How quick would you react to help a choking child? For one lunch lady in Killeen, she was quick enough to actually save a child's life.
Sixth grader, Amber Sales, is quite popular in the lunch room, especially with lunch lady Mary Barrera.
"It's always in my mind and then I start crying because I saw her again when she comes in the line you know or when she's eating with her friends," said Mary.
Amber eats lunch in the cafeteria everyday at Rancier Middle School, but one week ago Amber was eating a piece of bread. "I was in a rush and then I kind of ate it too fast and a big chunk got stuck in my throat," said Amber.
So Amber says she started to jump up and down.
"And when I saw her I thought she was playing but when I saw her head down I said this girl, she's choking," said Mary.
"I was thinking that I might die," said Amber.
But hanks to first aid classes offered by the school every year and safety signs that are posted in the cafeteria, Mary says she knew exactly what do next.
"Come on mija, come on, come on, come on and I pushed it one, two, and she don't do nothing so I try again I said come on mija and I was hitting her like this," said Mary as she demonstrated giving Amber the heimlich maneuver.
The piece of bread came out, and now Amber credits Mary for saving her life, and can only imagine what would have happened if she didn't help.
"I would have died," said Amber, "and my dad would start crying."
In all her 15 years of working the cafeteria, Mary has never saved a child's life and can't help but get emotional whenever she sees Amber.
And thanks to Mary, Amber was able to celebrate her 13th birthday on Monday.
