He broke my ribs and I love him for it

10:59am Thursday 14th February 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

DEVIZES childminder Jennie Brown has used the Valentine message column of the Gazette and Herald to thank her husband Steve for saving her life - twice.

Mr and Mrs Brown, who have been married 37 years, run Happy Faces Child Care from their home in Brickley Lane.

They are one of the few husband-and-wife child care teams that have both been rated outstanding by the education watchdog Ofsted.

Mrs Brown said: "I firmly believe Steve saved my life the first time when I was having our first child 35 years ago. He stayed by my bedside throughout my labour, when I nearly died."

But just before Christmas Mrs Brown was in trouble again when she choked on a mince pie during a childminders' party at St John's parish rooms in Long Street.

She said: "My throat had been very dry all day and when I choked on the mince pie, I kept trying to swallow. This made it ten times worse.

"I went to Steve for help and he started by hitting me on the back.

That didn't work, so he tried the Heimlich Manoeuvre.

That didn't work either but he wouldn't give up and kept slapping me on the back.

"By this time I was about to pass out, but Steve managed to clear the blockage. But it was very scary.

"He broke two of my ribs with the Heimlich Manoeuvre but he saved my life.

It was a very sore Christmas for me, I'm afraid.

"He is certainly my Valentine. I love him very much."

Mrs Brown has been a registered childminder for 28 years and was manager of the Heathcote House Nursery School on the Green.

Mr Brown is a retired police officer, hence his knowledge of first aid. The Heimlich Manoeuvre was invented by American thoracic surgeon Dr Henry Heimlich and involves taking the patient in a bear hug from behind and pulling a fist sharply into the diaphragm.