A mum is raising awareness about the dangers of tiny ‘toys’ that have resulted in her baby being fitted with a stoma and losing part of her bowel.

The mum shared her story on Facebook to warn other parents who may not realise the dangers posed by tiny sculpting balls.

She says what doctors initially thought was a bout of gastro, turned out to be something far more sinister.

“My beautiful baby Araya fell ill on Friday the 21st of February, after being treated for three days in general hospital for gastroenteritis and even a brief discharge (we only made it to the car then she was vomiting again we went straight back to the ward).

“That Sunday she started to vomit diarrhoea and blood, an X-ray shown 5 beads/ balls stuck in her small intestine. I immediately realised they was my eldest daughter’s magnetic balls that she had brought home from school. (They are not something I would have brought or had in my home simply because Araya eats everything crawling around atm!)

“We then had an urgent transfer to a more experienced hospital early hours Monday where she had surgery in the morning. They removed all of the magnetics, 6 in total.”

The mum explained that five of the tiny magnets were so far in Araya’s small intestine, with one pinching part of her bowel, that it cause part of her bowel to die and created a hole in another part.

“She had to have this part of her bowel removed she now has a stoma bag… reservable in a few months time hopefully!

“She’s contracted MRSA, a chest infection, her stoma output is considerably more than her intake she is still a very poorly baby.”

The mum says she’s not looking for pity or sympathy, but rather to raise awareness.

“I didn’t even know she had ingested them and I have enough guilt without anyone pointing out the obvious. Had I known none of this would have been no where near as severe as what it’s been.

“The surgeon told me baby girl has been extremely lucky I just worry that about a child/family won’t be and if I can help prevent someone else going through what we have in the last week then I will do my best.

“Please, please throw these in the bin if you have them. They are extremely dangerous and the strongest type of magnet, the surgeon could not even unfuse them from being stuck together!”