“If Debbie had not have been there, I would not be here today.”

It started out as any other day for Boise area residents Kay Bradford and her niece, Deborah Taylor.

Weekly car trips to the eye doctor and a quick stop for lunch had become routine following Kay’s recent eye surgery.

“I always know if I need anything, just call Debbie,” she said.

This ride was no different. They pulled into the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant where Kay ordered her usual - the fish filet sandwich – before heading to the car.

“I took a bite and chewed and swallowed and it stuck in my throat,” she said. “So, I decided I'd cough and get it gone. And there wasn't any air to cough.”

“It was kind of a traumatic moment because I'm seeing her turn blue,” Deborah said. “And I’m sitting there in my mind at that point going, ‘I'm watching my aunt die in front of me.’”

Deborah immediately sprang into action. It had been nearly a decade since she attended a Red Cross first aid and CPR class, but critical skills from the course rushed back into full focus. With no help in sight, she began to troubleshoot solutions.

“My brain is going through like, ‘OK, this is serious. It's not coming out,’” she said. “’I'm going to call 911,’ but there was nobody around for me to yell at to help.”

Both had been seated. Deborah ensured Kay remained in the car and was in a good position for her to begin the Heimlich maneuver.

“I just kept pounding and pounding.”

Thankfully, little bits of food started to dislodge. Deborah credits the outcome to emergency classes, including from Red Cross.

"I really believe that training helped give me the calmness of the process of what to do,” she reflected.

They suspect medication and excessive mayonnaise may have caused Kay to choke.

“I think that made my bun a bit gummy,” she said.

The two sit comfortably on Kay’s couch facing Deborah’s husband, Don. They exchange friendly jabs and warm chuckles while keeping an otherwise traumatic conversation lighthearted.

For the family, humility and heroism go hand-in-hand. But a good laugh always helps.

“I didn’t want to say, ‘Good job saving somebody’s life, what are you making for dinner?’ joked Don, recalling that day.

“That made me laugh,” Deborah grinned. “He took me out that night.”

Without skipping a beat, the ladies continue their trips to the doctor but are considering somewhere new for Kay’s tried and true:

(Kay) “Well, they're good. That was my favorite sandwich.”

(Deborah) “Really. You said you weren't going to order that again.”

(Kay) “Well, that was then.”

RECOGNIZE A HERO

Do you know someone who’s made a lifesaving impact through emergency first aid or CPR? Nominate them for a lifesaver award and help us recognize these every day heroes: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Ql1b3dPA0kq18WDts68ncXxQP1LPPi1KmWZU0My6CnJUOVFSUTZBRlVOR0lCTlhQV09UOTFNMDdBOS4u