It’s no secret that Midway staff are always willing to go the extra mile, and that’s exactly what Lindsey Pick, fourth grade teacher at South Bosque Elementary School, did last week by saving the life of a fellow teacher.
Lindsey and South Bosque special education teacher Paula Farmer were having lunch and celebrating Lindsey’s birthday in the teacher’s lounge on Tuesday, Sept. 13.
“We were, of course, laughing and talking,” Paula said. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have been wolfing down my salad.”
Just as Paula was taking a bite, she coughed and started choking.
“Lindsey kept saying, ‘I don’t know what to do’ as she came behind me and performed the Heimlich,” Paula said. “She wrapped her arms around me and said, ‘I don’t know what to do, but I’m going to give you the Heimlich. I’m so sorry!’”
Thanks to Lindsey’s swift action, Paula’s fried wonton went flying.
“Lindsey kept apologizing and asking if she did it right,” Paula said. South Bosque Elementary nurse Erin Dethrow reassured her saying, “if she is breathing, you did it right.”
“Lindsey was obviously scared for me and scared that she didn’t know what to do,” Paula said. “That did not slow her down at all. She stood up, did what needed to be done and I am alive because of it. She is quite literally my hero.”
“I feel so incredibly blessed to have been at the right place at the right time and so thankful Paula is okay,” Lindsey said. “I don’t believe I deserve the recognition because I feel like anyone in my shoes would have done the same thing, but I am truly grateful.”
For heroically performing the Heimlich maneuver to save her colleague, Midway ISD is proud to honor Lindsey with the Midway Extra Mile Hero Award, which is presented to individuals who go above and beyond in service to their school community. Lindsey was nominated for the Extra Mile Hero Award by Paula, who was in attendance when Lindsey received the award at the MISD Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 20.
