A seemingly harmless experiment turned into a nightmare when seven-year-old Scarlett Selby ended up in a coma with devastating burns after attempting to replicate a viral internet trend. What started as innocent curiosity quickly escalated into a life-threatening emergency, leaving her family heartbroken and desperate to warn others about the dangers of social media challenges.
Scarlett, like many children her age, enjoyed watching TikTok and YouTube videos. One particular trend caught her attention—microwaving a NeeDoh cube, a popular squishy toy filled with gel-like material. Without realizing the potential danger, she decided to give it a try herself.
The young girl first placed the toy in the freezer overnight, as she had seen in the videos, then put it in the microwave the next day for a few seconds. But instead of a fun science experiment, the toy exploded the moment she touched it, sending scorching hot gel across her face and chest.
Her father, Josh Selby, was in the other room when he heard a sound that made his blood run cold—a high-pitched, agonizing scream from his daughter. Rushing in, he was met with a horrifying sight. Scarlett was covered in the burning substance, her face and chest coated in the searing-hot goo.
Josh tried to wipe it off, but the thick, sticky material clung to her skin and clothes. Every time he touched her, his hands stuck to the molten substance. Desperate to help, he tore off her shirt, which had become fused to her skin, and rushed her to the hospital as fast as possible.
The severity of her injuries was immediately apparent. Doctors at St. Louis Children’s Hospital determined she had suffered second- and third-degree burns. To prevent further damage, they placed her into an induced coma to reduce the risk of her airways swelling shut.
Her mother, Amanda Blankenship, recalled the heartbreaking moments that followed. Scarlett was still screaming when they arrived at the hospital, a 30-minute drive that felt like an eternity. Amanda described feeling utterly helpless, overwhelmed with fear as doctors worked to stabilize her daughter.
Josh, equally devastated, struggled to hold himself together. Seeing Scarlett in so much pain left him emotionally shattered. “I was a complete mess,” he admitted. “She spent a week in the hospital, and for three days of that, she was in a coma. I couldn’t even talk to anyone without breaking down.”
Months have passed since the incident, but Scarlett’s recovery remains uncertain. She is left with deep, prominent scars, and doctors are still evaluating whether she will require skin grafts to help repair the damage.
The emotional toll has been just as severe. Scarlett now feels incredibly self-conscious about her scars. Amanda has caught her daughter staring at herself in the mirror after a bath, crying in frustration over how she looks.
“She tries to hide her scars when we’re out in public. I see her pulling her shirt up to cover them,” Amanda shared. “Sometimes she comes home from school upset because another kid asked her about them.”
Despite everything, Amanda reminds her daughter that she has nothing to be ashamed of. “She’s been through so much, but she’s incredibly strong. She’s still beautiful, and those scars are part of her story.”
In the wake of this terrifying ordeal, Scarlett’s parents have made it their mission to warn others about the dangers of social media challenges. They are urging parents to throw away similar toys to prevent another child from suffering the same fate.
The manufacturer of the toy, Schylling Toys, does include a warning label on their website advising against heating, freezing, or microwaving the product. However, that warning was not widely known until tragedies like Scarlett’s brought attention to the risks.
Social media platforms have also responded. TikTok claims it does not allow content that promotes dangerous behavior, while YouTube emphasizes that it is a 13+ platform and actively removes content that could endanger users.
Schylling Toys has since partnered with social media companies to take down videos demonstrating unsafe product use. They have also reported the incident to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and updated product packaging to include additional safety warnings.
Unfortunately, Scarlett is not the first child to be harmed by online trends, and she likely won’t be the last. Her parents are now speaking out in hopes that sharing their daughter’s story will prevent another family from experiencing the same heartbreak.