A tragic incident unfolded when a two-year-old girl, Harper-Lee Fanthorpe, lost her life after ingesting a button battery that caused severe damage to her esophagus and a major artery. The heartbreaking event occurred on a seemingly ordinary Sunday morning.
Harper-Lee’s mother, Stacy Nicklin, recounted how the toddler, who had a history of health issues, was pointing to her mouth, a habit she often displayed due to previous illnesses. Stacy, 40, then put Harper-Lee to bed before leaving for work.
An hour later, Stacy received a distressed call from her daughter Jamie-Leigh, 23, reporting that Harper-Lee was coughing up blood. Rushing back home, Stacy found her daughter being taken to an ambulance. She later realized that Harper-Lee had swallowed an object, unbeknownst to her.
Upon reaching home, Stacy saw Harper-Lee covered in blood, prompting a swift response from emergency services. Harper-Lee was rushed to Royal Stoke University Hospital, where a button battery from a remote control was found lodged inside her body, causing critical internal injuries.
The severity of the situation required Harper-Lee to be transferred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, but the journey was deemed too risky. Despite efforts to save her, Harper-Lee tragically passed away on May 21, 2021.
In the aftermath of this devastating loss, Stacy has devoted herself to raising awareness about the dangers of button batteries. She emphasized the ongoing emotional struggle and the importance of preventing similar tragedies to spare other families from enduring the pain she, Jamie-Leigh, and Kyla have experienced.