Latest news with #DanaO'Rourke
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Teen who dreamed of being famous dies in deadly 'dusting' challenge
An Arizona teen has died after taking part in a deadly 'dusting' social media challenge. Renna O'Rourke, 19, who dreamed of being famous, died on Sunday following a week-long stay in intensive care. Also known as 'huffing' or 'chroming,' dusting involves participants inhaling aerosols such as keyboard cleaners. Renna O'Rourke, 19, died on Sunday afternoon following a week long stay inside an intensive care unit The teenager initially went into cardiac arrest and was later declared brain dead after inhaling the cleaning product The teenager initially went into cardiac arrest and was later declared brain dead after using a cleaning product. Speaking with AZFamily, her father Aaron O'Rourke said his daughter always dreamed of being a star. 'She always said, "I'm gonna be famous, Dad. Just you watch. I'm gonna be famous," and unfortunately this is not under the most optimal of circumstances.' Aaron and his wife Dana shared their daughter's story in an attempt to raise awareness, having never heard of the social media craze. Dana added: '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.' According to Dana, Renna and her boyfriend managed to use an app delivery service to have the cleaner sent to their door. She told 12news: '[Renna] and her boyfriend had Door Dashed product to my house and I didn't know. It's keyboard cleaner. I didn't know what they were doing with it. 'We want to make sure that we use our tragedy so that no other parent has to experience looking at their child on life support and a ventilator and not breathing on her own all because she huffed out of a can.' Dr Randy Weisman, with the HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center, told AZFamily: 'This is extremely concerning. 'When they inhale these chemicals in the gas it will actually replace the oxygen within their lungs and within the rest of their body.' According to Weisman the effect makes the users feel drunk or euphoric for a few minutes, during which the damage done can often be irreversible and deadly. He told the outlet that liver failure, heart failure and disease of the lungs are all possible outcomes. The only light to come from their daughter's passing, her parents said, was that her organs have gone on to save at least six lives. Her parents Dana and Aaron, pictured here, are now on a mission to raise awareness over the deadly trend The only light to come from their daughter's passing, her parents said, was that her organs have gone on to save at least six lives Dana added: 'Through that we're finding strength and purpose. She will be unbelievably missed, leaving the most aching hole in our lives. 'But if her life is to mean anything, we are going to do what we can to prevent somebody else's child from being where ours is right now. Her family have since created a GoFundMe page, which can be found here, to help them cover medical and funeral expenses. A post to the fundraiser said: 'On Sunday, June 1st at 1:30 pm, our wonderful daughter, after 4 days in the ICU, was pronounced brain dead. 'She was the light in every room she walked into, and the pain that her family and friends feel is simply immeasurable. 'We want to use the proceeds of this fundraiser to cover the extensive medical bills, burial costs, therapy costs, and to spread awareness about the dangers of Huffing/Dusting, the practice of inhaling keyboard cleaner or similar.' Last September the deadly trend was brought up by concerned doctors at the American Academy of Pediatrics annual conference in Orlando, Florida. They urged other doctors and parents to be sure they are aware of the trend in order to better protect children. In research, which was presented at the conference, a team analyzed 109 videos from social media of chroming which had 25 million views. They found that permanent markers were the most common chroming item, appearing in 31 per cent of the videos. Air dusters were the second most common, in 17 per cent of videos, followed by nail polish, 12 per cent, paint thinner, gasoline and spray deodorant, 11 per cent for each. About six per cent of the videos analyzed also showed users sniffing hair spray. More than half of the videos referenced repeated usage or addiction.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
‘She always said, 'I'm going to be famous, dad'': Teen dies after viral TikTok ‘dusting' challenge
The parents of a 19-year-old who dreamed of fame and died after trying the TikTok 'dusting' trend are warning others about its deadly risks. 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.
