Plainfield Teacher's Aide Saves Choking Student

A quick-thinking teacher’s aide saved a Timber Ridge Middle School sixth grader’s life on Monday, Sept. 28, according to a release from Plainfield School District 202.

Hannah O’Brien started choking on her sandwich at lunch. She crossed her arms and put her hands up to her neck when she realized she couldn’t breathe.

Hannah headed toward the nearest adult in the lunch room — special education teacher’s aide Kathy Rajcevich.

“She had this look of panic in her eyes,” said Rajcevich, who has been at Timber Ridge for almost 12 years. “I didn’t think, I just reacted.”

Rajcevich spun Hannah around, gave her the Heimlich maneuver and dislodged the food stuck in Hannah’s throat.

After a trip to the nurse’s office and a call to Hannah’s mom, Hannah headed to science class and Rajcevich was back with her students.

Hannah said she was scared when she started choking and called Rajcevich her hero.

It was Hannah’s occupational therapist mom who taught her to put her hands toward her neck to signal she was choking. Rajcevich learned the Heimlich maneuver from a health class and has used it on her own daughter.

Rajcevich advised anyone in a similar situation to stay calm and focus on the person who needs help.

“I want to thank her for saving Hannah’s life,” said Hannah’s mom, Stacey O’Brien. “I’m thankful she knew what to do and was attentive to her.”

Timber Ridge Principal Dean Kariotakis said he is absolutely proud of Rajcevich.

“She did what needed to be done and the outcome was great,” he said.