Vivian Fakhoury
November 2023
Vivian
Fakhoury
,
RN
ATC - Bed & Chair Unit
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston
,
TX
United States

 

 

 

Within five to seven seconds, Nurse Vivian Fakhoury, RN, OCN, came into my room. She immediately told me she wanted to execute the Heimlich maneuver and if I understood.
I was a patient receiving infusion therapy at the MD Anderson Cancer Center Mays Clinic and had just been served lunch at approximately 1:45 p.m. As I was eating my lunch, I choked on my food (meat and bread) which I could not dislodge. I immediately jumped up, and my wife ran to the door, screaming that I was choking. Within five to seven seconds, Nurse Vivian Fakhoury, RN, OCN, came into my room. She immediately told me she wanted to execute the Heimlich maneuver and if I understood. I told her yes, and she got behind me, joined her arms and hands together around me, and put pressure below my rib cage. On the second try, she stated that I needed to raise my hands above my head, which I did, and she gave me a third forceful upward movement, which dislodged my food. Nurse Vivian was friendly and was well-versed in the Heimlich maneuver. She stayed for a few minutes and asked if I was okay, and I said yes. She came back two more times during the afternoon to check on me before I left. I certainly appreciate all of the kindness I have been shown by all of the staff at the MD Anderson Cancer Center Mays Clinic, but I feel like the way Nurse Vivian reacted and helped me obtain my breath again and saved me from possible loss of life was outstanding. I was able to speak to her several times, as I stated, and I feel that she deserves the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.