Mum recounts son's near-death after choking on balloon
A joyous birthday celebration turned into a terrifying ordeal when a young Malaysian boy, Uwais, nearly lost his life after choking on a balloon at his own party on May 20.
The incident, recounted in a heartfelt Facebook post by the boy's mother, Nurul Huda Zulkhairi, took place during a party attended by close friends and teachers.
'To celebrate our son's birthday, we invited all his best friends and teachers from kindergarten to primary school.
ALSO READ: Boy who choked on gummy candy dies
'While my husband and I were busy entertaining guests, our son was running around, playing with his best friend. Just before the incident, he sat with me at the table and proudly said, 'Mama, taste this — I mixed two drinks together'.'
'I took a sip and said, 'Wow, that's actually really good!' After he finished drinking with his friend, they ran off again to continue playing,' she wrote.
'I went back to chatting with my old colleagues and had just sat down to eat some nasi kerabu — my first bite of the day because we had been so busy.
'Before it all happened, my sister-in-law Zahidah mentioned to my husband that Uwais looked like he was wheezing. Since Uwais used to suffer from asthma attacks, my husband said he would go grab the inhaler we had always kept ready.
'Then things took a terrifying turn. My brother-in-law Nabil came running while carrying our son, who was already turning blue. His heart had stopped,' she recounted.
'My husband and his friend tried different emergency procedures. They thought he might have choked on food. They attempted CPR and another technique (I can't remember the name), but nothing worked.
'Without wasting time, my husband shouted, 'Let's go to the hospital now!' He told his friend it was a 50-50 chance — our son's heart had stopped. His face had turned completely blue.
'My husband's friend, Dr. Rafiq, drove at lightning speed while guiding my husband on what to do.
'My husband was in shock, not knowing what to do — our son was limp, turning blue in his lap. But he kept doing CPR, hoping blood would continue flowing to the brain. As a last resort, he gave mouth-to-mouth to help him breathe.
'When we arrived at the hospital, the doctors and nurses worked urgently to save our son. As they prepared to intubate him, they found a balloon stuck in his airway. The doctor immediately pulled it out and resumed CPR — and Alhamdulillah, Allah returned our son's life to us,' her post read.
'Thank you to the Emergency Department team at Kulim Hospital for responding so quickly. And heartfelt thanks to the PICU team at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital for their meticulous care for Uwais.
'Everything happened so fast. Turns out, Uwais had been joking around with his friend, putting the balloon in his mouth while running around — and he must have accidentally inhaled it and choked,' she revealed.
'I'm sharing this story as a reminder to all parents: something as small and seemingly harmless as a balloon can turn into a life-threatening danger if we're not careful. Never take it lightly — I nearly lost my child because of it.
'Please pray that Uwais stays strong and recovers fully. And thank you to everyone who has continuously offered prayers and support.
'Because of a single balloon, I almost lost my son. But because of love, prayers, and hope — I believe he'll smile again like before. Mama's waiting for you, my love,' the mother wrote.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BusinessToday
6 hours ago
- BusinessToday
Understanding Obesity in Pregnancy: What Women Need to Know
Obesity is a growing global health concern, and in Malaysia, the rise is particularly concerning for women of reproductive age. While much attention is given to maintaining a healthy pregnancy, the specific impact of obesity on maternal and foetal health is rarely discussed openly. Dr Vicky Ho, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Sunway Medical Centre and President of the Malaysian Obstetric Medicine Society (MOMS), is working to change that. With a focus on high-risk pregnancies and pre-pregnancy care, she offers vital insight into the silent risks and actionable steps women can take to protect both their health and that of their baby. Underaddressed, Not Underreported Recent data show that more than 30% of Malaysian adults are classified as obese—a significant jump from previous years. While this figure is well-documented, the same cannot be said for the attention given to obesity in pregnancy. Dr Ho clarifies that it's not a case of underreporting but of underaddressing. 'The awareness among reproductive-age women about how obesity impacts their fertility, pregnancy, and their child's future health is still low,' she says. Weight Gain Myths and Harmful Advice When asked whether the belief that weight gain is normal during pregnancy contributes to the under-addressing of obesity in pregnancy, Dr Vicky Ho confirmed that this misconception plays a significant role. She explains that many women believe that the more weight a mother gains, the healthier the baby will be. Dr. Vicky stresses, 'A healthy baby does not equate to a big baby or a mother putting on too much weight.' Dr Vicky recounts seeing patients whose mothers-in-law advised them to gain as much as 20 kilograms to ensure a large, healthy baby—but she warns that this approach is not only unnecessary, it can also be harmful. 'Many times, the weight gain in pregnancy is not equivalent to the baby's weight,' she explains. 'A mother can gain 20 kilos, but the baby may only weigh two kilos, and may even suffer from growth restrictions.' She emphasises the importance of educating and empowering pregnant women about healthy weight gain, and of dispelling the persistent myth that more weight automatically leads to a healthier baby. What Does Healthy Weight Gain Look Like? So, what is considered a healthy amount of weight to gain during pregnancy? According to Dr. Vicky Ho, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. While antenatal cards offer general guidance, they aren't based on strict, universally accepted rules. For mothers with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30, particularly those in the class three obesity category (BMI 40 and above)—a neutral weight gain is typically recommended. 'We don't want them to lose weight during pregnancy,' Dr Ho explains, 'but if they can try to maintain or just gain maybe less than five kilos, that would mean the mother has lost weight overall.' In contrast, women with a healthy BMI should aim to gain around one kilogram per month in the first two trimesters and approximately 500 grams per week during the third trimester. When Weight Becomes a Risk If an expectant mother is overweight, her risk of developing health complications during pregnancy rises significantly. These issues can emerge as early as the first trimester and may include gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, thrombosis, sleep disorders, miscarriage, and mental health challenges. 'There's no magic weight where risk suddenly begins,' says Dr Ho. 'The risk increases the moment a woman is classified as obese at the start of pregnancy. Obese mothers are two to four times more likely to develop preeclampsia and up to ten times more likely to experience thrombosis.' Impact on the Baby's Long-Term Health The risks don't end at birth. Obesity during pregnancy can affect a child's future health, increasing their likelihood of becoming obese or developing metabolic disorders such as diabetes and high blood pressure. 'When mummy is obese during pregnancy, there is a higher chance that the child may be obese in the future as well,' says Dr Ho. 'If the mother experiences preeclampsia, the child may also be at higher risk of developing heart problems and hypertension later in life.' Early Intervention and Support Matter To tackle these risks, Dr Ho advocates for more emphasis on pre-pregnancy care. 'The best time to address obesity and other medical conditions is before pregnancy,' she says. 'We can diagnose issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, or even thalassemia early, and offer interventions before a woman conceives.' For women who are already pregnant and obese, Dr Ho emphasises that support, not shame, is key. 'We're not here to scare you. We're here to help,' she says. 'If you're seeing the right doctor and following their guidance, you can still have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.' Related
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
QuickCheck: Is a deputy minister promoting a health product for diabetes patients?
ONE'S health is a matter that should never be neglected. Unfortunately, some suffering from long-term diseases, desperate to be rid of what ails them, can be susceptible to unscrupulous businesses. In that regard, is there any truth that a deputy minister is promoting a health product for diabetes patients? Verdict: FALSE The Health Ministry has asked the public to be wary of a video on social media that misuses the identity of Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni to promote a diabetes care product. It said that the deputy minister had never endorsed such a product and added that his image was generated using artificial intelligence! "The public is advised to only use health products registered with the Health Ministry and not to purchase any health products from unaccredited sellers or vendors, especially through online platforms," it said in a Facebook post on Sunday (June 8). The ministry said consumers should only use health products after consultation with and guidance received from qualified medical practitioners. The ministry also urged the public to report any unregistered health products to its pharmacy services programme through the public complaint management system (SisPAA) at "The ministry strongly condemns the unethical use of AI technology," it said, adding that use of unauthorised health products was dangerous and could even lead to death! The ministry also urged the public not to be easily deceived or influenced and also warned entrepreneurs not to mislead the public.
New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Wani Kayrie: I suffered a severe headache, blurred vision and vomiting
KUALA LUMPUR: Singer and actress Wani Kayrie, 25, was forced to celebrate Hari Raya Aidiladha modestly at home this year after being admitted to hospital for a severe headache that required treatment and medical monitoring. Wani, whose real name is Syazwani Abdullah, was taken to the Emergency Department of a medical centre in Petaling Jaya at around 2am on Wednesday, after experiencing symptoms of blurred vision and sudden vomiting. "I was in the emergency zone from 2am to 6am before being transferred to the ward," she told Harian Metro. "After the MRI results came back clear, I was admitted to the ward on Thursday morning." Wani was allowed to leave the ward late on Friday evening after requesting early discharge from her doctor, so she could celebrate Hari Raya Korban with her family. "Even though I was allowed to return home, I still couldn't celebrate Raya as usual," she explained. "My health isn't stable yet, so I just rested at home, celebrating Raya in moderation." According to Wani, doctors confirmed she was suffering from a 'tension headache' – a type of headache caused by stress, lack of rest, and extreme fatigue, following a very busy work period. "To be honest, my schedule has been non-stop since Hari Raya Aidilfitri," she said. "It's been constant promotions for my song 'Nyam Nyam Ketupat', stage performances, drama filming, the musical theatre 'Kehidupan', and promoting my new song 'Cak Cak Cekuk'." Wani admitted that the extreme fatigue meant she could no longer control her own body, leading to a debilitating headache that wouldn't subside even with rest at home. "Normally, if I had a headache, I'd just sleep it off at home," she said. "But this time, the pain was incredible. My head felt like it was going to burst; I couldn't even sleep. It kept coming back repeatedly. That's why the doctor performed an MRI to rule out anything serious. Thank God, everything is fine, it was just low blood pressure." Wani further explained that her symptoms began after she played badminton last Wednesday night. "I had just finished playing badminton. While packing my equipment, my vision suddenly became blurry; I saw stars," she said. "When I tried to walk, my body felt weak. I attempted to drive but felt like vomiting and had to stop. At that point, a headache started coming and going." Wani then sought help from her friend and fellow singer, Afieq Shazwan, who was at the same location, to take her to the hospital. "Afieq immediately called my brother to get a car," she said. "We went to the hospital together that night. That's when the long treatment episode began." Despite being saddened by not being able to celebrate Aidiladha like in previous years, Wani is content. She views this experience as a chance given by God to rest and spend quality time with her family. "Every year, if I don't go back to my hometown, I'll take my family on holiday for Raya," she said. "But this year, perhaps God wants to give me the space to stop for a while, rest, and appreciate time with my family.
