A Tennessee mother is grieving the loss of her daughter just days after her seventh birthday. Channa Kelly said the last time she saw Alexandra alive, she was popping birthday balloons with scissors. When she returned to check on her a short time later, she was unresponsive with a balloon over her face.
Channa said her daughter loved swimming and was a sweet little girl. She never imagined losing her only child in such a tragic accident. Now she is making it her mission to warn other parents of the potential hidden dangers of an omnipresent birthday decoration.
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Alexandra was reportedly playing alone.
Channa Kelly told WCTV that Alexandra turned 7 on September 22. She was playing with leftover balloons on October 1, when she unexpectedly died. When Channa went to lie down, everything was fine. But when she returned, her life had changed forever.
"I want people to know so they can be aware," the grieving mother told the news outlet. "That's what took my baby, it was her birthday balloon. It's hard to comprehend."
Her obituary depicted a happy child.
Knox News posted Alexandra's obituary and a sweet photo of the little girl dressed in a blue gown. The obituary said Alex was a "loving and kindhearted little girl with a vivacious spirit." She reportedly loved to swim and dance and to make her momma laugh.
"Bursting with creativity, Alex loved any arts and crafts project she could get her hands on. She attended Clinton Elementary and was in the 1st grade," the obituary reads. "Over the summers, Alex enjoyed swimming at the pool with her family and visiting the beach."
The post says her family will miss her terribly and that their hearts are broken.
Friends shared love for the grieving mother of one.
The mother posted a dedication to her daughter on Facebook, and several people shared their love and condolences in the comments.
"Channa, I am so heartbroken for you. I know that nothing anyone says can take the pain away that you are undoubtedly feeling right now, but I hope you can take some comfort in knowing that so many people are praying for you and sending love your way. Take care of yourself," one friend wrote.
Many felt the same.
"I can't even wrap my mind around this! I'm so speechless Channa. I can't even fathom- I am so sorry. I will be praying so much for you," another comment reads.
"Channa, I am so heartbroken for you. I know that nothing anyone says can take the pain away that you are undoubtedly feeling right now, but I hope you can take some comfort in knowing that so many people are praying for you and sending love your way. Take care of yourself," someone else wrote.
Channa posted a follow-up on Sunday to give more details.
She explained in her Facebook post that she bought a 34-inch rainbow mylar number 7 balloon. The helium balloon is what allegedly led to her daughter's death.
"As a parent I was always aware of the choking hazard of latex balloons, but never imagined that there was such a risk regarding these very large Mylar helium filled balloons. A week after her birthday party, I sat with her as she popped all of her latex balloons. Alex asked if she could pop her large 7 balloon and I said that was fine," she explained. "I would have never imagined that she would have been able to fit this balloon over her head. I went to my bedroom unaware of any dangers with this type of balloon. I fell asleep briefly and when I woke up I found my daughter face down on the living room floor where I had left her.
"I thought for a second that she fell asleep but then noticed the Mylar balloon was around her head. I quickly removed the balloon, called 911 and began CPR right away," the grieving mother continued. "I asked the 911 operators to remind [me] of the steps of CPR because it had been so long since my last certification and I didn't want to mess up. A police officer arrived and took over CPR followed by firefighters and paramedics.
"They worked tirelessly to try to bring her back but their attempts to revive her were unsuccessful," she added. "I cried hysterically and was in utter shock and disbelief of what had just occurred, that my daughter and only child was actually gone."
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Some are questioning what happened.
A public Facebook group, Channa Kelly/Alexandra Kelly Tennessee Balloon Death, has 100 members, and many believe that details aren't adding up.
"So how do you get a popped balloon over your head??" someone asked. Members of the group evidently have theories about the incident.
One person wanted to wait for the police before reaching a conclusion.
"We simply won't know until investigators or Channa gives more details. The fact that the investigation is still going sort speaks for itself," the person wrote. "Most accidental deaths are immediately obvious to investigators, and these cases are closed almost immediately. It's safe to assume that investigators are wondering the exact same thing: how did Alexandra have a balloon around her head, and more importantly why wasn't she able to remove it?"
Others were more definite with their feelings.
"Well, you cannot! You can slit and have laid on the face. But this child was 7, unless she inhaled it she didnt. If she inhaled it – there would have been fear and she would have ran to the adult seeking help – I would think," someone else wrote.
"First concern is the mother states she left the child to go lay down and the child had scissors popping her balloons. Seems off to me," another person commented.
Alexandra's death is still under investigation, according to WCTV, and police have not identified the cause. A GoFundMe page set up to help Channa Kelly with final expenses has raised more than $12,800 of a $15,000 goal thus far.
