A Colorado mother is urging parents nationwide to double-check holiday toys after her 4-year-old daughter was seriously injured when she swallowed a button battery hidden inside a Christmas wristlet.
Jess Sandoval shared her family’s terrifying experience as her daughter continues to recover at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora. Speaking from the hospital, Sandoval said the incident happened “in an instant,” despite careful supervision.
“You can be the most attentive parent and still have something like this happen,” Sandoval explained. “It only takes a moment.”
Sandoval, a mother of five, said her family had recently attended a drive-through holiday light display where children received small light-up wristbands as gifts.
Later that evening, while the family relaxed at home watching The Grinch and snacking, her daughter Elana was wearing one of the bracelets.
At first, Sandoval believed her child was choking on food… until her other children realized the bracelet contained a button battery. Elana began showing signs of distress, and Sandoval rushed her to a nearby emergency room.
Doctors quickly determined the situation was serious and transferred Elana to Children’s Hospital Colorado, where imaging confirmed she had swallowed a button battery. Surgeons performed emergency surgery on December 7, and Elana required intensive care afterward.
According to Dr. Edwin de Zoeten, specialists were able to remove the battery, but it had already caused a hole in Elana’s esophagus.
The injury led to mediastinitis, a dangerous infection in the chest cavity between the lungs. Elana now requires a feeding tube, antibiotics, and ongoing monitoring due to the risk of further complications.
Medical experts warn that button batteries can burn through tissue rapidly, sometimes in less than two hours, making them especially dangerous for young children.
Sandoval hopes sharing her story will prevent other families from experiencing the same nightmare this holiday season.
“This is extremely dangerous,” she said. “If telling our story helps save even one child, it’s worth it.”
