Chicken Can Be Bad For Your Health

 Thank you for all the kind remarks on my blog, on FB and in messages!  It meant a lot to me to have support.  Yesterday I went to see Selah and she was doing so good.  One of the respiratory therapists was doing her vest and cough assist, after all that is done, she goes to bed for the night a bit early so her feeds start.  Selah's has a feeding tube and we chose in the beginning to run it 12 hours throughout the night.   It sounds odd but she has never had one issue with reflux nor have we had to bother with it when she's out for appointments.  They are working hard to keep her on the same schedule she was one at home.  I meant to get over there earlier, but something happened....

The something that happened was I almost choked to death!  Yesterday was a great day because I got a lot done in the morning including getting the dog to the vet for her allergy shot.  That sounds like such a small thing, but it's so involved and usually takes forever.  Then I got a chance to get a quick late lunch with a friend.   We met near Selah's group home.  We were having a great time till I got a piece of chicken stuck in my throat.  I mean really stuck!  I started drinking sweet tea to wash it down, but the tea came right on back up my throat!  At that point I got up and motioned to my friend to follow me to the bathroom because I didn't want to cause a scene.  I could breathe but it felt like every breath was getting harder to get.  Later when I was trying to explain it to my husband, I compared it to having a pin hole size area to breath out of!  The restaurant staff seemed relucent to do the Heimlich Maneuver because I could still breathe and I think we were all afraid that if it went wrong, I'd have it stuck where I couldn't breathe.  After a few minutes the workers decided to call 911-by that point I didn't care about being embarrassed!  Things got real real to me and I started praying in my mind.  Repenting is more like it! But I had a peace in an odd detached way.  I literally started thinking "I can't believe I'm going to die this way!'  At that point I could still breathe but with every breath I was thinking it might be my last one  The staff and others had followed me into the bathroom and were trying to tell me not to gag but it was like when you're in the middle of childbirth and they tell you not to push-there was no stopping my body.  At one point I reached my hand in my throat as far as I could go because it seemed like I'd be able to reach the piece of food but I couldn't.  Then I heard them said the firemen were there!  I felt like I'd make it then even if my airway closed up.  Right when the fireman walked in the bathroom I gagged and swallowed the chicken!  Luckily he is a friend of mine and of course everyone was relieved and started laughing.  I just told the guys that their good looks did it for me!  

So I've decided eating healthy chicken is dangerous for your health!  I should have gotten a hamburger like I wanted instead!  I'm  thankful for my dear friend Kandi who was with me through it all, Nick and his buddies that came to my rescue and the staff and other patrons who were concerned for me!  

Then a funny thing happened as we were walking out to leave, my friend's mom ran in, she saw the firetruck and ambulance there and knew her daughter was there, so she was checking to make sure her 50 something year old daughter was ok LOL A mother's love & concern.  It was cute!

This morning I woke up with a very sore throat!  

Today was much lower key-I did manage to take a mama cat and three kittens to get spayed/neutered.  Thank God!  Now they can go live outside and not on our back patio! Anyone want a cat?  And Sam and Sarah got their hair cut.  Both have lots of medical appointments coming up.  Tomorrow Sam sees pulmonary due to his sleep apnea and small airways.  Monday Sarah goes to Shands in Gainesville for a second opinion on her tummy situation.  After all the mistakes that were made in her care, we want to make sure there is no other surprises!!  If you live in the Tampa Bay area and need the service of a gastrologist for your child.... my advice is go to Shands.  The gastro practices are all somewhat interrelated.  I've had concerns for years but felt like I was stuck but after the many misdiagnoses that my daughter endured, I absolutely wish I would have followed my gut and gone to Shands earlier.  We did see another practice for a follow up, but their reviews are so low it's scary.  Then I remembered I'd taken Selah to the other practice before and had a terrible experience.  So I'm pretty sure that's not for us.  We are hopeful that there are no new revelations, but we want to know for sure.