Toddler undergoes lung surgery after inhaling corn kernel that got stuck in his respiratory track.

A concerned mother is urging caution after her son experienced a frightening accident at a pumpkin patch in the United States. As families across the country gather to celebrate the season, she hopes to raise awareness and prevent others from going through a similar ordeal.

Nichele Bray, mother of young Luke, shared her harrowing experience. "It was like a nightmare. It was terrifying. No parent should have to go through something like this with their child," she said. On October 15, the Bray family visited their local pumpkin patch in Ogden, Utah. Bray emphasized that she was closely supervising her two-year-old son the entire time.

While playing in the corn kernel pit, Luke fell and ended up with a mouthful of corn. "He started choking on it really badly," Bray recounted. Fortunately, they were able to remove all the kernels and thought the incident was over. However, six days later, on October 20, he began choking again. "He was turning blue and looked like he was about to throw up," Bray remembered.

Panicked, the family called 911 and Luke was rushed to the hospital for further tests and scans. "They found a corn kernel stuck in his left lung, which is about half the size of his right lung. It was causing his lung to collapse," Bray explained. He was immediately transferred to Primary Children's Hospital for emergency surgery.

Thankfully, Luke is now recovering and expected to make a full recovery. Health officials warn that this time of year, with Halloween and other fall festivities, is a particularly high-risk time for choking hazards. "It can happen in an instant, so parents need to be extra vigilant," said Heidi Ruster, CEO of the American Red Cross Utah & Nevada Region.

The Ogden City Fire Department also shared some warning signs to watch out for in case of choking. "Look for signs of distress, high-pitched wheezing, or difficulty breathing," said Captain Ashley Phillips. She also advised against trying to remove an object from someone's throat if you can't see it, as it may push the object further down.

Luke's mother revealed that the pumpkin patch owner has promised to address safety concerns regarding the corn kernel pit. "People don't realize, it may seem like a fun fall activity, but these are serious choking hazards," she stressed. She hopes that by sharing her story, other parents will be more cautious when visiting pumpkin patches and participating in fall-themed activities.

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