Mom Meets Hero Who Saved 2-Year-Old Son From Choking

ALSIP, IL — Mary Graham was enjoying dinner with her children at the Alsip Subway last week when her 2-year-old son, Noah, started to choke on the chips he was eating and turning blue. In a panic, Graham was trying to get the toddler out of his stroller when a man ordering food rushed over to help.

The man pulled Noah out of his stroller and was able to get the chip out of his mouth. Noah was able to breathe again but made a mess of the man’s suit. Overwhelmed, Graham took her son into the restroom to clean him up. When she went back into the restaurant to find the man to thank him, and at least pay for his lunch, he had already left.

“I feel like a horrible person because I did not get to really thank him,” Graham posted on her Facebook page. “He ended up with a baby food mess all over him and his really nice clothes.”

Graham took to Facebook to try to find the man so she could thank him properly and pay for his dry cleaning.

“If you hear a gentleman tell you this story please message me if you know this man,” Graham posted on her Facebook page. “I really need to and want to thank him properly. Today could have had a real horrible ending to the night if this man was not in the right place at the right time. Thank you so much for saving my son.”

On Sunday, Graham and her family were reunited with Patrick Kissane of St. John, Indiana, the Subway hero who saved her son’s life.

After seeing the story of the mystery Subway hero on CBS 2, Kissane’s parents called him. A friend also shared it on Kissane’s Facebook page.

According to CBS 2, surveillance video from inside the restaurant last Tuesday showed Noah choking on a Dorito and Kissane rushing over to pull the boy out of his stroller and do a Heimlich maneuver.

Kissane said aside from his father being a physical therapist, he really didn’t have any special training.

Graham and her family were reunited Sunday evening on a TV news set. She’s still rather amazed by how quickly she found Kissane.

"Being able to meet the man that saved my son's life was amazing,” Graham posted Sunday night on Facebook. “Noah took to him right away. I wish Patrick the most happiness life could ever offer him. He will always be Noah's Guardian Angel. This sweet reunion would not have been possible without the help of Facebook and the media. I thank everyone of you.”

Photo: Patrick Kissane, of St. John, Indiana, and Noah. | Mary Graham