A 17-month old Hamilton boy who inhaled pieces of yellow crayon was saved by medical equipment donated to McMaster Children's Hospital weeks earlier.

The toddler was on life support and in danger of dying when pediatric surgeon Dr. Brian Cameron used the $35,000 bronchoscope, donated in January by Cadillac Fairview Corporation Ltd, to see inside his airway and find the crayon bits which were smaller than a pea.

Without the bronchoscope, Cameron would have lost precious time diagnosing the boy in the operating room instead of at his bedside in the intensive care unit.

"We still had to take the child to the operating room but we knew what to expect, the team was prepared and we got in right away," said Cameron.

The toddler's parents, Brenda and Corey, who did not want their last names used, said they were so scared their hearts are still beating faster nearly a week after Brady was saved.

"We want other people to know a donation saved our son," said Corey. "We're so grateful."

The fluke accident, which the surgeon said was unpreventable, happened two weeks ago when the family was at a restaurant celebrating the birthday of Brady's grandma. Brenda and Corey found themselves in the same situation every parent eventually faces.

"You're out in a restaurant, people are staring at you and your child is being despondent," said Corey. "You've gone though the whole diaper bag and all of your tricks."

On the table was the most common toy a restaurant gives out -- crayons.

"He was sitting on my lap and across from Brenda," said Corey. "He had two sets of eyes on him. It happened so quick."

Corey was colouring with his son when Brady put the non-toxic crayon in his mouth.

His parents took it out right away but a small piece was missing. They thought he'd swallowed it.

"He coughed a bit," said Corey. "We gave him a drink and he was fine.

"Case closed. We thought that was it."

Over the next two weeks Brady appeared to be battling a cold. He had a mild cough and runny nose but no fever or any other signs of major illness. "Nothing seemed amiss," said Brenda.

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Toddler gets the gift of life