The Grace To Keep Breathing

As a young teenager, I was at home with my mom one afternoon, merrily going about my normal after-school routines – changing my clothes and hanging my coat up, when something happened that terrified me so much that I remember it as though it was yesterday.  I had popped a round sour ball candy into my mouth and was sucking on this candy while I picked up my coat and went to hang it on the hook on the back of my bedroom door.  I tipped my head back to reach up to the hook, and at that moment the sour ball slid down my throat and got lodged in my wind pipe.

 I could not breathe.  

In a moment, I ran into the kitchen where my mom was preparing supper.  Motioning to her, I tried to tell her I needed help.  This was the day before the Heimlech…