It was just another busy day in the Loyola Medical Center cafeteria in Maywood, Illinois. Cashier Ketzly Angel was helping a line of hungry customers. ER physician Dr. Joan Dimopoulos rushed in to grab a quick bite during a busy shift. While she was eating a chicken sandwich, things got scary: A piece of the sandwich got stuck. In the audio clip above, Dr. Dimopoulos and Ms. Angel each tell WGN’s Steve Alexander what happened then.

Dimopoulos: “I walked over to get a bottle of water and I was in line to pay, and all of a sudden I was actually choking and I couldn’t breathe.”

Angel: “She has holding on to her chest.”

Dimopoulos: “I placed my hand over my throat and the cashier saw me.”

Angel: “She was looking at me, she made eye contact.”

Dimopoulos: “And she asked me if I was choking, and I nodded yes.”

Angel: “And I just knew right then and there.”

Dimopoulos: “And she just came up behind me and performed the Heimlich maneuver twice.”

Angel: “And luckily, I was able to help her get out the piece of food that was stuck.”

Dimopoulos: “And I could finally breathe.”

And that was it. Each went back to their busy days.

Some days later, Dr. Dimopoulos was back in the cafeteria and saw Ketzly, thanked her again, and left with the feeling she needed to do more than just say thanks. She contacted hospital officials who arranged for a hospital-wide event where she publicly thanked Ketzly and gave her a bouquet of flowers. She added, “I’m just so grateful that you were there, and that you had the awareness and the knowledge and the courage to act,” before embracing her. 

Angel, 22, learned the Heimlich maneuver in a health class at Proviso East High School, but had never used it. “I always kept it in mind for any situation that could happen. I’m glad I was able to react quickly and be able to help her,” she said.

Dr. Dimopoulos added, “I think she saved my life.”

An Angel who is a hero.