A Utah mother, Rowan Steiner, panicked when she noticed a strange blue lump in the mouth of her nine-month-old son, Max. Doctors feared it could be a tumor, saying they had “never seen anything like it.” Max was referred to a dentist and pediatric oral surgeon, and a CT scan was scheduled.
Just before the scan, another doctor examined the lump closely and discovered it wasn’t a tumor at all. Using a dental pick, he removed the object — which turned out to be a piece of a fidget toy. “It was suctioned so tightly that it just wasn’t moving,” Rowan explained. “There was swelling and some bleeding when it came off.”
Rowan, who has five children, said she was relieved by the outcome. “It was the best possible outcome, given they thought it was a tumor,” she said.
She now warns other parents to check toys for loose parts. “Be really careful with cheaper brands. Make sure toys are in one piece when kids are playing with them,” she advised.
