This last week, our family made a quick trip to Dallas, TX. A friend of ours was killed in a tragic car accident, and we were able to attend the service honoring his life. Our good friends Brooke and Steven were also there. While eating lunch that the church provided for family, I notice Steven take a bite of green bean casserole and cough a couple times. He calmly stands up and walks around the table, where I thought he was headed to the large trash can located behind Brooke and me. But no, instead he walks over to us and is making a faint wheezing sound. All of the sudden, his eyes get really big, and he makes the choking sign. I quickly grab Eli from Brooke- I wasn't about to be the one to do the Heimlich, plus she's a nurse and well trained in life saving maneuvers (or at least that's how I justified it to myself). Nate is now standing beside Steven (and praying he won't be called into action too). Brooke calmly but firmly says "Nate, get him!" Nate puts his arms around Steven and starts doing the Heimlich . The first couple of thrusts are ineffective. Brooke yells, "Harder, Nate." Nate puts aside all fear and goes to town with another 3-4 forceful thrusts. On the fourth thrust, Steven starts coughing and spits the GREEN BEAN (yes, a green bean!) into a napkin in the hand of some random guy who we never saw again. Kind of weird ...but anyways, we were all thankful that Steven made it, especially in light of the fact that we were already at a funeral for his cousin. Steven's sweet little grandmother was crying and wouldn't talk to Steven for a few minutes because he gave her such a scare. I believe her first words to him after the incident were "Didn't I teach you to chew your food?" The rest of the day, Nate was a hero and loved by all of Steven's family. Nate said he felt like it was the fast and furious prayers he was saying throughout the whole ordeal, as opposed to his thrusting techniques, that were successful. Needless to say, Steven is very appreciative, although he thinks Nate may have bruised some internal organs in the process. I'm sure Nate will let him hear about this for quite a while.
Brooke drew this picture of Nate for the kids; I thought it was funny.
I'm glad to see that JBHunt defines him...maybe he can be their new superhero mascot. :)
