Dinner turned into an emergency

On Aug. 17, the Petri family sat down to burnt ends, one of Emmett's favorite foods. The 7-year-old started choking on a piece of meat and lost consciousness.

Dad started compressions

His father performed the Heimlich maneuver while Sherri Petri called 911. When Emmett went limp, his father, who has military CPR training, began chest compressions.

“He went unconscious, and when that happened, they instructed us to start CPR.”

A voice on the line

911 dispatcher Angie Reslie stayed with the family through the wait, talking them down while paramedics raced to the house.

“I get it, take a couple deep breaths for me, we're going to get through this.”

No pulse on arrival

Paramedics reached the home in about four minutes. Emmett was not breathing and had no pulse, with his father still doing compressions.

“He wasn't breathing and he had no pulse. The father was continuing compressions.”

Back from the edge

Fire Lt. Cory Polidore cleared Emmett's airway and began ventilating him. His pulse and breathing returned before a helicopter flew him to Johns Hopkins.

Home, and back to say thanks

Emmett spent about 48 hours in pediatric intensive care and recovered fully. On Monday his family returned to the Galesville Fire Station, where the responders received the Gift of Life Award.

“It is beyond words the gratitude that I have.”