Quick reaction saves a life

Medical assistant, Wasan Alkabi, was tuning in to a virtual meeting during lunch with her colleague, Marian Stevens, when Alkabi suddenly had to jump into action.

“One moment, we were laughing and chatting during the call, and all of the sudden I couldn’t breathe,” said Stevens, a patient access specialist at the UCHealth Seniors Clinic – Anschutz Medical Campus. “I knew I was choking and was absolutely terrified.”

“She just looked at me and went silent,” said Alkabi, who also works at the Seniors Clinic. “I knew she wasn’t breathing. I called for help but nobody was close, and I knew I had to act quickly and could not leave to go find help.

“I was scared, but calm. I tried the Heimlich maneuver, but it didn’t seem effective, so I bent her forward and pounded hard on her back three times until the item became dislodged,” Alkabi said.

After the incident, both women were able to return to work. Stevens’ back hurt for a several days after the choking incident, but she forever will be grateful for the life-saving blows Alkabi delivered.

“If she had not been here, I don’t think I would have survived,” Stevens said.

As they recounted the incident, their eyes welled with tears and they held hands. Their already solid friendship had grown even stronger after the incident. As a token of thanks, Stevens gave Alkabi a crystal angel, which Alkabi says she will always treasure.

“She was my angel in that moment and I am so grateful for her help,” Stevens said.

“I feel blessed to have been there and I am proud I could help,” said Alkabi. “In health care, you have to do your best without any hesitation.”

From this experience and through their work with older adults, both women encourage everyone to get trained on how to handle emergencies and what to do if you live alone. Both also feel fortunate to work at the Seniors Clinic because of how friendly and caring everyone is. They have high praise for their colleagues and doctors and appreciate the collaborative environment.

“We love hearing that our patients feel more at ease because they know how much we enjoy what we do while taking good care of them,” Stevens added.