Life
Preteen Boy Dies After Playing ‘Fainting Game’ With Friends; Now His Mom Wants To Warn Others
"There's nothing that can take the pain away but if it can save one child, one parent, one family...then it will make more sense.”
Cedric Jackson
06.15.18

A 12-year-old boy named Tua Muai lost his life while playing the fainting game with some friends. The fainting game involves chocking yourself or allowing someone else to choke you until you pass out. They pull their hands away at the last second, and you can feel a high as oxygen flows back to your brain. It’s a game a lot of kids have been playing, but it is extremely dangerous.

Homeworks
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Homeworks

Several other children have died while playing the game.

His mother, Celestia Muai, said:

“I spent Mother’s Day planning my son’s funeral, writing his obituary, instead of having breakfast or flowers or ‘I love you, Mom.’ Try to imagine what it would be like and multiply that by infinity and that’s kind of what it’s like. There’s no words.”

Celestia Muai
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Celestia Muai

His mother found him unconscious in his bedroom and called 911, but he couldn’t be saved.

Celestia added:

“He was just playing a game, and he didn’t think things through.”

The family and entire community are devastated over the incident.

The boy’s uncle talked about the loss and the sadness the family was feeling. He said:

“To see my sister there grieving at the side of her son on a hospital bed was very, very difficult, as my heart tore for her.”

His football coach, Bryan Ellison, was very close to Tua, as well. He said:

“This one hurt; this hurts. It was like ice in my veins. It’s something that I never, ever will forget ever.”

Celestia Muai
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Celestia Muai

Tua’s mother wants other parents to be aware of the game and for them and the kids who play it to be aware of how dangerous it can be.

She added:

“I would hate or any other mother to go through what I’m going through and any other children to go through. There’s nothing that can take the pain away but if it can save one child one parent one family…. then it will make more sense.”

Piedmont
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Piedmont

Celestia lost her husband a year and a half ago.

Their hometown of South Jordan, Utah, has been beyond supportive of the family through both tragedies. Celestia is a single mom and has seven other children. The community has come together to try to help her as much as possible.

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A friend of the family created a You Caring page to help raise money for the funeral costs and to help support the family while Celestia has time to grieve for the loss of her young son.

The page says:

“Our sweet Tua Muai passed away unexpectedly Friday, May 11th. He was just 12 years old. He is a light and joy to all who know him. His zeal for adventure and making others laugh will be remembered forever. He loved football and his band of brothers were his dearest comrades, and his coach was like a second father to him. His 7 siblings meant the world to him and were his greatest friends. Above all, his best friend is his dear mother Celestia. He is welcomed into heaven by his dear father, Felise Muai, who passed away unexpectedly 2 years ago. We know that was a joyful reunion for sweet Tua. He is dearly missed by his grandparents, cousins, and much extended family and friends.

“This page has been set up to help support his family with funeral and memorial expenses, as well as long-term support. We are truly grateful for your support and love during this difficult time for the Muai family.”

Celestia Muai
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Celestia Muai

The choking game is basically a challenge or competition that kids play together or at a distance.

They might even play it over the phone or online. They time themselves, talk about the highs they feel, and see who can do it the most or get the closest to passing out before they give up. It’s important for parents to talk to their children about the dangers of games like these, so they don’t have to go through the same thing as Celestia.

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