Source: foxnews.com
A 9-year-old boy is recovering after a popular toy caused second-degree burns to his face and hands.Caleb Chabolla, a fourth-grader in Illinois, was injured after heating up a NeeDoh in the microwave late last month.The NeeDoh, a sensory toy similar to a stress ball, is described on the company’s website as a "gratifying super soft, super stretchy dough filled groovy glob."WISCONSIN MOM CALLS FOR CHANGE AFTER HER 10-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER DIES FROM SWALLOWING A WATER BEADAfter microwaving the toy to soften it, Chabolla removed it and began squeezing it when it exploded in his face."I heard him screaming loudly and saw him take off running toward the bathroom, and he just kept yelling, ‘it burns, it burns,’" Whitney Grubb, the boy’s mother, told Fox News Digital.Grubb saw that the right side of Chabolla’s face was covered in a thick gel, with bright red skin underneath. She initially tried to wash off the substance, but it was too painful, so she drove her son to the emergency room.CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIESChabolla was ultimately transferred via ambulance to the Loyola Burn Center, where he stayed overnight. Doctors "debrided" the burn, which involves cleaning burn wounds by removing dead, damaged or infected skin and debris."Because his eye ended up swelling all the way closed, they also brought in ophthalmology to make sure he didn't have any injury to his eye," Grubb said.The doctors at Loyola informed Grubb that they had recently treated four other children who had been burned by heating up NeeDohs, stemming from a viral trend on TikTok."Caleb had heard about it through word of mouth through friends at school," Grubb said.After two weeks of recovery and daily wound cleanings, Chabolla was released to return to school on Wednesday.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER"His face is looking a lot better," Grubb said. "There are a few spots that are still healing, but the majority of his face is pretty healed over."He will continue to need vit
Why this matters
This story is being closely followed due to its broader implications. We are monitoring developments and will update readers if new verified information emerges.