‘Fight for them’: Doctors find toy lodged in boy’s throat after five years of health issues

For years, doctors insisted Marley had asthma – but his mum knew something didn’t add up. Then one day, when his health turned critical, they finally found the toy.

An eight-year-old northwestern suburbs boy is set to undergo surgery after doctors discovered a plastic toy had been lodged in his throat for five years.

His mother is now advocating for parents to fight for their children’s health, saying doctors had brushed off her son’s breathing problems as asthma.

Skye Enjakovic’s son Marley, 8, had been in and out of hospital for the past five years with a persistent cough.

At first, doctors diagnosed him with asthma and prescribed a preventive each morning and a puffer when needed.

But as time went on, Marley’s cough became worse – particularly when he ate and drank – to the point where it would strike for hours, or force him to vomit.

“I wasn’t so convinced it was asthma,” Ms Enjakovic said.

“I felt like it was always something in his throat. It wasn’t like he woke up in the morning and needed a puffer, it was when he ate and drank.

Ms Enjakovic said she expressed my concern to doctors that something else was going on, but was repeatedly told it was just asthma.

“They offered education, as they believed I wasn’t understanding it,” she said.

Marley was rushed to hospital in December 2021 when his cough hit critical point. Picture: Supplied

Marley playing one last football game in Ethelton before undergoing surgery to repair damage to his throat and oesophagus. Picture: Tom Huntley

“This left me feeling like maybe I was being paranoid and the medical professionals were right.”

Despite raising her concerns each time the family returned to hospital, Ms Enjakovic said nothing was ever investigated further.

On 19 December 2021, Marley’s cough became critical and he was rushed to the Women’s and Children’s.

“His cough would not stop and he couldn’t catch his breath,” Ms Enjakovic said.

“On arrival at the hospital, his oxygen levels were low and doctors could hear a lot of secretions in his lungs.”

X-rays of his oesophagus and trachea revealed a tracheoesophageal fistula – meaning food, drink and saliva had been entering his airway and continuing to his lungs.

“Marley’s surgeon came in to speak to my husband and myself with pictures in her hand and I instantly started to panic,” Ms Enjakovic said.

The inflammation in Marley’s throat was so severe doctors were unable to see what was causing the blockage.

The eight-year-old was sent to ICU and flown by Royal Flying Doctor Service to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

There, surgeons made the“ unbelievable” discovery - removing an arts and crafts plastic flower that was lodged in Marley’s throat.

“It was a shock to everyone, the doctors had never seen anything like it before,” Ms Enjakovic said.

While doctors cannot pinpoint exactly when the flower became lodged, Ms Enjakovic believes Marley swallowed it more than five years ago, when his issues began.

Ms Enjakovic believes the arts and crafts flower was there for more than five years. Picture: Supplied

Ms Enjakovic has urged parents to fight for their children’s health, saying she’s lucky Marley is still alive. Picture: Supplied

With severe damage to his throat, the eight-year-old was placed on a feeding tube to reduce the pain of eating and drinking.

Marley will fly to Melbourne this Tuesday to undergo major surgery to further repair his airway and oesophagus.

Despite his ordeal, Ms Enjakovic said Marley “never complained” and continued his sporting passions – including a basketball game while his feeding tube was still in.

On Sunday, Marley’s teammates and family were there cheering him on as he played his last game with the Port District Football Club before surgery.

“He honestly is the strongest kid, we’ve spent four months (in total) in hospital, with three months in a hospital room,” she said. “He never gave up.”

As Marley faces his next battle, Ms Enjakovic has urged any parent with concerns about their children’s health to “keep fighting” for answers.

“I made the decision to push further (for Marley) because I figured, I would rather be proven wrong than right – what did I have to lose. I’m so glad I did because I still have my beautiful boy.”

Best supporters – Marley Enjakovic with his dad Jay, mum Skye, and sister Laylah, 13. Picture: Tom Huntley

Originally published as ‘Fight for them’: Doctors find toy lodged in boy’s throat after five years of health issues