{"id":16457,"date":"2025-07-23T17:16:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T17:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/16457\/"},"modified":"2025-07-23T17:16:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T17:16:11","slug":"millies-parents-thought-their-three-year-old-had-a-stomach-ache-and-rushed-her-to-hospital-now-shes-fighting-for-life-after-swallowing-a-very-common-household-item","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/16457\/","title":{"rendered":"Millie’s parents thought their three-year-old had a stomach ache and rushed her to hospital… now she’s fighting for life after swallowing a very common household item"},"content":{"rendered":"

By KYLIE STEVENS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 02:18 EDT, 23 July 2025 | Updated: 04:11 EDT, 23 July 2025 <\/p>\n

A family living every parent’s worst nightmare has issued an urgent warning after their toddler swallowed two magnets and ended up in an induced coma.<\/p>\n

Three-year-old Millie will spend months recovering in the Queensland<\/a> Children’s\u00a0Hospital in Brisbane<\/a>, 370km away from her home in Bundaberg.<\/p>\n

The toddler was rushed to hospital in early July after a stomach ache, high fever, and green vomit quickly deteriorated into a life-threatening emergency.<\/p>\n

Her bowels began to shut down as her condition worsened, and within days, Millie had been airlifted to Brisbane for emergency surgery.<\/p>\n

As she was placed on life support, doctors warned her parents Emily and Luke that the next few days would be critical\u00a0and there was no certainty Millie would survive.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The little girl had swallowed two small high-powered magnets on separate occasions, which had locked together inside her stomach.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The magnets caused catastrophic damage to her digestive system as her bowel leaked into her stomach, as well as severe infection and sepsis.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Surgeons drained more than a litre of pus from Millie’s tiny body and removed the majority of her bowel.<\/p>\n

\"Three-year-old <\/p>\n

Three-year-old Millie (pictured) has a long road to recovery ahead of her after she swallowed two high-powered magnets which locked together in her stomach<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The Queensland toddler was in an induced coma following emergency surgery<\/p>\n

Millie will undergo multiple surgeries in the coming weeks, where doctors will attempt to reattach her bowel.<\/p>\n

Family and friends have rallied around Millie’s parents, who have put their entire lives on hold to be by their daughter’s bedside.<\/p>\n

‘They are far from home, away from their other children, family, and support systems,’ a GoFundMe<\/a> page started by a family friend stated.<\/p>\n

‘They are facing mounting bills, rent, travel, and living expenses while trying to stay by their little girl’s side.<\/p>\n

‘This is every parent’s nightmare, and it’s not over yet.<\/p>\n

‘We are beyond grateful that Millie is still here, thanks to the urgent and expert care she received. This family now faces a long and uncertain road ahead.’<\/p>\n

The fundraiser is raising awareness of the life-threatening dangers of high-powered magnets in the hope other families don’t have to go through the same ordeal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The magnets Millie swallowed are banned from being sold in Australia and New Zealand but can be found in products bought overseas or online.<\/p>\n

\"Millie <\/p>\n

Millie remains in Brisbane’s Queensland Children’s Hospital, far away from home<\/p>\n

\"Millie <\/p>\n

Millie almost died after she swallowed two high-powered magnets on separate occasions<\/p>\n

‘These tiny but powerful magnets can be found in toys, fridges, electronics, even jewellery,’ the fundraiser continued.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘There is simply not enough awareness, and it almost cost Millie her life.\u00a0Magnets are not toys, and parents everywhere deserve to know how dangerous they can be.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘If this message reaches just one other family and prevents another child from going through what Millie has, then some good can come from this heartbreaking ordeal.’<\/p>\n

‘Symptoms can take hours or days to appear and can include choking, drooling, stomach ache, discomfort or pain around the face or throat, cramps, nausea, and vomiting.’<\/p>\n

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