CivAsc — Civilization Ascent

The family’s account

What happened that day.

The incident occurred on January 6 during a severe snowstorm. Savannah was at home preparing a bottle for Marley while the child played nearby with her brother’s toy dump truck. Unbeknownst to Savannah, a small plastic piece was hidden in the back of the toy. Marley removed the piece and put it into her mouth. Moments later, she began coughing and suddenly collapsed to the floor.

Savannah immediately picked her up and noticed that Marley was turning blue. She called out to her family for help. Marley’s grandparents, who were also at the house, quickly came into the room. By that point, Marley had turned purple, her body had become limp, and she was no longer breathing or responding normally.

The family placed Marley on a safe, flat surface and quickly retrieved the anti-choking device stored on top of the refrigerator. After the device was used, the position of the obstruction changed, allowing the airway to open enough for air to pass. Marley began breathing again, started crying and gradually regained consciousness and responsiveness.

Once Marley was breathing, Savannah called 911 and requested an ambulance. Because of the snowstorm and a traffic accident on the interstate, emergency responders reportedly took approximately 40 to 45 minutes to arrive. Savannah said the anti-choking device helped Marley breathe and provided critical time while the family waited for professional emergency assistance.

The family had purchased two anti-choking devices approximately two months before the incident. One was kept on top of the refrigerator, while the other was carried in their diaper bag for use away from home. Following the experience, Savannah emphasized the importance of emergency preparedness. She encouraged parents to understand childhood choking risks and to keep emergency supplies in a clearly identified, consistent and easily accessible location.