When Andrea and Paul Haynes received a late-night call telling them to “come get your daughter,” they had no idea their 13-year-old Esra’s life was already slipping away. Moments earlier, Esra had tried a dangerous trend called chroming—inhaling aerosol deodorant to get high—while hanging out with friends. It triggered cardiac arrest and caused irreversible brain damage.

Esra, once described as athletic, bright, and full of life, never regained consciousness. After eight heartbreaking days in the hospital, her parents made the unimaginable decision to remove her from life support.

Before Esra’s death, Andrea and Paul had never even heard of chroming. Now, they’re determined to make sure no other family goes through the same nightmare.

Chroming is a growing danger, especially among teens, and has already claimed lives in Australia and around the world. The practice can cause seizures, organ failure, coma, and sudden death—even on the first try. Despite the risks, it remains worryingly common and often spreads through peer pressure and social media trends.

“If we had known, we would have warned her,” Paul said through tears. “Parents need to talk to their kids.”

The Haynes family is now speaking out, urging other parents to educate themselves and have open, honest conversations with their children about the dangers of chroming and other risky trends. Their message is clear: awareness can save lives.

Let Esra’s story be a wake-up call. Talk to your kids. Share her story. One conversation could mean the difference between life and death.