alissa lujan, BSN, RN, CION

Alissa and I were covering the Cultural Diversity Fair for Shared Leadership, and during the evening session we were talking with staff, with our backs to each other. I bit into a berry and it caught in my throat. I never felt panicked and kept trying to move it but couldn't. I heard a small squeak come from my throat and Alissa tapped my back and asked if I was okay. She turned quickly and told me to stand up, she performed the Heimlich and after 3 attempts the berry finally dislodged. There were several other nurses' standing facing me and none noticed. I never worried until an hour or so later when packing up the conference room, I was telling another staff member what happened, and Alissa stopped me and said "You Were Purple"! It's a blessing that I was at work that night with Alissa. I knew she was an amazing person, now I know she is a truly stellar nurse, too.