A father from Birmingham has shared the harrowing details of his son's life-altering accident, which left the toddler with his mouth sealed shut after he ingested a deadly chemical drain cleaner.
Sam Anwar Alshameri was just 13 months old when the incident occurred approximately six months ago at the family home in Highgate, Birmingham. While playing with his siblings, the young boy found a white bottle containing caustic soda and accidentally drank the substance.
The Immediate Aftermath and Hospitalisation
The consequences were swift and devastating. Sam suffered severe chemical burns to his mouth, lips, and tongue. The trauma was so extreme that it triggered a heart attack which lasted for several minutes, requiring immediate emergency care.
He was rushed to hospital, where he spent months in an intensive care unit fighting for his life. The chemical burns were so severe that they effectively fused his mouth shut, a condition that persists to this day.
His father, Nadeen Alshameri, 37, is now caring for his 18-month-old son, who is fed entirely through a tube directly into his stomach. The father-of-four described the immense challenge of the situation, explaining that Sam is too young to comprehend why his world has changed so drastically.
A Daily Struggle and Hope for Surgery
"Every day I'm just struggling keeping him away from everything," Nadeen told the Mirror. "He wants attention most of the time. That's why after the accident happened, he literally cried all the time, and he's scared."
He described his son's frustration, particularly upon waking in the morning, when he attempts to put anything he can find—like tissue paper—into his mouth because he is hungry. Doctors have warned that this could cause further damage.
A recent development has offered a glimmer of hope. The NHS Birmingham Children's Hospital has contacted Nadeen to inform him that they hope to begin treatment for Sam in the coming weeks.
The first planned procedure is to surgically open his mouth, after which surgeons will assess the damage and decide on further operations to improve his quality of life. A check-up three to four weeks ago revealed that Sam has lost at least half of his tongue.
A Family's Appeal for Support
In the face of this ongoing ordeal, Nadeen has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of his son's treatment and medicine. The fundraiser has already garnered significant support, raising over £3,100 of its £9,000 target in just three days.
Mr Alshameri expressed his profound gratitude for the NHS and the public support, but he is also actively seeking to connect with medical professionals from Britain or anywhere in the world who have experience with reconstructive surgery following similar paediatric accidents.
The family now waits, hoping that the promised surgical interventions will soon begin and offer their young son a chance at a more normal life.
