You Have a Choice - Gasp or Grasp

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Recently I stood in front of the kitchen sink suffocating, gasping for air but losing the battle. My throat had shut completely. I was sizing up how serious my situation was, like, was this going to resolve itself? It didn’t seem likely. I was getting a little concerned.

While taking my morning meds some water went down my windpipe. I knew instantly when it happened – while the pills were still in transit down my throat – so in a microsecond I decided to continue drinking another gulp or two of water to clear them out of the way. As soon as I quit the drinking process I began choking. What I didn’t expect was that my airway shut simultaneously. Shut.

I could exhale, I could use precious air to say a few words, but I could not breathe in. My airway had closed a couple of times in the past, with the situation resolving itself eventually, but this day the airway was not budging. Because I’m a man, I motioned to my wife that I was ok, but very clearly, I was not. After about two minutes my legs began to weaken, and with no evidence of improvement, I realized I might die in a very, very, stupid, stupid way.