A Wisconsin mother is mourning the death of her baby boy after a piece of a balloon became lodged in his throat during a family Halloween celebration, just two days before his first birthday.
Don’Vyaire Avita-Mays was attending the gathering on October 24 when a balloon animal burst, leaving a small piece of latex and a knot that the infant managed to put into his mouth.
His mother, Kisha Avita-Wilson, desperately attempted to save him as he struggled to breathe, but the child went into cardiac arrest.
The tragedy has left the family devastated, while Kisha, who is seven months pregnant, has reportedly been hospitalized after experiencing contractions amid the emotional strain of losing her son.
Mother describes desperate attempts to save her baby
Speaking to NBC Chicago, Kisha recalled the terrifying moments after realizing her son was choking.
“I grabbed him immediately out of his car seat. I performed CPR … I stuck my fingers down his throat,” she said.
Another person at the gathering also attempted to help.
“The person that I was with tried to do the same things also, and he turned blue immediately and went into cardiac arrest,” Kisha explained.
Emergency responders arrived and attempted to remove the obstruction using medical equipment, including a tube and pliers.
Despite those efforts, Don’Vyaire could not be saved.
“It was nothing that we could have done to save my baby boy,” his grieving mother said.
Kisha explained that relatives had been careful to keep balloons away from the infant throughout the gathering.
However, when one of the balloon animals came apart, Don’Vyaire managed to grab a piece and bite it before anyone could prevent the accident.
What had begun as a family celebration ended with the loss of a child who was only days away from turning one.
Pregnant mother hospitalized following tragedy
The family’s heartbreak has been compounded by concerns about Kisha’s health as she prepares to welcome another baby.
According to a GoFundMe established to assist with Don’Vyaire’s funeral expenses, Kisha is seven months pregnant and expecting to give birth in January.
Her aunt and adoptive mother revealed that Kisha had been hospitalized after experiencing contractions.
The fundraiser explained that the emotional impact of the tragedy was affecting her physical and mental well-being.
The family is now facing the difficult task of arranging a funeral for Don’Vyaire while also dealing with concerns surrounding his mother’s pregnancy.
Grieving mother calls for changes to balloon sales
Following her son’s death, Kisha has begun speaking publicly about the dangers balloons can pose to young children.
She believes the warning labels already placed on balloons do not adequately address the risks and has called for stronger action.
“Balloons have warnings on them, but that is not enough,” she said.
“They should stop selling them. Stop marketing them to kids. Stop producing them.”
Her comments reflect the grief of a mother who says her family had already been taking precautions to keep the decorations away from her child.
Don’Vyaire’s death occurred just two days before his first birthday, turning what should have been a time of celebration into an unimaginable loss for his family.
As relatives seek support for funeral expenses and Kisha continues dealing with the emotional and physical consequences of the tragedy, she hopes her warning will make other parents more aware of the dangers associated with balloons around young children.
