‘She always said, 'I'm going to be famous, dad'': Teen dies after viral TikTok ‘dusting' challenge
Renna O'Rourke and her boyfriend DoorDashed aerosol keyboard cleaner to her parents' Tempe, Arizona, home without her mother's knowledge, Dana O'Rourke told 12 News.
The dusting trend, also known as chroming or huffing, involves inhaling common household cleaners to get high for views online. The sensation causes brief euphoria but can cause instant, fatal damage, often due to heart failure, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
After inhaling the keyboard cleaner, Renna went into cardiac arrest, spent a week unconscious in the intensive care unit, and then was declared brain-dead.
Renna's parents described their late daughter as 'vivacious and caring and loyal.' Her father, Aaron O'Rourke, told 12 News that Renna loved to sing and lit up every room with her smile and laughter.
'She always said, 'I'm going to be famous, dad. Just you watch. I'm going to be famous,' and unfortunately, this is not under the most optimal of circumstances,' Aaron O'Rourke, told the outlet..
Despite the less-than-ideal circumstances, the O'Rourke family is now working to honor Renna by spreading the word about the dangers of huffing for teens and parents.
'There's no ID required. It's odorless. It's everything kids look for. They can afford it, they can get it, and it doesn't show in mom and dad's drug test,' Dana O'Rourke told AZ Family about access to the trendy chemicals.
She added, 'Don't take your kid's word for it. Dig deep. Search their rooms. Don't trust — and that sounds horrible, but it could save their life.'
A GoFundMe started to help the O'Rourke family with hospital bills, burial and therapy costs, and to spread awareness about huffing has surpassed its $5,000 goal and sits at over $9,000 at the time of publication.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
3 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
How 9 minutes of daily HIIT may improve kids' brain function and learning, according to research
Kids' attention spans aren't exactly getting any longer. Some can't even make it to the end of a 10-second TikTok without swiping away. To be honest, I'm also guilty of this sometimes. But if you can hold their focus for nine whole minutes of exercise, scientists think they've found a little hack that could help children concentrate better in class. Researchers from the University of Eastern Finland studied how short bursts of physical activity could influence a child's ability to focus. They asked seven- to 13-year-olds to complete a simple nine-minute workout before sitting down to cognitive tests. The results? Kids who exercised performed better on tasks that required sustained attention and working memory compared to those who stayed seated. If you are a parent looking to move more and encourage your children to do the same, our guide to the best fitness trackers can help you keep track of your activity levels and stay motivated. The study found that nine minutes of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) can help children focus better and improve performance on cognitive tasks. For reference, this activity took place in a school setting before tests. The researchers suggest the boost in focus may come from the temporary increase in heart rate and blood flow, which delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the brain, along with the release of neurotransmitters that support alertness and cognitive function. If you are a parent and want to try using this at home to help your child focus, settle down after school, or tackle homework more easily, the principle is pretty flexible. You don't need a full PE class. Just nine minutes of fun, energetic high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) that gets your child's heart rate up could make a difference. This could be a quick dance to a favorite song or two, a short obstacle course in the living room, or a few laps around the yard. It's important to note that this research does not provide a guaranteed solution for improving focus in all children, and every child's needs and circumstances are different. The study shows a potential benefit in a classroom setting, but individual results may vary. Still, making exercise a fun and regular part of family life can support both the body and mind. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Washington Post
6 hours ago
- Washington Post
Fed up with U.S. health care costs, these Americans moved abroad
Jennifer Sontag cracked her skull and couldn't afford emergency brain surgery. Her doctors suggested she start a GoFundMe. 'Their advice was, 'You've got to get the surgery. You'll work it out later,'' she said. 'And I'm like, 'Are you kidding me? Your advice to someone in a medical crisis is to beg for money?''
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Woman's 'Silly Little Video' About Getting Rid of Her 'Gummy Smile' Sparks Interest in Laser Gum Contouring (Exclusive)
Carolina Frette's gingivectomy experience recently went viral on TikTok NEED TO KNOW Last year, Carolina Frette underwent a gingevectomy (laser gum contouring) to gain confidence in her smile Though she had her doubts at first, the procedure and recovery was quick, and Frette swiftly fell in love with her new look One of Frette's videos recently went viral on TikTok, starting a conversation about insecurity and confidence A woman underwent a small dental procedure and got a great confidence boost in return. Carolina Frette, 23, tells PEOPLE about her recent gingivectomy procedure, which altered the appearance of her teeth and helped her embrace her smile. After sharing her results on TikTok, Frette reached 1.5 million viewers and started a conversation about insecurities, aesthetics and confidence. Last year, Frette made the decision to undergo a gingivectomy, or laser gum contouring, on her eight front teeth. The choice stemmed from a lifelong insecurity, she says. "I didn't like how I looked in pictures. Every time I took a photo, I tried my hardest to lower my top lip to cover my gums as best as possible," she tells PEOPLE. "It was just something I was constantly thinking about, and I wanted to fix it." Frette traveled to Medellin, Colombia, where Dr. Gabriel Gallego conducted the procedure, which lasted about one hour and cost $75, she says. Before the surgery, she was "really scared" of how her body might react, but ultimately the healing process went smoothly. Frette didn't have to take any antibiotics, could eat almost anything and was able to continue her day as normal afterwards. "I stared at the mirror the doctor handed to me for several minutes trying to get used to my new smile and my new appearance. A lot of thoughts were going through my head: Was this the right decision? Was my smile better before? Am I overreacting?" Frette recalled. "However, as the day went on, I couldn't stop smiling. I loved my new smile, and I was glad I did it — it just took some time getting used to." Her only maintenance was a little extra brushing when her gums began to scab — the "only painful part," she tells PEOPLE. After a week, her gums had fully healed. Frette shared her results on TikTok in July, and at first, it only reached a few thousand viewers. Roughly two weeks afterwards, her video went viral — which, aside from the few hate comments, was received with positivity. Many users connected with Frette and others in the comments, discussing their own insecurities about their smiles. Others were excited to learn laser gum contouring was even an option. "I was honestly so happy that I was able to share my experience with others about my gummy smile and create what felt like a community," Frette says. "It's amazing how a silly little video can help and inspire so many others." Read the original article on People
