The mother of a Gold Coast toddler who was put in an induced coma after consuming cake decorating dust has shared a heartwarming update on his condition.
Katie Robinson said her son Dusty Wildman was “awake and alert” after spending days in Queensland Children’s Hospital.
“This morning he had all breathing assistance taken out and is breathing completely on his own,” Robinson said.
“He just has the feeding tube in while we try and get some food in orally.
“He’s trying to talk but still has a very raspy voice.”
Robinson said Dusty’s X-rays showed inflammation in his lungs and the family would take his recovery “day by day”.
“We’re hoping he proves the doctors wrong and there’s no permanent damage,” she said.
Robinson, a professional baker, was making a Bluey cake for a first birthday on May 1 when her son found a canister of cake decorating gold.
“Dusty was just pottering around like he normally does,” she said. (9News)
The 14-month-old managed to get the lid off and ingested the powder.
He became unwell almost immediately, started to cough and became “really distressed”.
Robinson learnt the dust contained copper, which would not dissolve in blood and gathered in Dusty’s lungs.
The label on the cake dust said the product is “for use on removal parts” and that it is non-toxic.
There is no ingredients list which meant doctors had to send the container to a lab to discover it contained copper and zinc.
The supplier has pulled the product from shelves and contacted all stockists.
“These products are being sold next to edible products as well,” Robinson said earlier this month.
“I want everyone to just go and check their cupboards if they have any kind of cake decorating products that could potentially be anything similar to this, just throw it out.”
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