10-year-old helps save choking grandmother

By: Greg Phillips | Dothan Eagle
Published: February 13, 2012

A 10-year-old girl helped save her grandmother from choking to death Sunday.

Cloe Burdette was the only other person in the room when Mary Burdette, her grandmother, began choking on a corn dog.

“She was eating a corn dog while I was watching a TV show,” Cloe said. “I turned to ask Maw if she liked the show, and her face was pitch black, her mouth was open and her eyes were really big. She couldn’t cough. I thought she was gonna die.”

Mary had the same fears.

“I got choked,” she said. “I was absolutely choking to death.”

Cloe immediately screamed for help, identifying the problem.

Within moments, Cloe’s mother, also named Mary, had grabbed the elder Mary, applied the Heimlich Maneuver and dislodged the food.

“Everyone keeps telling me if it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t be here anymore,” Cloe said. “She’s like my best friend. I love her so much.”

Mary has no doubt of that love.

“She saved my life,” she said. “It means more than I could ever tell you.”