Wisconsin Mother Urges Balloon Regulation After Infant's Fatal Choking Incident

A Wisconsin mother is advocating for stricter regulations on balloons following the tragic death of her infant son, Don’Vayaire Avita-Mays, who choked on a piece of a balloon animal at a Halloween party. The infant died on October 24, just two days before his first birthday.

According to his mother, Kisha Avita-Wilson, the incident occurred when a balloon animal, kept away from the baby, became loose. "He grabbed it, and he bit it, and when he bit it, it shot the tied-up part into the bottom of his esophagus," Avita-Wilson told NBC Chicago. She attempted CPR and to dislodge the obstruction from her son's throat, but he turned blue and went into cardiac arrest.

First responders were able to remove the rubber piece from the 11-month-old's throat using a tube and pliers, but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

"It was nothing that we could have done to save my baby boy," Avita-Wilson stated. "I don’t like to talk about him in past tense, but he isn’t here with us any longer."

Avita-Wilson, who is seven months pregnant, has experienced health complications due to the extreme stress and grief caused by the loss, according to a GoFundMe campaign established to cover funeral expenses. A message on the fundraising page from her aunt, Mary Lott, described the infant as having an "infectious" laugh and a smile that could "light up any room."

"They should stop selling them. Stop marketing them to kids. Stop producing them," Avita-Wilson urged in her call for stricter product regulations. She believes that warnings on balloon products are insufficient to prevent such tragedies.