Toddler Nearly Dies After Swallowing Magnetic Beads, Undergoes Emergency Surgery
A one-year-old girl, Araya Whateley from Northamptonshire, nearly lost her life after accidentally swallowing magnetic beads from a toy. She required a seven-hour emergency surgery to remove part of her colon and now lives with a stoma bag.
How It Happened
The magnets originally belonged to Araya’s nine-year-old sister, Isla, who received them from a friend in a “school swapsie.” Isla unknowingly left them on the back seat of their car, and their mother, Hannah, 29, had no idea that Araya had ingested them.
On February 21, Araya began vomiting, prompting Hannah to rush her to Northampton General Hospital, where doctors initially diagnosed her with gastroenteritis. However, after being discharged, Araya suddenly began choking in the hospital parking lot, leading her mother to bring her back to A&E.
An X-ray revealed that Araya had swallowed four magnetic balls, which had clumped together in her stomach. She was immediately transferred to Leicester Royal Infirmary for urgent surgery.
A Life-Saving but Painful Surgery
Surgeons discovered a total of six magnets, which had stuck together, causing Araya’s intestine to close off. This resulted in a section of her bowel dying due to lack of blood supply. Another hole in her intestine had to be repaired, and doctors installed a stoma bag to help with digestion.
However, the stoma bag is currently not functioning properly, and Araya is unable to absorb nutrients from food. She is scheduled to receive a Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) line, which will deliver nutrients directly into her bloodstream.
A Mother’s Call to Ban Magnetic Beads
Hannah, a single mother and care worker, is now advocating for a ban on magnetic sculpting balls to prevent similar tragedies.
“I don’t want any parent to go through this—it’s every parent’s worst nightmare,” she said from her daughter’s hospital bed.
She described the ordeal as a “freak accident” and admitted feeling overwhelming guilt for not realizing what had happened sooner.
“Eating causes her a lot of pain, and I’m scared to feed her because I know how much she suffers,” she added.
Doctors have assured her that Araya’s condition is reversible, and the stoma bag should only be needed for a few months.
However, medical professionals warn that swallowing magnetic beads can cause catastrophic internal damage. One doctor told Hannah that Araya was extremely lucky compared to other worst-case scenarios seen in the last ten years.
Raising Awareness
Hannah now urges parents to be cautious about magnetic toys, emphasizing that many people don’t realize how dangerous they can be.
“These tiny magnets can cause life-threatening injuries. They need to be banned before more children end up in hospital.”
Lucky Colors for the 12 Zodiac Signs
Each zodiac sign has specific lucky colors that can enhance positive energy, bring good fortune, and boost confidence. Here are the lucky colors for each sign:
♈ Aries (March 21 – April 19)
🔥 Lucky Colors: Red, Orange, Scarlet
🔺 Why? These bold and fiery colors enhance Aries’ passion, confidence, and leadership.
♉ Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
🌿 Lucky Colors: Green, Pink, Earthy Tones
🔺 Why? Green symbolizes growth and stability, while pink brings harmony and love.
♊ Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
💛 Lucky Colors: Yellow, Light Green, White
🔺 Why? These colors boost Gemini’s communication skills, creativity, and adaptability.
♋ Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
🌊 Lucky Colors: Silver, White, Light Blue
🔺 Why? These soothing colors reflect Cancer’s emotional depth, intuition, and connection to the moon.
♌ Leo (July 23 – August 22)
☀️ Lucky Colors: Gold, Orange, Yellow
🔺 Why? These royal and radiant colors highlight Leo’s charisma, confidence, and strength.
♍ Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
🌾 Lucky Colors: Green, Brown, Beige
🔺 Why? Earthy and natural tones enhance Virgo’s practicality, wisdom, and sense of order.
♎ Libra (September 23 – October 22)
🎀 Lucky Colors: Pink, Blue, Pastel Shades
🔺 Why? These colors promote Libra’s sense of balance, love, and diplomacy.
♏ Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)
🖤 Lucky Colors: Black, Dark Red, Burgundy
🔺 Why? These deep colors represent Scorpio’s mystery, intensity, and transformation.
♐ Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
💜 Lucky Colors: Purple, Royal Blue, Dark Yellow
🔺 Why? These colors enhance Sagittarius’ adventurous, spiritual, and optimistic nature.
♑ Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
🖤 Lucky Colors: Black, Gray, Dark Green
🔺 Why? These colors reflect Capricorn’s discipline, ambition, and grounded energy.
♒ Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
🔵 Lucky Colors: Blue, Electric Blue, Silver
🔺 Why? These colors enhance Aquarius’ innovation, originality, and connection to the future.
♓ Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
🌊 Lucky Colors: Sea Green, Lavender, Aqua
🔺 Why? These dreamy colors boost Pisces’ creativity, intuition, and emotional depth.
Using these lucky colors in clothing, accessories, or surroundings can help attract positive energy and success! 😊