When little Matthew Rader, four years old, was wandering around his mother’s kitchen in Richmond, Kentucky, he managed to climb up onto one of the counters. Matthew opened up the spice rack, grabbed cinnamon, and then began eating some until he collapsed from choking.
In a heartbreaking twist, his mother found him having convulsions and immediately called an ambulance to rush him to the Baptist Health Medical Center.
Only an hour and a half later, Matthew was pronounced dead.
“He was completely healthy – no problems,” his mother, Brianna Rader, said. “He started choking. It was like he was having a seizure and just collapsed.”
While choking on the cinnamon, which is known for its strong taste when taken in excess, some of the cinnamon entered his lungs. It ended up causing asphyxiation and he died as a result on June 3rd.
Brianna’s story comes after a surge of popularity in a sort of challenge known as the “Cinnamon Challenge,” where people attempt to eat large quantities of cinnamon without drinking any liquids.
The challenge has gone viral on social networking websites since 2011 and people from all over have taken part. Brianna hopes that her son’s story will help to spread a warning that the challenge can be dangerous– and in her experience– even lethal.
According to doctors, the challenge can cause for particles of the cinnamon to make its way into peoples’ lungs, cause inflammation, choking, asphyxiation, and ultimately, death.
“Cinnamon can kill,” Rader said. “All these kids, they don’t think about the fact it can hurt them.”
In spreading her message, Rader has taken part in writing posts on Facebook to spread her son’s story. Her posts have spread quickly, and she’s received an outpour of support from all sorts of people.
It was even covered by the local news and CNN!
‘Matty man’s story made the Lex 18 news and now CNN wants to share it nationwide. That helps ease my breaking heart just a little to think that just maybe my baby’s story can save even just one child’s life,” said Rader.
“My Matty was definitely loved by many and he loved everyone. Fly high baby boy we love you more than words could ever explain. And we miss you so much it hurts. R.I.P my sweet little angel.”
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