When Sonia Olivera began working for Rob Terrell more than six years ago, little did she know that one day he would be saving her life in more ways than one.
Sonia began working for Nailing & Terrell PLLC when Terrell and law partner Christin Nailing first opened their doors.
As an immigrant, Rob secured a green card allowing Sonia to stay in the United States, then just last year, the Georgia Bulldogs fan helped Sonia become a U.S. citizen.
“She’s been with us since day one and we’d be lost without her,” said Rob. “She’s a big part of this firm.”
Fast forward to May 16th, 2019, when Rob once again, saved Sonia’s life, literally.
“I was trying not to panic, but I was chocking and couldn’t breathe,” said Sonia.
Sonia was in the firm’s breakroom having lunch when she began chocking.
Realizing she needed help, Sonia began looking for help, that’s when she turned the corner and there was Rob.
The immigration attorney happened to be in the office at the right place and time.
“I was standing there and all of a sudden Sonia comes around the corner panicking that she couldn’t breathe,” Rob explained.
That’s when Rob jumped into action and began abdominal thrusts on Sonia.
“Ten seconds,” said Rob. “Ten seconds from when she came around the corner chocking to when we got the throat cleared and she could breathe again.”
Rob and Sonia say it just happened so fast.
“Christin was walking by and I said Rob just saved my life,” Sonia explains.
Rob says he learned how to do abdominal thrusts and CPR from the Red Cross almost 20 years ago, when he decided one day, he wanted to be a lifeguard.
“It didn’t work out, a red head in the sun was just too much,” Rob jokes.
Because of Rob's heroics, Christin nominated Rob for the American Red Cross Lifesaving award. During a board meeting in Northwest Arkansas, board of directors’ chairman Anthony Biggers presented Rob with the Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action.
To recognize someone who stepped up in an emergency situation and helped save or sustain a life, nominate them today at LifesavingAwards.org.