I don’t think there’s anything scarier for a Mom than something happening to their child. And feeling absolutely helpless to do anything to make it better.
Today I got to feel what that felt like and I can promise you it’s just as scary as you thought it would be. This morning started like any other morning, Mason and I got up and I hopped in the shower while he played in the bathroom poking his head in every once in a while. I got dressed and we headed downstairs! The kitchen was a mess so I had to get some dishes done. B had woken up by this point and was getting ready to do some yard work. I got some coffee going and was about to start on the dishes when I heard Mason start coughing and B immediately saying I think he’s choking. I saw Mason turn towards me and cough really hard. So I ran over to them and sure enough he was turning red and coughing really hard. B started hitting the back of his chest and then I grabbed him and lifted him upright. He was still choking but breathing so I sat on the floor and put him on his tummy and hit his back like this article had said to do. He started throwing up but nothing solid came out. We sat him upright again and he started choking again so we ran over to B’s Dad’s house who happens to live right next door.
Mason was still breathing but he wasn’t looking too hot. His Dad wasn’t exactly sure what to do either so we called 911 by the time the firetruck and the EMT got there Mason seemed fine. He was breathing but we still felt like we could hear something was stuck in there and since he hadn’t thrown anything up we knew we were right. The EMT listened to his chest and his back and said that everything sounded clear but we should probably go to the hospital anyway just in case. At that point Mason started to fuss a bit and was reaching for me so I grabbed him and put him on my lap facing me. I was rubbing his back to comfort him when he started choking again. So I quickly turned him around and leaned him forward a little. He hacked up some VERY thick mucus. It was so thick it was hard for me to help him get the rest out of his mouth. The Firemen, the EMT, B and his Dad were all talking about how we should go to the hospital while this was going on and I screamed HELLOOOO to get their attention. It seemed like they didn’t even realize what was happening. He started turning red again and B grabbed him and flipped him onto his tummy his legs were kinda on me and then he started coughing hard again and out popped a penny.
This all happened in about a span of 10 minutes.
Right around the time he choked up the penny the ambulance and the rest of the EMTs arrived. We got in the ambulance and headed over to the hospital. Mason was in good spirits looking at the firetruck and everything that was in the ambulance. We got to the hospital and Mason was walking around the ER waiting to get X-rayed. He got X-rayed and there was nothing else in there and there was no damage from the penny being swallowed or being coughed up.
We were SO lucky. It was so scary and absolutely could have ended much worse than it did. I don’t know how B or I stayed as clam as we did but I do think that it helped. Putting him on his stomach was what helped the most and I’m so glad that I had just read that article. I’m not sure if I would have though to do that if I hadn’t.
It’s been hours since it happened and Mason is fine! He’s running around like nothing happened! But it is something I won’t ever forget. Mason was right there in the kitchen with me and B. What if he had been in the living room? And I didn’t realize right away because I was doing the dishes? It could have turned out so much worse and we are so blessed that it turned out the way that it did.
I did manage to snap a picture once we knew he was okay in the hospital! It was his first hospital visit after all. It will go right next to the penny in his baby book!
The One Where Mason Chokes on A Penny
He looks much worse in this picture than he actually was this point! Soon after this he was walking all around the ER charming all the nurses of course!
And this was when we left the hospital! We didn’t even have a coat for him because everything happened so fast. I should have snapped a pic of what B and I were wearing we looked like the biggest rednecks ever. I was wearing white fluffy slippers and B was wearing his Dickies overalls. You can sorta see him in the background of this picture!
I hope eventful days like this are few and far between and hopefully just DON’T happen!
Facebook Comments
Emily says
Oh man! I would so be freaked out too! You learned how your react in an emergency situation though – you were calm and kept your head. You listened to your instincts, and continued to help your baby even when you were scared out of your mind!
Glad it all turned out okay. Hugs!!
Tiffany D. says
That is so scary!!! You are so good to stay so calm. I am not so good at that in those kinds of situations. I'm glad he's OK. Such a cute little boy! I love this jammies and hat! 🙂
Lindsay Blogs says
I'm so glad that everything turned out alright. The poor little guy must have been scared! I bet you were freaking out! I'm glad he's okay now 🙂
CPRMom says
Christa I am so glad that he is okay!!! I am also really glad I wrote the article for Healthy Baby Network. I have a free download on my site of a card you can print off with directions on what to do for choking. You can post it nice and prominently on your fridge. http://www.coastalcpr.com/shop/info.html
Again, I am so glad to hear he is okay!!!
Mighty M says
How scary! So glad everything turned out fine!!
CrunchyVTMommy says
Thank God he was okay. You acted so quickly. I love the redneck imagery 🙂
rebelcrunchmama.com says
Madilyn had a similar experience but it happened each time she ate pureed foods when she was 5.5 months old. I didn't react NEARLY as well as you did. I ran out into the street screaming for help before calling 911. Luckily she wasn't choking on something tangible, just didn't like food. KUDOS to you and your uber redneck calmness. I'm reading the article you referenced now.
rebelcrunchmama.com says
Madilyn had a similar experience but it happened each time she ate pureed foods when she was 5.5 months old. I didn't react NEARLY as well as you did. I ran out into the street screaming for help before calling 911. Luckily she wasn't choking on something tangible, just didn't like food. KUDOS to you and your uber redneck calmness. I'm reading the article you referenced now.