NEED TO KNOW
- Dalton Tomberlain, a student in Georgia, recalled the terrifying moment he thought he “was going to die” while choking on food
- McClure Middle School teacher Valerie Hodge remembered how she “went into action” to save the young boy’s life
- Dalton’s mom, Courtney, expressed her gratitude, noting, “It could have been a tragic situation for our family”
A student in Georgia recalled the terrifying moment he thought he “was going to die” while choking on food — and how a teacher “saved” his life.
Dalton Tomberlain, a seventh-grader at McClure Middle School, revealed in a video shared by the Cobb County School District on Jan. 16 what happened before English teacher Valerie Hodge came to the rescue.
“I was just eating a burger, and I felt like a soreness in my throat, and then I just could not breathe,” Dalton said, adding that he placed his hands around his neck to show Hodge he was choking on food.
“I thought I was going to die a little bit … it was just scary,” Dalton recalled.
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His mom, Courtney, added, “From what I understand, he was turning blue.”
That’s when Hodge, who isn’t Dalton’s teacher, did the Heimlich maneuver.
The teacher remembered, “I didn’t really even think, honestly. I just kind of reacted. I saw a student who was in trouble and … I just went into action.”
Feeling thankful, the middle school student expressed his gratitude in the school district’s video, saying, “She saved my life, so it’s a big thing.”
Dalton’s mom also conveyed her appreciation for the teacher.
“I can’t thank her enough. She took care of business and she didn’t think twice, and I don’t know what the outcome could have been; it could have been a tragic situation for our family,” the mother said. “I’m grateful that she was there. She took care of my son, and he was able to come home.”
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