An 11-month-old baby is battling for life in intensive care after ingesting a popular herbal oil.
Mum Jessica Landim, 23, from Toxteth, Liverpool, has encouraged other parents to be more cautious over the common household product as she waits for news about her daughter.
The tot consumed camphor oil – used in several chest rubs.
Jessica said little Leila was hooked up to a breathing machine at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital for the past week, the Liverpool Echo reports.
She explained how she was at home with her daughter and her mother last Friday when every parent’s worst nightmare unfolded.
“She started coughing in a desperate way – I thought she was choking,” she said.
“She was having mini-seizures, her lips turned blue and really big. Then her tongue was rolling around out of her mouth, and she was only breathing every five to 10 seconds.
“There was lots of oil on her clothing. She was foaming at the mouth too, and looking through me. I was shaking, it’s indescribable how you feel – I still can’t stand still.”
Jessica’s mommy told her Leila had grabbed the oil from the top of her mommy’s bed, and taken it towards her face.
She said she was told Leila may not have survived even four hours if she hadn’t been placed on the life support machine.
Jessica, who’s studying law at Bangor University, urged any specialists with special understanding of the effects of ingesting such oils to get in touch.
And she warned other parents: “These are household essentials, and I don’t think people realise how serious it can get – we didn’t.
“Leila is just your ordinary healthy baby. She is so bright, so sweet and literally her smile could light up the room.
“But I’m in no way giving up – I can’t. I just want whatever can be done to get my baby back.”
