Boy Injured by Heated Toy Recovers from Serious Burns

In a distressing incident, a 9-year-old boy named Caleb Chabolla from Illinois is recovering from second-degree burns suffered after microwaving a popular toy known as NeeDoh. This fourth-grader’s unfortunate mishap occurred at the end of last month when he attempted to heat up the toy, which is widely recognized as a sensory item akin to a stress ball.

According to the company, NeeDoh is promoted as a “gratifying super soft, super stretchy dough-filled groovy glob.” It was while squeezing the microwaved toy that it unexpectedly exploded, resulting in serious burns to Caleb’s face and hands.

“I heard him screaming loudly and saw him take off running toward the bathroom, and he just kept yelling, ‘it burns, it burns,’” his mother, Whitney Grubb, shared with Fox News Digital.

Upon seeing her son’s condition with his skin covered in a thick gel and bright red underneath, Grubb attempted to wash off the substance but found it too painful. She quickly drove Caleb to the emergency room for immediate medical attention. Due to the severity of the injuries, Caleb was transferred by ambulance to the Loyola Burn Center for specialized care.

At the Burn Center, doctors provided critical care by debriding the wound, a process that involves cleaning the affected area by removing damaged skin and debris. They also involved ophthalmology specialists as a precaution since Caleb’s eye had swollen shut, making it necessary to ensure there was no additional damage to his vision.

The medical team informed Grubb that Caleb was not the only case—four other children had similarly been injured due to exposure to a viral trend circulating on TikTok, encouraging the heating of NeeDoh toys. Caleb had heard about this trend from his school friends.

After a challenging two-week recovery period filled with daily wound cleaning, Caleb was finally cleared to return to school with the healing process well underway. His mother reported, “His face is looking a lot better. There are a few spots that are still healing, but the majority of his face is pretty healed over.”

To support ongoing recovery, Caleb must now regularly use vitamin E lotion and sunscreen to protect his sensitive skin from further damage. Despite the ordeal, returning to school has lifted his spirits as he can now reunite with friends.

Grubb is determined to raise awareness among other parents about the hazards of microwaving such toys, acknowledging the challenges of supervising children’s activities and the innate curiosity that leads them to experiment without understanding the potential dangers.

Fox News Digital has sought statements from NeeDoh’s manufacturer and the Loyola Burn Center but has yet to receive responses.