especially when everyone around you seems so full of it.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Joy Amidst the Heartache - Your Daily Prayer - November 12
It's hard to find joy when you're struggling, especially when everyone around you seems so full of it.
Past Stories
- This Missouri School Was Renamed After Their Much Loved and Dedicated Custodian
- Michael Strahan's Daughter is Now Cancer Free and Has Taught Him All About Perseverance
- These Two Newlyweds Found Love in Their Late 90s, After Meeting At Their Retirement Home
- Sisters Who Were Adopted By Separate Families Nearly 40 Years Ago Reunite After DNA Tests
- Oldest Living Person in the US Passes Away at 115, After a Long and Faithful Life
- At Just 20 and 22 Years Old, These Two Sisters From Minnesota Saved Their Family Farm
- After Over 450 Days in a Shelter, Boone and Rellie Find Their Forever Home, Together
- Sweet Kitten Named Coraline Loses Both Her Eyes, but Inspires Many with Her Spirit
- Donny Osmond Sees the 'End of the Tunnel' Coming After Performing for Over 6 Decades
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's Dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
- Owner's Trip to the Vet with Unwell Dog Results in the Craziest X-Ray
- After Getting Lost in Yellowstone, This Precious Cat Made His Way Back Home To California
- Mom's Funny Response To Daughter's Dirty Sock On The Floor Goes Viral & Ends Up Doing Good
- A Kidnapped Boy Is Found After 70 Years and Reunited With His Family
- This Puppy Was Found With a Note That Read 'Help Me,' Now He's Looking For a New Home
- Excited Mom Couldn't Wait to See Son's Back to School Pictures, but Funny Results Make Her LOL
- When This Police Officer Pulled Her Over, He Changed Her Life Forever
- She Just Met Her Vietnam Veteran Father After 50 Years, Now He is Walking Her Down the Aisle
- Fearless Father Waits on Porch to Catch the Stranger Peeking in His Daughter's Window
- This 5th Grade Teacher Eats Lunch In the Cafeteria Every Day
- Amy Grant Has a New Perspective After Losing Her 'Superpower' in Bike Accident
- 'God Did It' Says 18-Year-Old After Waking Up From a Coma Following a Crash
- These Four Sisters Share a Birthday, Which is Quite the Miracle
- Dad Harmony Sings a Beautiful A Cappella Rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love'
- Couple's Outstanding Boogie Woogie Dance Performance
- Siblings’ Cover of Dolly Parton’s Classic ‘I Will Always Love You’ Is Incredible
- Pastor and Wife Were Killed in a Car Accident, But Their Kids Have a Message of Hope
- Outstanding 'Amazing Grace' Cover Music Video by Celtic Woman
- Carrie Underwood Helps With Leading Worship at Tennessee Church
- 8-Year-Old Kid's To-Do List Goes Viral As a Wholesome Reminder for Us All
- 'Holy Forever' Lyric Video by Chris Tomlin and CAIN
- Elementary Teacher Talks About the Power of Words and Kindness By Using Toothpaste
- Prayers Pour in for Loretta Lynn's Family After the Death of the Late Singer's First Grandchild
Top Music Videos
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
CCM Magazine Josh Baldwin | 'Thank You Jesus' (acoustic)
Anne Wilson The Manger’ Anne Wilson And Josh Turner Christmas Hymn
Kari Jobe Kari Jobe - Firm Foundation (He Won't) / Great Are You Lord
CCM Magazine Creed's Scott Stapp Shares Powerful Insights on How God Uses Our Struggles and Failures for Good
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.