1. One of my BIGGEST fears (seriously, like top three) is to choke, or have someone I love choke.
And I think I know the reason why. When I was in my twenties, a co-worker choked on a taco shell right in front of me. She stood up, held her throat, and stumbled around.
The work cafeteria was packed with people and nobody did anything--just stared.
I stood up and followed her to the back kitchen where I tried the Heimlich maneuver several times, to no avail. By this time she was turning blue.
Knowing she might die, I yelled out into the cafeteria crowd for help. A larger, taller co-worker came running up, pushed me out of the way, and gave her ONE HARD THRUST. Out popped the damn shell in one fell swoop.
Why didn't it work when I tried it? Who the hell knows. But it has haunted me ever since. I felt helpless.
2. Last week Friday was probably the scariest moment of my life, as a parent.
My son accidentally swallowed a quarter (seriously, such a freak accident).
For the first 30 seconds when I thought he was choking and we wouldn't be able to save him (because c'mon, it was a quarter going down his throat), lots of crazy, sad things flashed through my mind. I am even tearing up writing this.
My husband was the rational one in the situation (I did everything wrong--turned him upside down and whacked his back) and realized he was trying to talk, which meant he could breath!
My son is such a sensitive soul, that it killed me when he cried and cried afterward asking if he was going to die (I can only imagine how it felt going down).
His stomach was x-rayed and that quarter made it to his belly. We are expecting it's arrival any day now in the toilet bowl. ;-)
3. I am secretly (irrationally) afraid that I brought this episode on.
You know, like in the book THE SECRET? How, if you obsess over something long enough the universe will align to bring it your way? I kinda believe that sh**.
So from here on out I want to make it VERY CLEAR that I do not have ANY fears about anything anymore.
That's right, UNIVERSE. Mmm... Hmm!
26 comments:
Oh my gosh that would be so scary!!! I'm glad to hear he is alright, but seriously a quarter? I would have been equally as terrified as you!
Those situations can easily be pretty crazy. Maybe it would be advantageous for you to take a first aid certification course (most hospitals offer them) - then you'll know what to do in an emergency, understand that you should stay calm, and gain a bit more confidence in these situations :) can't hurt!
OMG, I have that fear too. It's probably why my now 14 month old mainly still eats purees. Because I wouldn't know what to do if he choked. I mean, I would know what to do but what if I failed at it?
Your fear is rational. Because I said so!
bluewhitelife: The sad part about it is, I already have. I’ve gotten certified for years (b/c of being a child social worker and spec. ed. teacher). The whacking the back is for infants—I just didn’t change to a five y.o. mindset (he is after all, still my baby) where you have to do the thrusting now.
How absolutely terrifying for you and your son. I am glad to hear you no longer have any fears.
LisaDay
that is so scary C! I am terrified of SIDS. I am better now, but when Cooper was smaller, I used to go into his bedroom 8 times a night to check on him. There were several time I went in and didn't see him breathing - I FREAKED OUT. Full on crying, grabbing him up, and he was just fine. My husband was furious with me and fed up b/c I kept waking him up while I would check on him, so I had to dial it now. It is still in my mind all the time though. This morning he woke up early and I got back into my bed with him - he was sleeping on my chest - and I woke up in a start b/c I couldn't feel his chest moving against mine. He was fine.... but the thought of it haunts me.
Wow....so glad that your son is okay....but keep in mind that with the other event, you tried where others did not. It could have been that you could not get enough pressure and thrust to help her. But....you saved her by yelling for help.
How scary. Glad to hear everything is okay.
This is one of my fears too. I even worry about myself.
Mary
I think it's great that you've gotten rid of all of your fears. Yep 100% fear free. I will vouch to the universe for you that I absolutely believe it. :)
Sorry you had such a terrifying moment with your peanut. Glad he's okay.
Oh Gah! Now I'm getting paranoid about having someone poke my eye out. Strange I know but I turn green at the thought of something or someone doing that.
Universe I'm so not afraid of that (winces and hopes it works).
I can imagine how scary this must have been. Kids do tend to swallow strange objects from time to time. (Hugs)Indigo
Stopping by from SITS. What a scary situation to find yourself in. I'm glad that you're son is OK and that 'cooler heads prevailed'. I know how that situation goes, I was a paramedic for two years. I could pull a pregnant woman out of a burning car and not blink an eye (til it was over) - but when my son fell and hit his head on a table, needing stitches, I was LOST!
Glad everyone is ok...and yeah, no more fears, k?
I am glad that your son has recovered. I know what you mean about The Secret. One of the men I work with says worries are wishes. I try and erase all fears from my mind because I am fearful they will come true. !!!!
Gosh - that is some scary stuff. Glad your son and your old co-worker are both ok.
Only good thoughts!!
I know the feeling! Oh..I feel for ya! I have been there as far as my child, my daughter choked on a life saver when she was around 3...that was one of the most scariest times for me too...it was my husband that took control and Thank God she was o.k. Sorry you had to experience that.
Yikes! Of course it couldn't have been a penny. :) But glad they were both okay in the end.
And great declaration!
Scary. So glad he turned out okay. But, I would seriously worry if it comes out two dimes and a nickel!!
Perfect, I have NO FEAR either!! But, wow, what a couple of scary situations, I think I would have done the same. :)
~Tabitha
A quarter! Poor baby, poor you. Glad to hear he's all right.
Wow, this is my fear too. I cut up my kids hot dogs (number one thing children choke on btw) into minuscule pieces until they were like twelve years old. haha. So scary though!
I agree with The Secret thing. I always try to focus on positive things, but with fears like that, it can be really hard. Now I have a little grandson, so I'm there all over again. sigh. Thank God he's only breastfeeding right now. lol.
So glad your little guy is okay!!
Yeah ... I don't have ANY fears about ANYTHING either. Nope. None.
(You think if I keep telling myself that, eventually I'll stop crying whenever I see palmetto bugs and spiders?)
p.s. I would've been scared, too! Not that you were, of course. B/c you totally weren't. Nope.
Wow. I would have freaked out too if my son swallowed a quarter. I'm so glad he's okay. How brave were you to try to save your co-worker! I hope to be in the right mind if I'm ever faced in these situations.
Oh, I'm so glad your son is OK! That must have been so scary - no wonder you were terrified, given what you'd seen before!
Happy it all came out right in the end.
I've had to do the Heimlich 5 times on my daughter...and it is very scary! (P.S. she has special needs and forgets to chew...not just being a slacker and not watching her! ;) ) It can happen so fast...like I'm sure it did with the quarter. Glad he's ok and glad you're ok!! P.S.S. I thought I was the only crazy that thought about "The Secret" in that way!!
Gosh, that is a nightmare! Every time my kids start to choke, even a little bit, I feel myself freezing up. It's one of the scariest things in the world.
I'm glad your little man is OK!
Sounds like a good plan!
When I was young I came home from my grandparents house with a quarter. I teased the dog with it and then I was showing my mother, on me, how I teased the dog and the quarter fell down my throat.
She turned me over & hit me HARD and it came out. I'm not sure I had time to miss breathing.
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