Childhood Incident Resurfaces in Shocking Revelation
In a bizarre and unexpected turn of events, Andi Norton, a 32-year-old Arizona resident known as Ben Havoc, recently uncovered a long-forgotten Lego piece lodged in his nose for nearly three decades. The astonishing revelation was shared in a viral Instagram clip posted on September 2.
A childhood memory rekindled
Norton recounted the incident from the 1990s when, at around six years old, he inserted a Lego piece into his nose. Despite his mother’s attempts to remove it, a fragment of the toy remained undetected until it was expelled during a recent nose-blowing session in the shower.
“My doctor had recommended blowing my nose in the shower because the steam helps clear out congestion,” Norton explained in the Instagram video. “I’ve been doing this regularly for the last six months or so.”
Watch the video here
A lifetime of sinus struggles
For years, Norton grappled with persistent sinus issues, allergies, and congestion, attributing these problems to various allergies, including cats, dogs, grass, and many native trees. The realization that a Lego piece might have been the root cause of their discomfort was both shocking and enlightening.
Upon discovering the toy piece, Norton initially thought he had injured himself. “My first thought when the piece came out was that I had somehow injured myself or expelled something unexpected,” Norton told PEOPLE. “It made a sound that led me to believe it was something like a rock or maybe even a tooth.”
Nostalgia and relief
The moment the Lego piece was cleaned, a flood of childhood memories engulfed Norton. “The memory of the Lego piece came rushing back like a scene from the movie Ratatouille where the food critic is transported to his childhood,” he said. “I had to show my partners right away!”
Having battled multiple breathing issues, including asthma and sleep apnea, Norton speculated that the Lego piece might have exacerbated these conditions. “I’m amazed,” Norton admitted on Instagram, adding that he plans to take the Lego piece to his doctor for further examination. “Being able to breathe out of that side of my nose now is fantastic. I haven’t been able to do that since I was a child.”
A failed childhood extraction
Norton’s mother had attempted to extract the Lego piece with tweezers but managed only to remove the Lego head, leaving the rest of the toy lodged in Norton’s nostril. “The Lego head popped off, so that was also stuck in my nose,” Norton recalled.
Expressing relief and humor, Norton mentioned his intention to keep the Lego piece as a “silly keepsake.” “It felt like a plug was removed, and I experienced a great rush of relief,” Norton said in a conversation with Newsweek.
The story quickly gained traction on social media, much to Norton’s surprise. “I had no idea this would get so big,” he told PEOPLE. “My partners encouraged me to share the story for a laugh because it’s so outlandish that all you can do is laugh. The original Reddit post received 4 million views before a moderator had to move it because it was too interesting for the r/mildlyinteresting category. It’s become a running joke among my friends and family, with everyone making lighthearted fun of it.”
Norton’s extraordinary story underscores the unexpected and humorous ways in which past experiences can resurface. It serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of addressing even seemingly minor issues, as they can have long-term effects on our health.