Illinois Boy, 7, Nearly Dies After Touching Poisonous Weed in His Backyard

PIKE COUNTY, Illinois — What started as a routine afternoon of yard work turned into a terrifying medical emergency for a 7-year-old Illinois boy after contact with a poisonous plant triggered a severe allergic reaction and sent him into anaphylactic shock.

Rayden Vollrath was helping his father and stepmother clear weeds from their property when he came into contact with pokeweed, a plant known for being toxic to humans.

A Reaction That Escalated Quickly

According to Rayden’s mother, Danielle Carnicelli, the boy likely got sap from the plant on his hands while pulling it from the ground.

He apparently then touched or scratched his face.

Soon afterward, his face and arms began swelling. He also experienced intense burning and increasing difficulty breathing.

What initially appeared to be a skin reaction rapidly progressed into anaphylactic shock, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

Rayden recalled the frightening experience, saying that his chest was burning and that he couldn’t breathe.

Two Days in the Hospital

Rayden was rushed to the hospital, where medical staff worked through the night to control the swelling and other symptoms.

The reaction was so severe that he remained hospitalized for two days.

His mother described the experience as traumatic, recalling how nurses continued treating him during the early morning hours as he struggled with the pain and swelling.

Doctors eventually determined that Rayden was not only exposed to the poisonous plant but was also allergic to pokeweed

A Dangerous Plant Many People May Overlook

Pokeweed can be found growing in parts of the United States and is recognizable by its distinctive purple berries.

Although the plant may look relatively harmless, all parts of pokeweed are toxic, including its roots, stems and leaves.

Its sap can cause significant skin irritation, while consuming the plant can lead to serious poisoning.

Rayden’s experience highlights another potential danger: direct contact with the plant can be particularly dangerous for someone with an allergy.

Family Turns Frightening Experience Into Warning

After Rayden recovered, his family wanted to share what happened so other parents would recognize the potential danger.

The family was sent home with an EpiPen and several medications to help manage Rayden’s symptoms and protect him if another severe reaction occurs.

His mother said the frightening episode became an important learning experience for the entire family.

Rayden has since recovered, but his family hopes his story will encourage people to learn what poisonous plants look like before attempting to remove them.

A Reminder to Be Careful With Backyard Weeds

For many families, pulling weeds from a backyard seems like an ordinary chore.

Rayden’s ordeal shows how quickly that simple task can become dangerous.

A plant that looks like an ordinary weed can contain toxic substances capable of causing serious reactions, particularly when its sap comes into contact with the skin.

Thankfully, Rayden received emergency treatment and has recovered.

Now his family hopes that sharing his story will help prevent another child from experiencing the same frightening ordeal.