Friday, December 4 started off as just another school day for Susquehanna Valley High School Teacher Aide Cindy Willis and for high school senior Kevin Cady. But by the time the clock struck noon, their day had changed dramatically - and their lives would forever be linked by an act of quick thinking and true heroism.
Mrs. Willis was filling in for an ill colleague during "Saber Time" at the high school, and was manning her post in the high school cafeteria as a group of Broome-Tioga BOCES-bound students ate their lunch. As Mrs. Willis recalls: "I took a phone call and was making some notes and I heard a student - Thomas Engle - repeatedly calling my name." Engle was sitting with Cady and a group of other students approximately 20 feet from where Mrs. Willis was standing. Responding to her name being called, Mrs. Willis turned to see Kevin standing up. "I thought he was going to throw up. I got on the radio to the school nurse and walked over to Kevin." Once she got closer, she could see this was more than an upset stomach. Kevin was turning purple.
"I don't think he can breathe," said Thomas Engle to Mrs. Willis.
Without hesitation, Mrs. Willis positioned herself behind Kevin, wrapped her arms around him and began performing the Heimlich Maneuver. After four good thrusts of her clenched fists into his abdomen, the blockage cleared. After sitting the student down and making sure he was o.k., in true Cindy Willis fashion, she retrieved cleaning supplies, cleared away the mess, got Kevin a new lunch (which he ate before departing for BOCES) and went about her business. "I was trying to do this without creating too much of a disturbance," she said. "I don't think more than a couple of people saw what was going on."
Willis credits her faith in God and the training she has received in CPR and first aid with the life-saving treatment she rendered that day. "I have a family care home with psychiatric patients who live with me," Willis said. "I've had extensive training - which I've never had to use before. I hope I never have to again. I'm just glad I paid attention in class!"
Kevin was extremely grateful in the moments following the successful Heimlich Maneuver, repeatedly thanking Mrs. Willis. Kevin's parents and sister have also expressed their gratitude with cards and gifts. Mrs. Willis takes it in stride. "My life is wonderful. I'm very blessed. I'm just very thankful I could be there for that child when he needed me."
Ironically, Mrs. Willis said, she was on the receiving end of the Heimlich Maneuver not that long ago. "Over the summer I started choking on a beverage and my husband used the Heimlich on me. As she started to perform the maneuver on Kevin, she remembered how her husband had embraced her in her moment of need. "It's amazing one human can do this for another," she said.
Photo - from left to right: Thomas Engle, Cindy Willis, Kevin Cady near the spot where Mrs. Willis likely saved Kevin's life in the SV High School cafeteria on Friday, December 4.