Young Girl Camila Romero Fights for Her Life in California After Swallowing a Deadly Button Battery Hidden Inside a Toy

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By Lola Smith

Published: March 21, 2026 | 12:24 AM GMT

A Southern California family is living through every parent’s worst fear after a common household object turned into a life-threatening emergency.

Four-year-old Camila Romero is currently fighting for her life in a hospital bed.

The culprit was a tiny button battery she accidentally swallowed from one of her toys.

What started as a persistent fever ended in a discovery that has left her with severe, life-altering internal injuries.

From a Simple Fever to a Critical Diagnosis

Camila’s parents, Cassandra Tafolla and Hugo Romero, initially sought medical help when their daughter developed a week-long fever.

At first, medical professionals suspected a common virus was the cause of her discomfort.

However, her mother’s intuition pushed for further testing, specifically a chest X-ray to check for pneumonia.

That scan revealed a horrifying reality: a small, round battery was lodged deep in the little girl’s throat.

The Invisible Chemical Burn

Button batteries, often called coin batteries, are found in everything from remote controls to children’s toys.

These tiny power cells are incredibly dangerous because they contain lithium.

When they come into contact with saliva, a chemical reaction occurs that can burn through human flesh in less than two hours.

In Camila’s case, the battery burned a hole directly through her esophagus, perilously close to her lungs.

Impact and Consequences

The damage to Camila’s upper respiratory system was so extensive that doctors had to make a difficult choice.

She was placed in a medically-induced coma at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital to allow her body a chance to heal.

The girl has remained in this state for two weeks and is still listed in critical condition.

The hole in her esophagus is a mere eighth of an inch away from her lungs, making her recovery extremely delicate.

A Community Rallies Around the Romeros

While Camila fights for her health, her parents are facing a mounting mountain of financial stress.

Both parents have been forced to miss work to stay by their daughter’s side during this crisis.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to cover medical bills and travel expenses during this “unknown road ahead.”

As of Friday, the community has shown incredible spirit, raising over $16,000 to support the family.

What’s Next?

The road to recovery for Camila will be long and involve multiple complex medical procedures.

Her parents are currently waiting for doctors to clear her for a major follow-up surgery scheduled for next week.

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Everything depends on whether her body is stable enough to handle the operation.

In the meantime, the family is focusing on spreading awareness to ensure no other child suffers a similar fate.

Warning to Other Parents

Camila’s parents admitted they were unaware of how lethal these shiny, small batteries could be.

They are now urging all caregivers to inspect every toy and electronic device in their homes.

Supervision is key, but ensuring battery compartments are screwed shut or taped over can save a life.

The small size of these batteries makes them an easy—and attractive—choking hazard for curious toddlers.

Summary

In short: A four-year-old is in a coma after a button battery caused catastrophic burns to her throat.

The injury was only discovered after an X-ray for a persistent fever revealed the metal object.

Camila remains in critical condition at a Southern California children’s hospital while her family prepares for her next surgery.

The incident serves as a grim reminder of the high-voltage dangers hiding in common household electronics.

Bulleted Takeaways

Critical Condition: Camila Romero has been in a medically-induced coma for two weeks following the ingestion of a button battery.
Chemical Reaction: Lithium batteries react with saliva to create a caustic burn that destroys tissue in under 120 minutes.
Near Miss: The battery burned a hole through her esophagus, stopping just an eighth of an inch from her lungs.
Financial Support: A GoFundMe has raised $16,000 of a $22,000 goal to assist the family with medical costs.
Safety Plea: Parents are urged to double-check toy battery compartments, as these small batteries are easily swallowed and highly toxic.

Since button batteries are found in so many common household items, it is vital to know how to prevent these accidents and what to do if you suspect a child has swallowed one.

How to Secure Your Home from Button Batteries

The best way to prevent an injury like Camila’s is to conduct a “battery sweep” of your living space. Many devices that we don’t think of as “toys” are easily accessible to children.

Check the Compartments: Ensure that all devices using button batteries have a battery compartment that requires a tool (like a screwdriver) to open. If it clicks shut but could pop open if dropped, reinforce it with strong duct tape.
Store Spares High: Keep new and used batteries in a locked cabinet or a container stored high out of reach. Even “dead” batteries can hold enough charge to cause a chemical burn.
Dispose Safely: When changing a battery, wrap the old one in tape immediately and take it to a recycling center. Never leave them on a counter or in a low trash can.

Recognizing the Signs of Ingestion

As seen in Camila’s case, symptoms can mimic a common cold or virus, which makes diagnosis difficult. If your child shows these signs and you cannot account for a button battery, seek emergency care:

Wheezing or difficulty breathing.
Drooling more than usual or trouble swallowing.
Chest pain or discomfort.
Vomiting (sometimes with blood).
Unexplained fever or refusal to eat.

Critical First Aid: The Honey Method

Medical experts and the National Capital Poison Center suggest a specific “stop-gap” measure if you suspect a child over the age of one has swallowed a button battery within the last 12 hours:

Administer Honey: Give the child 10 mL (about two teaspoons) of honey every 10 minutes (up to six doses) on the way to the emergency room.
Why it works: Honey creates a physical barrier and helps neutralize the high pH of the battery’s chemical reaction, potentially slowing down the rate of the burn.
Important: Do not delay a trip to the ER to give honey, and do not induce vomiting.

Summary of Emergency Steps

Go to the ER immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to appear.
Tell the staff you suspect a battery ingestion so they can order an X-ray right away.
Do not let the child eat or drink anything else until a doctor has cleared them, as this could interfere with emergency surgery.

About Lola Smith

Lola Smith is a highly experienced writer and journalist with over 25 years of experience in the field. Her special interest lies in journalistic writeups, where she can utilize her skills and knowledge to bring important stories to the public eye. Lola’s dedication to her craft is unparalleled, and she writes with passion and precision, ensuring that her articles are informative, engaging, and thought-provoking. She lives in New York, USA.