LARKIN TOWNSHIP, Mich.: A Midland County woman is crediting a cable television technician with saving her 2-year-old grandson’s life.
“I tear up just thinking about it,” Debbie Florey of Larkin Township told MLive.com. “If he had not been there at that specific time, my grandson wouldn’t have made it. He saved his life, I have no doubt.”
It all started shortly after noon on July 8 when Ken Tester, who works for Aero Communications, was installing a cable box at Florey’s home.
“We were standing in kitchen discussing family, just visiting,” Florey told MLive.com. “They put a cable box on top of the microwave for the TV in the kitchen. Originally there was a candy jar that sat there.”
When Florey moved the jar, her grandson Silas Florey reached inside, grabbed a peppermint disc and put it in his mouth, she said.
“I don’t know how long he had it in his mouth, but I looked over and he was choking,” she said. “I grabbed him and slapped him on the back, but that didn’t work. Just as I was hollering, `Someone call 911,’ without asking Ken for help, he jumped right in there, took the baby and put his finger in his throat.”
Tester dislodged the candy from Silas’ throat and the boy vomited.
“All I could do was hug the little kid,” the 39-year-old Tester said. “We took a little bit of a pause. I held him for a little bit, got him calmed down.”
The father of four said children do not understand dangers they face.
“It really tugged on my heart, I guess,” he said. “It’s more like a fatherly or natural instinct to jump in and try to help.”
Joseph Massimino, Tester’s operations manager, said Aero Communications planned to give Tester a gift card for his actions.
“I’m glad this guy is getting some recognition for what he did,” Florey said. “He deserves it.” -AP
