Parrizay’s Life-Saving Surgery

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It’s well known that cleaning products, pesticides and makeup can pose serious risks to children, but one of the most life-threatening dangers often goes unnoticed. Small, silent and deceptively powerful, neodymium magnets are hidden in many common household items—from office supplies and appliances to toys. While they may seem harmless, if swallowed, these magnets can cause devastating injuries. One family’s harrowing experience with this hidden threat reveals how dangerous they can be in the wrong hands.

Marketed as the world’s strongest magnets, neodymium magnets were developed by General Motors in the 1980s. Beyond cars, they have a variety of uses. In the home, they are used to keep knives securely in place, important school reminders on refrigerators, in jewelry and to keep duvet covers closed. They’re also used in popular toys—some claiming to advance a child’s understanding of three-dimensional space. 

Unaware of the risks to their children, the Khan family had neodymium magnets in their home. Their youngest daughter, Parrizay – then 14 months old – was a typical toddler, exploring the world the way toddlers do: with their hands and their senses. 

Her older sisters, Abrish and Arisha (now 9 and 7) liked to stack the neodymium magnets into colorful towers and make other shapes. But they were old enough to know not to eat them or put them in their noses. Although no one in the family witnessed Parrizay swallow the magnets, it’s easy to imagine how they would attract a young child’s attention with the resemblance to colorful candy. And that’s likely how approximately a dozen neodymium magnets ended up lodged in Parrizay’s digestive tract. 

“I thought I was being vigilant,” said mom Safia Khan. “I constantly scanned our home for dangers and got rid of things I thought were dangerous.” 

A tiny, single magnet can pass through the digestive system without much trouble, explained Kristen Calabro, MD, a pediatric surgeon at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. “But if more than one magnet is swallowed, they can attract each other through internal organs, twisting and pinching sections of the intestines together. This can cause dangerous blockages, internal bleeding, perforations, infection and even tissue damage.”

A Harrowing Ordeal 
Mrs. Khan believes Parrizay ingested the magnets over a period of a few weeks. Initially she had no obvious symptoms. Safia wasn’t concerned when periodic vomiting began. Parizzay had just started eating solid food and Safia attributed it to the baby’s new diet. As the vomiting episodes continued however, Safia grew increasingly worried. 

During the two-month ordeal, Safia described her baby’s unusual vomit to a few doctors. “I told them the food wasn’t digested at all. It looked as if it came back up before her body processed any of it,” the mom of four explained.  “I took her to urgent care, and she was seen on separate occasions in the emergency departments at two hospitals. But since Parizzay showed no signs of pain, and the doctors couldn’t find a cause, they always sent us home.” What began as a minor inconvenience soon escalated into something much more dangerous.

Early one morning in March 2023, Safia remembers being filled with dread. She sensed the situation had changed—Parrizay’s condition had worsened. “It was 2 am and she was crying inconsolably. Nothing I did made her comfortable,” she remembers. “I noticed that her stomach was distended and swollen and knew something wasn’t right. I was very scared.”

While her husband stayed behind with the older girls, Safia and her sister raced to the closest hospital. By then, Parrizay was unresponsive. “She was weak and wasn’t picking up her head. But they couldn’t find anything wrong, so we were sent to Stony Brook Children’s. That’s where we finally learned the cause of my baby’s distress.” 

Finally, an Answer 
Imaging tests revealed that several neodymium magnets had become lodged in Parizzay’s digestive tract, causing a complete obstruction. “Over time, the obstruction worsened so that the food she was eating could not pass through her system. With complete obstruction, she started to vomit it out,” Dr. Calabro said.

Following the successful surgery at SBCH, Parizzay began her recovery. The magnets had caused internal damage. They created holes within her intestine, requiring her to wear a colostomy bag for several weeks. The bag allowed her body and the damaged tissue to heal. “That was a challenging period,” Safia recalled, adding that the bag sometimes leaked and her daughter would tug at the tubing.

Eventually she had another surgery and the colostomy was removed. The Khan Family’s story is a dramatic reminder of how easy it is for everyday items to become deadly in the hands of a curious child.

Today, Parizzay is an active and thriving 3-year-old. She loves playing with dolls and helping her mom care for her younger sister Mahra, who is 18 months old. “I will forever be thankful for the care Parizzay received at Stony Brook Children’s. Dr. Calabro saved our baby’s life,” Safia said. 

How to Prevent Magnet Ingestion and Keep Your Kids Safe 
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) latest Toy-Related Deaths and Injuries report, in 2023 there were 10 deaths and an estimated 154,700 visits to the emergency department for toy-related injuries in children 12 years and younger. Other dangerous substances to be aware of include button batteries (the flat, round batteries used in greeting cards, toys, hearing aids and remote controls) and water beads (used in plants and for decorative purposes). 

Here, steps you can take to protect your children:

1. Keep Magnets Out of Reach: Neodymium magnets should be out of sight and out of reach at all times.
2. Keep Safety in Mind When Purchasing Toys Online: Always check safety information and read product reviews. Before buying second-hand products, check to see whether the items have been recalled. Visit CPSC.gov/recalls.
3. Check Toys for Small Magnets: Some toys, especially those marketed for older children, contain small magnets that can be easily detached. Always inspect toys before giving them to children and never change batteries within sight of youngsters.
4. Educate Older Children: While older kids may understand the dangers of magnets, it’s important to remind them regularly to keep magnets away from younger siblings or pets.
5. Watch for Warning Signs: Be vigilant for any unusual symptoms in your child, such as vomiting, lethargy or a swollen stomach.
6. Act Quickly: If you suspect your child has swallowed magnets, seek medical help immediately. 

Additional Resources for Parents

For more information, visit the websites of the following organization: 

• National Capital Poison Center (Poison Control): Maintains a list of toys and household devices that contain button batteries. If you suspect poisoning, or ingestion of small objects, call the Poison Help hotline at 1-800-222-1222.
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): Has information about the dangers of magnetic toys and other child safety tips.
• Stony Brook Children's Hospital:  Has over 30 pediatric specialists as well as a network of pediatric providers. To schedule an appointment, visit www.stonybrookchildrens.org or call 631-444-KIDS.

With early detection and intervention, serious complications can be avoided, and most children make a full recovery. Stony Brook Children’s Hospital is the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center. We provide the highest level of care to ensure the safety and health of your children.