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Doctors find disturbing cause behind little boy's crippling stomach ache

When a six-year-old boy wasn’t keen to go trick-or-treating on Halloween, his parents knew something wasn’t quite right – they just didn’t know dire the situation would become.

Mikah Arvidson was playing with his brother’s fidget toy when he accidentally swallowed the small object that contains 14 magnets.

For three days, the magnets travelled through the Utah child’s digestive system causing major damage and perforating his bowels.

When Mikah started to vomit and develop a piercing pain in his stomach, his parents Blake and Aubrey rushed him to the Primary Children’s Medical Centre where X-rays revealed the cause of his suffering.

The Utah boy swallowed his brother's fidget toy that contained 14 magnets.
X-rays revealed 14 magnets lodged inside the six-year-old. Image: Facebook/Aubrey Hoopiiaina Arvidson

“Mikah went in for emergency surgery to remove the magnets and remove a section of damaged intestine. He had his appendix removed as well,” his family revealed in a GoFundMe page.

But one week on, doctors couldn’t understand why his fever had not reduced.

“Unfortunately, his bowels were still leaking bile which eventually led to a second lifesaving surgery,” the GoFundMe page read.

“It is truly a miracle this little boy survived.”

Utah boy Mikah Arvidson had to undergo three bouts of emergency surgery after swallowing the magnets.
Mikah had to undergo three bouts of emergency surgery after swallowing the magnets. Image: Facebook/Aubrey Hoopiiaina Arvidson
Now out of surgery, Mikah Arvidson warned other children not to put small toys near their mouths.
Now out of surgery, Mikah warned other children not to put small toys near their mouths. Image: Facebook/Aubrey Hoopiiaina Arvidson

Out of surgery but still under close medical supervision, Mikah issued a warning to other children from his hospital bed.

“I want you guys to be safe,” he said, through the Deseret News.

“If you swallow some magnets, you might feel bad and come here or come somewhere else. But if you come here, you’ll be here for a long time.”