Lethal lettuce

So I was at lunch today with some of my co-workers, enjoying a nice salad when a rogue piece of lettuce slipped down my throat before I was able to chew it. It didn't feel like it was that big of a piece so I thought I would just be able to swallow it whole. No such luck. I tried to swallow and it just wouldn't go down. I tried coughing and clearing my throat and that wasn't working either. At this point I'm starting to panic and very little air is getting into my lungs. All of my co-workers are asking if I'm ok, do I need some water, do you need help? I nodded yes that I needed help and they all kind of looked at each other like, "ok, who's going to be the one to do the heimlich?"

I'm still in my chair panicing, thinking I'm going to pass out and die from a piece of lettuce of all things. As these thoughts are going through my head, I started gagging. Right as one of the girls was getting up to help me the piece of lettuce finally came loose and I felt the sweet relief of air rushing into my lungs. I've never been so grateful for that gag reflex or for my ability to breath. It was a very scary moment and I am so glad that it was not worse than what it was.