Thanks to the experts within
Meridian Pediatric Network,
2-year-old Julia Occhipinti is
back to playing her favorite
tunes on her toy piano.
Specialists Solve a Big Problem
Caused by a Tiny Peanut
“
If anything happens to
my children, I’d rather them
go to K. Hovnanian
Children’s Hospital than
anywhere else.
”
­– Blythe Occhipinti
The December morning in
2010 started off like any other. Blythe
Occhipinti dropped her son off at school
and then returned to her Manchester
home. Her daughter, Julia, then almost
2, asked for her favorite snack, peanuts,
which her mother broke into small pieces.
That’s when the day took a frightening
turn. “She was standing right next to
me in the kitchen,” Blythe says. “The
next thing I knew, she started choking,
vomiting, and gagging.”
A piece of peanut had become lodged
in Julia’s windpipe, blocking her airway.
4 Meridian KidViews • Fall 2011 • KHovnanianChildrensHospital.com
Fortunately, quick action by her mother
and a trip to K. Hovnanian Children’s
Hospital at Jersey Shore University
Medical Center soon had Julia breathing
easy again.
An Emergency Call
When Julia choked, Blythe sprang into
action, giving her daughter the infant
Heimlich maneuver. She’d learned this
lifesaving procedure at Jersey Shore.
After Julia caught her breath, Blythe
called 911, and an ambulance took them
to the nearest hospital. There, doctors
Samuel H. Engel, M.D.
Board certified in
Otolaryngology
Neptune | 732-280-7855
took an X-ray of Julia’s chest, but didn’t
see anything.
This isn’t uncommon, says Samuel
Engel, M.D., a pediatric otolaryngologist
at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital.
Bits of food or small toys in children’s
throats or windpipes often don’t show up
on X-rays.
However, even if children can breathe,
it’s critical to remove these invaders. “If
objects are retained in the windpipe and
lungs, children can develop a severe case of
pneumonia,” Dr. Engel says.
Listening Closely to
Pinpoint Problem
Julia still didn’t seem like herself the next
day, so Blythe took her to the pediatrician.
He checked Julia’s breathing and sent her
immediately to the Pediatric Emergency
Department at The Children’s Hospital.
That’s where the family met Dr. Engel.
After hearing Blythe’s story, he suspected
some peanut was still stuck. He proposed
that Julia undergo a bronchoscopy, the
only way to find out for sure.
“We go through the mouth and
examine the breathing tube and lungs
with a special telescope. Then, we remove
the object during the same procedure,”
Dr. Engel says.
There are no incisions, but the process
requires extraordinary skill. That’s
why children are often transferred to
K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital by
ambulance from other facilities.
“We have small bronchoscopes that fit
children’s bodies, anesthesiologists who
can safely manage the child while he or
she is asleep, and delicate cameras and
instruments, which give us the capability
to remove a small object without harming
a child’s lungs,” Dr. Engel says.
With her family’s approval, Julia headed
to the operating room. Minutes later,
Dr. Engel emerged with good news —
he was able to remove the piece of peanut.
He gave it to Blythe in a surgical container
as a memento.
Avoiding Choking Hazards
Julia went home the next day with no
lingering symptoms. To prevent future
choking experiences, the problem peanut
is the only one in the Occhipinti home,
and popcorn is banned, too. Dr. Engel
also recommends avoiding hot dogs and
watching children closely to make sure
they don’t run while eating.
Blythe hopes other families don’t have
to go through what she did. But based
on her experience, she doesn’t hesitate
to recommend K. Hovnanian Children’s
Hospital for such scary situations. “If
anything happens to my children, I would
rather have them go there than anywhere
else,” she says. ★
Visit Our Web Site to Find a Specialist
With seven surgical programs and more than 100 pediatric specialists
at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital, you can be confident that your
child is in the best of hands. Find a specialist who fits your needs at
KHovnanianChildrensHospital.com.
MOMS
Refresh Your
Relationship
Research shows that couples
who are satisfied in their marriages
are healthier overall and better
able to manage life stresses.
What are the ingredients needed
for a marriage to be fulfilling and
long-lasting?
John Gumina, M.D., of Jersey
Shore University Medical Center,
highlights the key features found
more often in happy marriages:
• Displays of affection — the wish
to nurture a relationship, be
romantic, and show appreciation
• A spirit of commitment and
teamwork — the desire to make
a relationship work together
whatever problems come up
• A shared sense of humor —
the ability to use humor as a way
to handle conflicts
• Flexibility — the understanding
that marriages and partners do
not stay the same over time and
respecting those changes
• Acceptance — some qualities in
partners may change, but some
may not. “Marriages work best
when partners accept even the
things they don’t like about each
other,” says Dr. Gumina.
Friendship, the ability to forgive,
and communication — one of the
most popular and important skills —
also play a role.
What’s your take on keeping a
relationship fresh? Share your
tips with other local moms by
joining the conversation at
MeridianMomtourage.com.
K Hovnanian Children’s Hospital 5