#heimlich

[cprgiii]

cpr on a sex doll

[charseraph]

If he got to be a real butterfly

[chownkiies]

Shouldn't have watched bug's life

+ abl oc faust

[kme-2020]

9 (Lauren’s Perspective, Victim)

(First of three parts, each with a different perspective in the same story. Each part to be released separately.)

I grinned as I sat down at the patio table. A beautiful fall day spent with friends, winding down with wine and snacks. Our partners were out golfing and we were back from our hike early. I sipped my wine and listened to Ava and Holly chatter away about Ava’s new job while I grabbed a handful of grapes. I was hungry and wanted something small before our BBQ tonight.

I leaned back in my chair and popped a grape into my mouth right before Ava made a joke about her new desk mate. I laughed and felt the grape slip to the back of my mouth. I sat up, surprised. I coughed weakly and tried to swallow, but couldn’t move the grape. I covered my mouth with my hands and closed my eyes, trying to swallow again. I felt my heart rate increasing and warmth growing in my face. The grape moved slightly as I inhaled sharply, but this was the wrong move. The grape slid entirely into my throat and settled into place. I couldn’t breathe in or out. I was choking.

My eyes flew open at this realization. I tried to cough but the grape wouldn’t budge. I couldn’t swallow either. I bowed my head and gripped the edge of the table, my knuckles turning white, unable to think straight as panic crept over me. My attempts to swallow and cough were futile. I closed my eyes again and leaned forward, clutching my throat in desperation. What do I do??!?! I thought. I heard Ava and Holly’s conversation pause. I was embarrassed and about to stand up to head to the bathroom when suddenly a sharp blow between my shoulder blades brought me back to the present.

“Lauren!” I heard Holly’s voice shriek. I opened my eyes and saw her standing across the table from me, willing me to cough. Another blow to my back- Ava must be trying to help me I thought. Suddenly Ava’s arms wrapped tightly around my waist. A quick and sudden thrust into my abdomen sent pain shooting through my chest. I doubled over, catching myself on the table, unable to control my body’s reaction. I still couldn’t breathe, so I shook my head “no” to communicate I was still choking. Ava thrust her hands into me again, rocking me with each painful thrust. I watched as Holly hurried around the table to my side as she called out to me, concern in her voice, “Lauren!”

Ava released my waist and grabbed under my armpits. “Stand up” she demanded. I stumbled as she pulled me out of my chair and my feet found the ground. Holly appeared in front of me, grabbing my shoulders and steadying me. Ava wrapped an arm around my chest, and pushed me forward, pounding my back with her free hand. I searched Holly’s face and we locked eyes. Her brown eyes were concerned., “Come on Lauren, cough!” She willed me, “cough!”

Ava then pulled me straight up and pressed my back into her as she again circled her arms around my waist. She found my bellybutton and placed her first firmly against my stomach, then squeezed sharply in and up under my rib cage. I knew it was more effective with me standing up. The pain was unbearable as the pressure in my chest grew, the blockage in my throat resisting the artificial coughs from Ava’s abdominal thrusts. I stamped my foot, frightened, desperate to draw a breath. I felt dizzy and weak, and was struggling to focus. I’m going to pass out I thought as I noticed Ava was supporting most of my weight.

Ava delivered another powerful Heimlich into me, my breasts jiggling from the force. Another thrust in and I felt the grape fly from my mouth, hitting the floor with a dull thud. Sluggishly, I reached for Ava’s hands, still around my waist and supporting me. I tried inhaling, but couldn’t draw a breath. It was like my brain and my body were disconnected. My heart was pounding, a ringing filling my ears.

My vision grew dark and faded as I felt myself being lowered to the ground. I still couldn’t breathe in, no matter how hard I tried, even though I knew the blockage was cleared from my throat. I heard Holly and Ava calling out but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. I wanted to tell them I couldn’t breathe. I felt funny, stuck between consciousness and unconsciousness, unable to move my body or take a single breath.

Someone gripped my shoulders tightly and shook me, then my head was tipped back and mouth opened. This helped but I still I couldn’t breathe well, producing a shallow inhale and grunting in the process. Suddenly, my cheeks puffed out as warmth filled my lungs and left just as quick as it came. I waited, and again my lungs inflated and deflated.

Everything felt distant and hazy, but I came aware of someone’s lips around my mouth, forcing their own breath into my body. “Lauren, stay with us!” I heard Ava call to me. I felt another breath fill my lungs. “Breathe Lauren, come on…” I heard Holly’s voice in my ear. I tried to focus on breathing, welcoming the air being provided to me with each respiration.

I heard a groan come from within me; I was coming around. The mouth-to-mouth stopped as I began breathing again. “She’s breathing” I heard Holly say. I tried to open my eyes and saw two foggy figures leaning over me. “Lauren, can you hear me?” Ava asked, her voice sounding distant. I focused on her face. I nodded.

Holly pressed two fingers to my neck, feeling my pulse. “I’m going to put you in the recovery position” Holly said, and I felt myself being rolled onto my side. “Focus on breathing” she said with a gentle voice, rubbing soothing circles on my back. I nodded weakly, feeling sick and lightheaded. “You’re okay now, you’re going to be fine. We’ve got you” she said…and I believed her.

[gothelsflower]

physically i’m here mentally i’m at candy corn acres

[weepingwidar]

Stacy Leigh (American, 1971) - Thankfully, Juliet Knew the Heimlich (2021)

[welele]

[didyougaming]

[theowlgoesmoo]

Bless you, makers of Noesis. Managed to extract the Bug's Life 3d models from Magic Kingdoms using this fantastic tutorial here:

Still trying to organize them into a format that can actually be shared (especially the textures as they keep getting messed up. Seriously weird formatting for this game, let me tell you.) Also because I love you, have a TGA converter:

Man, it is SO good to see official 3d models of these little bugaboos again. I don't think there's been any since... what, the PS1/N64 game? And as far as I know, those models were never (publicly) extracted, so no luck there. (If you REALLY want what I have extracted so far, let me know, but I will tell you that what I've got is super messy and disorganized. Still, sharing is caring. If all goes well, I'll see if I can toss these up on Models Resource or Sketchfab.) Actually no, here's a link to what I have right now. Still super messy, but if you just HAVE to have them (I know I'VE been waiting for fricken ever to have some), then why make you wait?

[capturingdisney]

[littlethingsmart]

(source)

[daikenkki]

X

[avaford2009]

So I rewrote A Bug's Life...

We are introduced to Princess and Grand Duchess Alicia, who was reading the history of Ant Island to her friend and ant colony worker, Flik. Several books are surrounding her at home, one of which Flik is trying to work. Through talking to the small goat the audience learns more about Alicia, while intelligent and hard working, she is shy and a workaholic, always studying and offering tours to visitors. Today is the day she applies to be the apprentice to Hopper, like the rest of Ant Island she idolizes him and believes following in his footsteps will give her a sense of self. She will look at a picture of her late grandfather who raised her, promising that she will help make wishes come true in honor of his that was never granted.

She goes to guide the newest tour (Welcome to Ant Island, with an added on segment talking about the love the king and queen share) where we learn of how Hopper and Zing benevolently rule the island. When citizens turn 15 they offer their wishes to Hopper who will protect the wish until it is time for it to be granted.

After the tour Alicia goes to the royal kitchens were her best and only friend Slim is a royal baker. They talk about Alicia’s application. Slim reassures Alicia that she will get the job, and admits she hopes it’ll give her a boost of confidence to maybe make some new friends. Alicia says she already has Slim and doesn’t need anyone else. It is then Zing arrives to escort Alicia to the king.

Alicia is then left in a study where she notices a peculiar door, but Hopper arrives before she could examine it. He is a charming man, his presence seeming to fill the room as he carries a staff with an emerald tip. Alicia is clearly intimidated but he’s polite as he introduces himself, even offer his condolences for her grandfather’s passing-knowing she’s an orphan. Trying not to trip over herself Alicia praises the king for his hard work and shows off her knowledge of magic and Ant Island. Hopper is impressed. And after Alicia passionately tells him how her ‘wish’ is to help protect Ant Island, it’s people and wishes, Hopper decides she’s worthy to be his apprentice and they’d have the announcement that night.

The people crowd before the castle that night, Alicia hurries to tell Princess Atta the good news. But Francis overhears her announcement and makes a snide remark about her overworking and ‘sucking up’ to the king and queen. He is quickly shushed by Manny who looks almost afraid of Alicia now that she has such a high status. But she returns to the stage to witness Zing whisper in Hopper’s ear. He then announces the person to have their wish granted that month; a woman who wants to be a professional dress maker. After using the staff to grant the wish he makes a joking comment that she can now make his wife hundreds of beautiful dresses.

He then summons Alicia forward to announce her as his new apprentice. Alicia happily exclaims how excited she is to help the people, but she is given a frosty reception, murmuring about how they find her weird, are resentful for failing their own applications, and don’t know how this shy girl who never engages with the locals outside tour duty, could become someone as great as their king.

Alicia takes the doubt but once she can she leaves the stage, tripping in the process and embarrassing herself further. She runs off with Flik into the forest (This Wish (More For Us)) and ends up noticing one of the brighter stars. She remembers hearing how once upon a time, wishes came from stars. Not seeing any harm to it she wishes to become a wonderful magic user and become as great, if not greater, than Hopper himself.

The star suddenly seems to glow brighter and get bigger, Alicia realizes too late it’s because it’s getting closer. She is knocked into by a human sized ball of light, rolling across the grass before kicking it away from her. It’s to her great shock that the ball of light was…a boy. A handsome boy he glows faintly, his hair a pure golden color that flows like he is underwater, he dusts himself off as he hovers off the ground.

They have an awkward but cute introduction, the Star not understanding personal boundaries and getting right up into Alicia’s face, giving her a too enthusiastic hand shake when offered and floating around as if there’s no gravity.

Alicia quickly deduces he’s a star that came down when she summoned him. Alicia asks Star to give her the same dust so her wish will be granted, but Star shakes his head.

He is mute and tries to explain using sign language, but that’s one book Alicia hasn’t read yet. She decides to call him Star before leading him back to the city, he can stay at her house until she figures out what to do with him. On the way he fonds over the animals, hitting them with a few clouds of golden dust.

The next morning Alicia brings Princess Atta over and shows her Star. Atta is at first concerned her friend has a man hidden away, but after Alicia explains they agree to take him to Hopper to see what he has to say. However they want Star to stay under the radar and not get noticed by the townspeople. This is when Star reveals he’s a shapeshifter, transforming into a copy of Flik, the only different is his eyes are still gold.

The four arrive into town and while things go to plan at first, Star’s natural curiosity has him running off to explore the town, Alicia and friends trying not to lose him. He comes across Dim who looks cool and awesome at an outside table. Empathetic, Star discreetly puts some star dust in his cup of tea. When he drinks it he’s suddenly energized and is flabbergasted. He turns around just as Alicia appears and picks up Star, he asks her if she’s already learned magic from Hopper, even stating he had just been wishing he could take something that would make him less tired.

Alicia is awkwardly silent, not wanting to take credit but also not wanting to reveal what Star is. But Dim pays no mind and drags her to his friends so he can show them he’s no longer tired. There is then a montage of the circus bugs showing off their problems and Star uses his abilities to grant these small unspoken wishes. Throughout this scene we see Alicia opening up a bit more to the characters, starting to form friendships.

While in Gypsy’s new hideout they talk of having a little party with dancing and treats and in his excitement Star accidentally drops his disguise and reveals his true form. The group is shocked and Alicia is forced to explain who he is, though when Francis tries to accuse Alicia of tricking them Star immediately puts himself in front of her, defending her from the accusation. The other characters also come to Alicia and Star’s defense and Francis relents, though snarkily asks if they should tell Hopper there’s a wish granting, shapeshifting guy from space in Ant Island. Alicia will go alone to ask, leaving Star with the others.

She arrives at the castle, Hopper and Zing are surprised to see her so soon as he hadn’t summoned her but lets her in. Alicia, feeling uncomfortable to just out and say what had happened, asks Hopper what he knows about stars.

The king looks momentarily surprised but quickly shrugs it off, he tells Alicia that many years ago stars would grant peoples’ wishes, but only so they could have the human indebted to them. They were malicious creatures pretending benevolence so they could control the masses, one of the worst things was granting evil wishes and having people turn on the ones who wouldn’t make wishes. Zing retells her how her parents were oppressed by stars after merely asking for food and a roof.

Eventually it was decided that the newer generations would never wish on another star, and Hopper dedicated himself to learning magic so he could help good people have their wishes granted without having to pay him back. And, unlike stars, he has a moral compass, so he would not grant any wishes that would harm people. He then looms over Alicia and asks her if there’s something she needs to tell him. Alicia looks visibly torn, her respect and admiration for Hopper clashing with what he told her. Star is not at all like he had just told her, and Alicia ends up reassuring him that no, she has nothing to tell him.

She returns to the hide out feeling like a traitor, wanting to talk to Star alone. But the group is already starting their party, dancing and making music. Star, spotting Alicia, immediately pulls her onto the dance floor. The group cheers her on as they dance around, and Alicia’s anxieties melt away as she’s swept up into the dancing. A spark is lit.

Alicia, Star, and Flik return to her house and this time the two go to her living room where he admires all her books and notices the picture of her grandfather. She tells him how much she loved the man, how he had taken care of her after her parents died, how much she missed how, how she wished his wish could’ve been granted. Star comforts her in her grief and she feels safe enough to tell him about what Hopper said.

Star reassures her the king is lying and Alicia finds herself believing him, and yet the King is a great man who has done so much for Ant Island-why would he lie to her? It is Flik who suggests they go do some snooping (not him though, he’s going to eat a cook book as soon as the two leave).

Star carries Alicia into the sky, unable to resist showing off to her first. Alicia let’s herself enjoy the feeling of being in the air, feeling like she could reach out and touch the star or hold the moon. They slip inside via the highest balcony, Star transforming into a mouse and riding on her shoulder as Alicia sneaks through the castle.

Said study is empty and at first Alicia thinks to skim through the books for answers but Star notices the door. Transforming into a flea he slips under the door and opens it from the other side. It leads down a dark stair case with a golden light at the bottom. The two share a glance before starting to go down-only for green light to envelope them both and drag them back up the stairs into the study.

The King and Queen are standing there, clearly the one who had warned them of the intruders. Hopper tells Alicia she didn’t have to sneak in to deliver them a star, the young girl immediately puts herself between her friend and the king. She tries to tell them he’s not like they think, he’s a good kind person who helped people grant wishes without asking for anything in return. But with his staff Hopper wraps the green energy around Star like chains and Zing drags Alicia away from him. They call Alicia a fool if she thinks they’d let one little star ruin the years of work they’ve put into maintaining their kingdom. That they picked what wishes are to be granted. That the people worshiped them. Alicia is forced to realize the kind rulers she wanted to be like-are a lie. Hopper comments to his wife that Star’s power could be very useful to them.

In an act of desperation Alicia kicks out, knocking the staff out of the king’s hand. Zing, not expecting Alicia to lash out, looses her grip on her. Once the staff hits the ground the green chains evaporate and Star transforms into a giant golden bird, grabs Alicia and flies out of one of the study’s high windows.

Hopper is furious that they got away but Zing calms him down, reminding him that the people of Ant Island would not believe those two over their loving rulers. She remarks that maybe it’s time to grant her wish. Hopper agrees and his magic mutates the cat into a tyrant robber that runs out of the room to go hunt down Alicia and Star. The king and queen reprise the segment of Welcome to Ant Island dedicated to them, now in a minor key with new context.

Alicia and Star escape into the forest, where they first met. Alicia is crying, heartbroken and scared over what will happen next. Her whole goal in life was built around a lie. How will they stop people as powerful as the royal couple?

The two share a romantic scene, flying in the sky, dancing among the clouds and coming this close to sharing a kiss.

Star transforms into a giant cat as well, putting himself between Alicia. But before the wild cat can attack them, Princess Atta and the others suddenly appear via carriage and accidentally knock the giant cat into the lake. Wild cat splutters out of the water and runs back to Island.

The gang tells the two they saw Star flying away and then the king and queen made an announcement that Alicia is a traitor and trying to usurp them and ruin Ant Island. The news not sitting right with the group they decided to follow, worried for the two. Alicia is grateful for their help and touched when they point out its what friends are for. But now they must go hide because the whole town will be looking for them.

On the way back Alicia tells them what had happened. Like her they are shocked the king and queen could be villains, but they also don’t think Alicia and Star are liars. So they have to make a plan to figure out what the two are hiding and, if necessary, defeat them. (Knowing What I Know Now, which adds in a segment for the king and queen ‘lamenting’ that their people don’t know what’s best for them). There is a short moment during this song where it’s revealed Flik knows sign language, having learned to read from Alicia reading to him-and making a point to read books before he eats them. Alicia tells him there’s a saying she’d like to learn but the scene cuts before we learn what it is.

The plan is that Star will dash the group with some dust to make them glow and they’d run through the town and forest ‘pretending’ to be Star. This would serve to distract the king and queen long enough for Alicia and Star to go back to the study and go through the door. Star also gives Alicia a stick and blesses it with his magic for her use. The plan is going off without a hitch, Alicia while trying to find information in the study comes across a small journal. She reads it aloud as they open the secret door and go down the stairs: Years ago, Hopper wished for magic. A star came down to grant his wish, admiring his ambitions. However Hopper turned on the star and trapped her, now absorbing her power to grant peoples’ wishes. They reach the bottom of the stairs to see an older woman chained to the ground; the star from the journal. Alicia and Star are horrified by this revelation, but before they could free her Hopper appears having expected them to come back.

Alicia accuses him of lying about the stars being malicious, and the king instead says the stars were too scared to risk coming down to grant a human’s wishes. “Except that one, it seems.” He glares at Star and tells him that he would be his new battery and help lead Ant Island to even more triumphs. In fact, why stop at Ant Island? He could grant wishes of people all over the world, they’d be so grateful they’d do whatever he asked.

Furious Alicia lunges at him but Hopper stops them with his staff and drags them back upstairs to where Zing is waiting. He offers Alicia to his queen, not needing her. Zing then reminds the young girl of the history of Ant Island, how there was a monster that terroized the people…Alicia watches in horror as Zing transforms into a large wasp-esque creature. She is able to escape the study and Alicia chases after her. Star, furious and terrified transforms into his own version of a golden dragon-esque creature and manages to escape Hopper’s grasp.

Alicia is chased outside, nearly killed by Zing before Star arrives and knocks her away. While the two giants fight Alicia hurries back inside to deal with Hopper.

We cut to a scene of Princess Atta and co being surrounded by the villagers, but the townsfolk are starting to waver having seen how much happier the group is thanks to Star granting their wishes. Disillusioned the townsfolk follow Princess Atta, Flik, and co back into town to witness the rest of the battle.

Alicia, still brandishing the wand Star gave her, witnesses Hopper dragging the star out of her cell and absorbing so much of her magic that the woman loses the rest of her glow and falls to the ground. Alicia tries to attack him but the king teleports the two of them to the roof, ready to throw Alicia off and strike Star with his magic. Alicia is able to use her wand to keep him from hurting her or Star, but eventually he is able to snatch the wand from her and break it. Desperate, Alicia tries to physically wrestle the staff away from him.

Suddenly there’s a scream, Zing having bit down on Star’s neck. Hopper moves to fire at Star to finish him off, but Alicia with her own hands still on the staff is able to redirect it and the blast hits Zing instead. She is evaporated and Hopper cries out in horror and rage. However the damage is done for Star, transforming back into human form he floats up to Alicia slowly losing his golden glow. He holds her cheek for one moment before falling on the roof, completely gray and presumed dead. Alicia cries and hugs him, unable to believe this is how the story ends. But then Hopper grabs her with his magic and drags her away, Alicia desperately trying to fight against it, only able to hold onto Star’s hand. The king summons storm clouds to completely cover the sky, vowing revenge against the entirety of Ant Island, against the entirety of the world for killing Zing.

All seems lost, yet Alicia starts to softly sing (This Wish (More For Us) (Reprise)), and after a few moments her friends and everyone below start singing along, wishing for Star to be revived. We have a short scene of the star woman waking up and hearing the singing from outside. But everyone's sincerity in the wish allows Star to be revived, glowing brighter than ever. Alicia, relieved and full of hope, gets up to face against Hopper. He tries to shoot her with magic but Star’s glow serves as a wall of protection for her, and as she slowly walks toward the man he gets more frantic and desperate, unable to see because of Star’s bright light. He continues to step back until he reaches the edge, loses his balance and starts to fall, Alicia grabs his staff as the grasshopper vanishes into the roiling ocean below. She then shatters the staff on the roof. The magic shoots out into the sky, wishes given to Hopper returned to its owners and the star woman brought back to her full strength.

Star is flying around the sky, ecstatic. Alicia calls his attention and we see her sign/say the words: “I love you.” (having learned them from Flik). It is like a firework goes off as Star happily picks her up and twirls through the sky with her, Alicia laughing gleefully before finally kissing him.

When the two return to the ground they receive a group hug from their friends. They find the broken stick Hopper had tossed and Alicia apologizes to Star for breaking it, but he simply puts it back together. Princess Atta comments that her magic use was pretty impressive considering she had had no real experience. Flik smugly saying she was greater than the former king. It’s then Alicia realizes that Star had helped grant her wish-she just needed to meet him halfway. He winks at her when she makes this realization.

The star woman then appears, stepping out of the castle, looking poised and formidable. Alicia tells everyone what Hopper and Zing had done to her and the people are filled with shame that she had suffered right under their noses. Alicia gives her a formal apology and after a moment the star woman nods and smiles kindly, having been impressed by the goodness in these humans. She had thought they would all be vile like the king and queen.

She starts to float, planning on going back to the sky. She looks expectantly at Star, expecting him to come with. Alicia is stricken at the thought but reassures him she wouldn’t be like Hopper and force him to stay. In response Star holds Alicia’s hand and gives the star woman a resolute look. She blinks, looking a bit surprised, but then nods and even gives them a small curtsy as if they were royalty. She then shoots upward to become the brightest star in the sky.

At the epilogue Alicia, Flik and Star are learning all they can on how to lead Ant Island, the town wanting them to be their new king and queen. She is getting better at her magic and signs fluidly. They have Princess Atta and co be a sort of council for them. With Star’s encouragement people are doing their part to make their wishes come true. Flik is in charge of The Queen Ant who is going through a program to be nicer, it’s a work in progress.

The final shot is Alicia and Star standing at the balcony, sharing a true love's kiss as the scene pans up to show the night sky. The stars look brighter than ever.

Featuring six songs written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the music score by Randy Newman, and the aspect ratio 2.39:1 is used same as A Bug's Life.

See those sneak peeks: https://www.tumblr.com/avaford2009/766075869745872896

[kme-2020]

7

“Cara? Cara, are you okay?” I hear Nadine’s voice call out from down the hallway. My fingers pause, hovering over my keyboard. There’s a muffled crash and I hear Nadine cry out again “Cara! What…are you choking?”

I jump to my feet and hurry around my desk and down the hall to the office foyer. I find Nadine behind Cara’s secretary desk, helping Cara to her feet. Cara looks dishevelled; her face is red and her hands are wrapped around her throat, her striped blouse slightly untucked from her skirt, tendrils of hair falling in her face. Nadine looks terrified and when she sees me she yells “Julie, Cara’s choking!” Nadine wraps her arms around Cara’s curvy belly and begins the Heimlich Maneuver. Cara winces and shakes her head, hands still at her throat. Nadine attempts another abdominal thrust to no avail, and Cara frantically bangs her fist against her chest, willing whatever is blocking her airway to come out. I notice a half eaten granola bar on Cara’s desk.

A weak cough escapes from Cara and Nadine releases her. She holds up an hand, gesturing Nadine to give space and tries to swallow, her face is turning from red to purple. A wheeze escapes her lips and she attempts to cough. I cross the room and place my hand on Cara’s back. “Cough Cara, just try to cough”. A gasping sound and a week cough, yet Cara still struggles to inhale. “Can you breathe?” I ask. Cara shakes her head. I turn briefly to Nadine and say “call 911, now!” Nadine nods and hurries to another desk and reaches for the phone.

I return my attention to Cara. “Lean forward” I tell her as I position myself to deliver back slaps. Supporting her busty chest with my left hand, I rest my right hand between her shoulder blades, finding the correct spot. I raise my hand and slam it between Cara’s shoulder blades, the force rocking her forward. I strike her back again and again, her body lurching with each blow. I check and see Cara is still choking as she clutches her throat, fear in her brown eyes. I pull her upright and move behind her, straining my arms around her chubby waist and searching for her belly button. Cara grabs my hands and maneuvers them into place, her shaky hands mimicking the abdominal thrust she so desperately needed. I pull my hands into her soft belly again and again, willing the blockage to dislodge. Nadine reappears in front of us. She grabs Cara’s shoulders and says “we’ve got you Cara, EMS are on their way, cough it up Cara!”. Nadine makes eye contact with me and I see worry etched in her face. I continue the Heimlich Maneuver, thrusting in and up into Cara, straining to keep my arms around her waist. My hands slip and we stumble, Nadine steadying us. Desperate, I move my fists up to Cara’s chest and pull back with sharp thrusts. I reposition my fists under her large breasts and squeeze repeatedly. Suddenly she gags. I perform another thrust and hear her grunt from the force. Nadine leans in and searches Cara’s face, “Breathe Cara! Breathe!”

I lower my arms but keep my arms around Cara’s waist and my hands in position for the Heimlich. Another wheeze and Cara falls silent again, so I thrust my fists into her abdomen again and again, willing the blockage to move. Another gag and a ragged gasp and I feel her body relaxing in my arms, her belly expanding with laboured breathe she takes.

“Can you breathe” I ask, leaning to the side and eyeing Cara’s profile. Her hands cover her mouth as she coughs hoarsely. Cara takes a step forward and braces herself against her desk, still struggling to inhale but moving air. Nadine comes to her side and slaps her back several times. Suddenly Cara lets out a loud cough and gags, leaning forward and spitting out the blockage. She coughs as Nadine continues thunking her back. Cara’s face is bright red and she stumbles, still struggling to breathe normally.

I grab her office chair and Nadine helps lower Cara into a seated position. Cara is wheezing and gasping, her large chest heaving, a hand still at her chest. Her face is flushed, her striped blouse bunched up and her skirt awry. She is still wheezing and struggling to move air. “Breathe Cara, in and out, deep breathes” Nadine urges. I kneel down in front of Cara and place my hand on her shoulder. “Can you speak?” I ask. Cara nods but struggles to reply. “Yes, but there’s…still…something in my throat…” she manages between laboured wheezes.

“Open your mouth” I say, and Cara shakes her head, struggling to cough. Nadine again hits Cara’s back and I crouch in front of Cara and bury my fists above her belly button. I use my body weight and thrust forcefully into her, trying to assist her cough. Cara winces with each coordinated back slap and thrust, until suddenly she grunts and folds over, spitting out the remainder of the blockage. She wheezes and inhales sharply, leaning back in her chair and clutching the armrest as she breathes air freely into her lungs. “I’m okay, I can breathe” Cara manages to get out between gasps.

“Just focus on breathing” Nadine says as she gently rubs Cara’s back. I press my fingers against the side of Cara’s neck and check her pulse- it is very rapid, and her brow shines with sweat. I watch her chest rise and fall quickly, her breathing laboured. Cara’s hands shake as they clutch her chest. I hear a commotion at the door and turn to see EMS entering and relief floods my body.

I let them in and give a run down of Cara’s choking incident to one paramedic as their partner assess Cara. Nadine remains at Cara’s side, helping with answers as Cara’s voice is weak. I feel the adrenaline of the moment pass and I start to relax knowing Cara is going to be okay.

[vhshistory]

Happy 25th anniversary, A Bug's Life!