An Oklahoma family thanks a Kansas woman for saving the life of their child.

 The family was eating breakfast at a Ponca City restaurant last August when their 2 year old child picked up a quarter and put it in her mouth. The child immediately began to choke on the coin.

Fortunately, seated at a nearby table was the director of the Ark City, Kansas, Fire & EMS Director Jeri Wheatley, who was having breakfast with her husband. Wheatley noticed the child was choking and sprang into action. She grabbed the small child, told the parents that she was a paramedic, and then performed the Heimlich Maneuver on the toddler. Wheatley said the child threw up on her, but the quarter came out.

The child's family – who are members of the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma – recently traveled to Ark City to thank Wheatley and present her with the gift of a tribal blanket.