Deadly donuts

So we had a bit of excitement around here last week.  I guess you should first know that I live with pain.  It is part of my life these days.  Usually I wake up at least once a night to take pain medication sometimes I wake up more.  Anyway, Friday I woke up at about 4:00 am hurting and quietly got out of bed and went to the kitchen and prepared my pain medication.  Usually I dissolve it in water and then pour it in the tube that I have so that it goes directly into my stomach.  So, while I was waiting for it to dissolve I noticed that there were some Krispy cream donuts on the counter.  It always makes JoLynne happy when I find ways to get more calories.   I love making her happy so I thought, "I will eat a donut while I wait.  It has to have a few calories.'"  So, I warmed it up for a few seconds in the microwave and sat down to the task.  I took a fairly normal size bite, chewed a bit and swallowed.  Because of the radiation my ability to swallow is impaired.  Breads are usually harder for me than most things.  Anyway, the donut didn't go down.  Instead it got stuck right on top of my wind pipe.  I couldn't breath or talk.  Having things stuck isn't uncommon and usually I can run to the sink and cough them out.  So I ran to the sink and did all the normal things I do when that happens but nothing was working.  I had a complete airway blockage.  I struggled at the sink for maybe 2.5 minutes but with no success.  Now I was beginning to panic.  I still couldn't breath that whole time.  It was 4:00 am and I was the only one awake.  I ran down the hall and opened our bedroom door and turned on the light.  I couldn't talk so I was just holding my hand on my throat hoping that JoLynne would get the message.  She looked at me and asked what was wrong.  Obviously I couldn't answer her.  I just kept grabbing at my throat.  Now JoLynne got excited and yelled for our son Jarom who was asleep in the room straight across from ours.  You see, we own apartments and recently we had an upstairs tenant whose toilet flooded really bad.  It did extensive damage to his apartment and even more damage to the apartment below him which is where Jarom and Natalie live.  The repairs have been slow coming so Jarom and Natalie are living with us while their apartment is being repaired.  Jarom, Natalie and our sweet daughter Elizabeth all came running into the hall.  By now it has been probably 3.5 minutes without air.  Jarom says, "I think he is choking".  He grabs me around the chest and gives a pull.  His hands are too high to move my diaphragm so it doesn't work.  Now I am probably at 4.5 minutes without air.  The room is beginning to spin and go dark.  Sweet Elizabeth, who is just home from girls camp where she learned first aid, tells Jarom, "You need to put your hands lower and pull up."  (By the way, thank you girls camp leaders for teaching my daughter this.  I am very grateful to you whoever you are)  Anyway, Jarom repositioned his hands and pulls again.  Now it has been probably 5 minutes and out pops this piece of donut about the size of a ping pong ball.  Wow, did it ever feel good to breath.  This whole thing really scared me.  I grabbed Jarom and Elizabeth and thanked them for saving my life.  I took this piece of donut that I had caught and went to the kitchen. I guess I know that donuts are not sentient beings but I was so angry.  I threw it in the sink and ran it down the disposal.  You should know that I never swear.  I really never have.  But that night I called out "You damn donut!  Go to hell!  How dare you try to take my life after all that I have been through"  Well, the donut went in the sewer and I guess that was close enough.  After everyone settled down a bit  I climbed back in bed with JoLynne.  We were both really unsettles.  JoLynne declared "Don't ever do that again.  You scared the bajeebies out of me"  Frankly I didn't even know that she had bajeebies but I guess I am glad that they are gone.  Honestly I'm not really sure what a bajeebie is.  Anyway, as we lay there suddenly we heard sirens close by.  I don't know where they were going but I am so grateful that our house was not their destination.  It easily could have been if it weren't for Jarom and Elizabeth.

So, we have a new rule at our house.  Eric is no longer ever allowed to eat anything by mouth when he is alone.  Probably a good rule.

I don't believe in chance.  I honestly believe that Heavenly Father arranged events so that Jarom would be there when I needed him and that Elizabeth would have that training just when I needed it.  Once again, my life has been spared.