An Alabama teenager suffered third-degree burns across his neck, chest, and hands when a microwaved squishy toy exploded in his grip, leaving him scarred and fighting a months-long infection that nearly required skin grafts.
TikTok Trend Turns Dangerous
Eli Blackmon was 11 years old when he watched TikTok videos showing people microwaving NeeDoh sensory toys to soften them. The stress ball-like toys contain gel and are marketed as stretchy sensory products. Blackmon thought the trend was safe because he saw adults doing it without incident. After heating the toy, his older sister held it briefly before passing it to him. When he squeezed it, the toy burst open and hot gel sprayed across his neck, chest, and hands.
His mother, Fallon Blackmon, works in emergency call taking and his father serves as a fire medic, yet neither parent knew about the dangerous trend before the injury occurred. The boy screamed in pain, telling his parents he thought he was dying. Emergency responders transported him to a local children’s hospital burn unit, where doctors determined his burns were too severe for skin grafts due to risks near his airway.
Months of Painful Treatment
Blackmon endured weekly burn unit visits for four months. Medical staff scraped away dead skin and performed wound care without pain medication or numbing agents. As healing progressed, doctors performed chemical burns to address granulation tissue buildup. The injury caused severe fluid loss that triggered months of gastrointestinal problems. Blackmon developed a rash from bandages that quickly became a staph infection, compounding his recovery challenges.
The jiu-jitsu athlete missed months of training and competition. His family faced thousands of dollars in hospital bills, physician fees, and wound care supply costs during the four-month treatment period. Today, Blackmon maintains daily scar care routines including stretches, moisturizing, and massage to preserve neck mobility. He says friends and family call his scar cool, helping maintain his confidence despite the permanent mark.
Warning to Other Families
The Blackmon family now shares their story to prevent similar injuries. Fallon Blackmon urges parents to discuss social media trends with children, even those without accounts, since kids hear about challenges from classmates. Her son advises against attempting any TikTok trends without parental consultation. The teenager emphasizes that what appears harmless can cause life-altering injuries and trauma. His mother says enduring criticism from adults online is worthwhile if sharing their experience prevents one child from being scarred for life.