OAHS student recognized for 'Extraordinary Personal Action'

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Eric Burks
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  At the 2010-2011 first-quarter Osan American High School awards ceremony Nov. 22, one student was recognized not for academic achievement, but for lifesaving "Extraordinary Personal Action."

Carol Malackowski, wife of Col. Patrick Malackowski, 51st Fighter Wing commander, presented Maggie Dene, a ninth-grade student at OAHS, a certificate of recognition from the American Red Cross and a wing coin.

"On behalf of Colonel Malackowski and the wing, we're very proud of Maggie and her valiant and courageous act," she said.

This act of courage took place not in the confines of the school, or even during school hours, but while baby-sitting for the family of Joseph and Katie Chargualaf.

Maggie was watching their son Michael, as well as his younger sister, on the night of his eighth birthday, Oct. 2.

"Michael was hungry and asked if he could have a bread roll," Maggie recalled. "I gave him the roll and he went into his room ... a few moments later he came back out and appeared to be choking, so I did the Heimlich [maneuver]."

Maggie asked if he was choking, but he didn't respond and was turning pale, with blue around the lips. She sprang into action, and after three thrusts, the bread was out and Michael was breathing again.

She learned the Heimlich maneuver in school from her fifth-grade Physical Education teacher, but said she'd never been in a situation before where she'd had to use it.

It was one of the first times Maggie had even baby-sat for the family, yet she responded quickly and calmly, then called Mr. Chargualaf to let them know what had happened and that Michael was fine.

Mr. Chargualaf said, "Our regular babysitter wasn't available and Maggie had been referred to us. We knew she'd passed the Red Cross babysitting course ... as it turns out, she'd passed it three years prior and still remembered the training."

"She called and told me, 'I just had to perform the Heimlich on your son ... don't worry, he's ok, you don't have to come home.'" And she was calm like it was just another day; it was very impressive," he said.

"My first thought after that call," said Mr. Chargualaf, "was I couldn't believe my son was in a life-threatening situation and a 14-year-old girl just saved his life."

Mrs. Chargualaf said she called back, and Maggie reassured her that Michael was doing fine, that his breathing was normal and he wasn't pale any more.

"Being a nurse, I always thought that I would be the one who would be home if an emergency situation happened with my family," said Mrs. Chargualaf. "Maggie is our guardian angel ... she was there on that night because she was meant to be there."

"Our son is here, and he got to celebrate the rest of his eighth birthday," she said. "Our family is truly appreciative and thankful for everything she did for us that night."

Since that night, Maggie has served as the family's primary baby sitter, a role she enjoys.

"Michael and I are really good friends," said Maggie. "Every time I go over there he even helps me with my math homework."

Mrs. Chargualaf said, "I feel completely comfortable that if another emergency situation were to happen, she would know exactly what to do. She's our 'number one.'"

Number one, with an official "Certificate of Recognition for Extraordinary Personal Action for utilizing Red Cross lifesaving skills to save a human life."