A terrifying kitchen mishap turned a celebratory baking session into a parent’s worst nightmare, leaving a 14-month old boy fighting for his life and facing a future of potentially permanent lung damage.
Dustin “Dusty” Wildman was rushed to an Australian hospital in early May after inhaling a metallic decorating powder that transformed into toxic paste inside his tiny lungs, according to a report by People.
The toddler’s mother, professional baker Katie Robinson, was in the middle of making a Bluey-themed cake for a friends child when the unthinkable happened. In the blink of an eye, Dusty got his hands on a small container of the “gold dust powder.”
“Within seconds, he had pulled the cap off with his teeth and inhaled and ingested it at the same time,” Robinson told news.com.au.
The metallic powder, which “may contain copper and zinc dust,” turned into a paste-like substance inside the boy’s lungs, blocking his airways and sending him into respiratory distress.
The child was rushed into emergency surgery before doctors in Brisbane placed him into a medically induced coma.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission announced the national recall of powders by Creative Cake Decorating that were sold in five metallic colors, and had reportedly been on shelves since 2019.
As the medical bills mount and the family remains at the toddler’s bedside, a GoFundMe page was set up to support them during this uncertainty. The fundraiser, which has almost raised $60,000 already, aimed to cover the costs of travel, accommodations, and the specialized long-term care Dusty will require.
While Dusty is now awake and recovering, the ordeal is far from over.
Yesterday, Dusty and his family left Queensland Children’s Hospital to go home. “Dusty will continue with asthma therapy and medication to help the inflammation in his lungs continue to go down,” Robinson wrote in an Instagram post. Doctors warned that her son is likely to have sustained lifelong injury to his lungs.
Australian regulators are now urging consumers to immediately stop using the powder, keep them away from children and return them for refunds.
