I had a scary experience today.
I was feeding Cole lunch and cleaning up the kitchen. As I worked I popped a cherry tomato in my mouth. I swallowed wrong, and part of it got lodged in my throat. I could breath - a tiny bit. I just knew that if I tried to breath in hard at all the tomato would move and I wouldn't be able to breath at all. I coughed a bit, but that didn't work.
It was at this point that I decided to do the Heimlich maneuver on myself. I have no idea where I learned this - probably on Dr. Phil or Oprah or something. (Who says daytime TV is worthless?) But I used the kitchen counter and after a few thrusts I started coughing violently. The tomato and (not to be too graphic) the rest of my lunch then came out. (Fortunately I was right by the kitchen sink!)
I coughed for a few more minutes, cleaned myself up, and then had to take care of Cole, who was freaking out. He may only be eleven months old, but he could tell something was really wrong and he reacted in the only way he knows how.
I've never been one to freak out during an emergency; in fact, I know that I stay calm and think clearly. (I was in a car accident once after a Young Women's activity when I was around 17 years old, and I was the only one who held it together.) But I'll admit that after this little incident I was more than a little shaken up.
It wasn't the thought of choking to death that scared me. I'm not afraid of death. Okay, maybe the pain associated with dying, but not the actual dying. I have a pretty good idea of what's waiting for me, and I feel like I'm living my life well enough to not have to worry too much. (Not that I'm perfect; far from it. But I'm trying my best.)
No, what scared me the most was the thought of choking to death and leaving my kids all alone. The thought of Cole being stuck in that chair for hours, crying, or of Josh and Spencer not knowing what happened and trying to wake me up... well that just makes my want to bawl.
The thought of leaving leaving my young family to have to deal with my death - that's what's scary.
But I'm not too worried at this point. I'm pretty sure I'm not going anywhere anytime soon; I have far too much work to do.
Now please excuse me - I've got to get back to work before Oprah comes on.
3 comments:
Oh my goodness, that is really scary. I'm so glad that you are okay. Thank goodness you knew how to do the heimlich on yourself. I've always been thankful that I know these things. I had to do it on my best friend once and I was so glad I had learned how and been certified.
oh my! I have no idea how I would respond. Hopefully, having E around would make me more calm and focused, but you are amazing for keeping your cool and handling the situation. so glad you are ok.
Wow, Maren! What a cool head you have! I think your "guardian angel" was watching out for you, too! Congratulations on being able to think so clearly and do what needed to be done. You are such a good mother to be thinking of your children after something like that! I know your "guardian angel" would be proud.
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