A Birmingham baby described as a "medical miracle" survived drinking corrosive drain unblocker that caused a heart attack and destroyed half of his tongue.
The catastrophic incident
Sam Anwar, from Highgate, was just 13 months old when the life-changing accident occurred during summer. His mother was cleaning the bathroom in their flat when the toddler crept in unnoticed behind her.
Sam discovered a white bottle containing caustic soda, a powerful chemical drain unblocker, and mistook it for milk. Before his mother could intervene, he had consumed the toxic substance.
The consequences were immediate and devastating. The corrosive chemical caused catastrophic burns to his mouth, tongue, lips and airways. The trauma triggered a heart attack that left him unconscious for three minutes.
Long road to recovery
Sam spent two months in intensive care at Birmingham Children's Hospital, where medical staff described his survival as "a-million-to-one." The burns necessitated the removal of half his tongue, and initially he couldn't eat and had to be fed through his nose.
Now 18 months old, Sam has returned home but continues to be fed through his stomach. His father, Nadeem Alshameri, explained that doctors disagree about the best treatment approach.
"Some doctors said they will do the surgery but others say it's too early to do," said the 37-year-old warehouse worker. "They don't know what to do with him."
Family's plea for support
The family faces additional challenges as they explore specialist medical options abroad. Nadeem has established a GoFundMe page with a target of £9,000 to cover potential medical bills and treatment costs.
Sam requires a complicated operation to "unlock" his mouth and repair internal damage from the burns. The family worries constantly about his ability to swallow safely and the risk of choking.
Doctors at Birmingham Children's Hospital confirmed they had never encountered such a severe case in someone so young, making Sam's survival truly extraordinary against overwhelming odds.
