Japanese boy, 3, unable to walk & speak after choking on banana at kindergarten

A three-year-old Japanese toddler became severely disabled after choking on a banana that clogged his respiratory system and left him in a vegetative state.

Abema Times reported that this caused the toddler, Hatou Otori or Ou, to suffer from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, which left his brain barely functioning and caused him to be unable to walk or speak.

According to Cleveland Clinic, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy refers to a brain injury that occurs when the brain does not get enough blood or oxygen.

Vegetative state after choking

Before this, Ou, who was around one then, was eating a banana in kindergarten when the incident occurred on Jun. 1, 2023, 8world reported, adding that the boy suddenly experienced asphyxia.

Abema Times reported that the Ou's mother recalled receiving a call about the incident and was informed that an ambulance was on the way to Ou's kindergarten.

However, when she rushed to the hospital with her husband, Ou had already lost the ability to breathe independently.

A medical examination found that choking on the banana led to a lack of oxygen for an extended period of time, which in turn caused Ou's brain to suffer a severe injury and almost entirely lose its function.

Following the incident, Ou's family was told that the kindergarten cut the banana, but that it was purportedly still too large for Ou.

They were angered at the supposed indifference of how those in charge had been reacting, which ultimately led to them going public with this.

"Is it because my child didn't die that it's not worth paying attention to?"

Dependent on family

As a result of this incident, Ou is now fully dependent on his family to care for him since he can see and hear but is unable to walk or speak.

Ou's father said he just hopes to see his son smile again, 8world reported.

Ou's mother, like any mother, thinks her son is absolutely adorable and says that him being alive is itself a wonderful thing.

"I don’t know how many times I say he’s adorable in a day. I’ve never counted, but he really is so adorable. I can’t help myself. Just being alive is a wonderful thing. He’s so adorable, so adorable."

Top photos via Abema Times