[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 22, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E676]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING BRENDA VERNATTI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 22, 2008

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a heroic 
educator who saved the life of one of her students a few weeks ago.
  In the blink of an eye, a moment of levity and fun became a moment of 
terror, as fifth grader Kelci Ottwell, who had been at the lunch table, 
laughing at a friend's joke, suddenly found herself choking and unable 
to breathe. Gasping for air, Kelci moved toward her principal, Brenda 
Vernatti for help. Unable to speak, Kelci reached out for Ms. 
Vernatti's arm to get her attention.
  Immediately sensing Kelci's distress, Ms. Vernatti swung into action 
and began to perform the Heimlich maneuver, trying in vain four times 
to dislodge the small piece of pizza that was by now causing Kelci's 
face to turn purple. Finally, on her fifth attempt, Kelci coughed up 
the pizza and began to breathe again.
  Kelci's mother, Melissa, told the local newspaper, ``She's my hero. I 
want the world to know she saved my baby's life.''
  Brenda Vernatti has served the Alton School District for 22 years, 
touching hundreds if not thousands of young lives. But just a few weeks 
ago, she went above and beyond the already lofty call of duty of an 
educator to become a life-saving hero.
  Every day, our Nation is blessed to have heroic citizens ready to 
spring into action to help another in distress. Today, I have the honor 
of recognizing Brenda Vernatti, who has dedicated her life to helping 
others attain their goals through education, and who, in that blink of 
an eye, reminded us all of the heroes in our midst.

                          ____________________