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Omaha man saves own life with at-home tracheotomy

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By The Associated Press

Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 06:09:10 pm CDT

OMAHA — An Omaha man struggling to breath used a steak knife to perform an at-home tracheotomy.

Steve Wilder says he thought he was going to die when he awoke one night last week and couldn’t breath.

Wilder says he didn’t call 911 because he didn’t think help would arrive in time. So, the 55-year-old says, he got a steak knife from the kitchen and made a small hole in his throat, allowing air to gush in.

Wilder suffered from throat cancer and related breathing problems several years ago. About that time, he had an episode where he couldn’t breath because his air passages swelled shut. He says that’s what happened this time around.

Doctors don’t expect Wilder to suffer any adverse affects from the tracheotomy once it’s healed.


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j wrote on May 8, 2008 7:26 pm:
" WOW!The courage to act! "

Chris wrote on May 8, 2008 8:37 pm:
" Way to go man! That takes some cajones. That, my friends is an example of a survivor. "

Joe King of course wrote on May 8, 2008 9:48 pm:
" wow. thats amazing!! way to go...just dont say it to loud or it will be come the norm and the insurance companies will be expecting us all to do it!!! "

Yikes wrote on May 9, 2008 7:27 am:
" He told you he was hardcore... "

Fish outta water wrote on May 9, 2008 11:03 am:
" I've got respiratory problems. I don't know if I could do what he did to save his life. I hope I never have to but if need be in the future I will remember his courage and act. "