Boy Choking On Candy Saved By 'Miracle' Stranger

MOKENA, IL — It was supposed to be a quick run to the grocery store and back home for the Theodorou brothers and their grandmother. Nothing out of the ordinary. But Saturday's otherwise-routine grocery trip would leave the impression of a lifetime, and the family wondering just who their guardian angel was that day.

Georgie Theodorou, 9, of Mokena was eating some candy while the family shopped at the Jewel-Osco on 179th Street and Wolf Road in Orland Park at around 5 p.m. Suddenly, he began to choke. Fear and panic washed over the boy and his family. His grandmother, Kiki Gatses, grabbed Georgie and tried to dislodge the piece of candy that was preventing him from breathing. But try as she might, the candy would not come free from Georgie's throat.

"He was wheezing and couldn't get it out," said Georgie's older brother, Demetri Theodorou, 11. "I was thinking, if he died, then [my mother] would never see him again."

Staff at Jewel-Osco made a plea over the loudspeakers for someone, anyone, to come help the choking boy. That's when the mystery woman appeared.

"At that moment, my whole world just went limp," Gatses said. "I screamed, and then the woman came. [Georgie's] face was turning red. He couldn't talk. He couldn't do anything other than try to gasp."

"The lady came and asked, 'Is he choking?'" Demetri said. "She did [the Heimlich maneuver] four times, and then, out of nowhere it just popped out."

The candy came free and Georgie was safe, though everyone was shaken up by the experience.

"He was still scared and crying and thinking the candy was still in his throat and he was going to die," Gatses said. "So I'm trying to comfort him — but I'm still not myself, so I didn't even get to ask the woman her name or anything."

The mystery woman quietly slipped away as Jewel-Osco staff rushed in to give Georgie water and see if there was anything else they could do to comfort him. After taking a moment to collect themselves after the harrowing experience, Gatses gathered up the brothers and told them it was time to leave.

But then, as if saving Georgie's life wasn't enough, the mystery woman reappeared for one more act of kindness.

"And we're walking to leave, and I'm shaking, I had all three [brothers] with me, and she came back and gave [Georgie] $5," Gatses said. "She said, 'Here, go buy soft candy so you don't choke.'"

And that was the last interaction the family had with Georgie's guardian angel. But Georgie's parents said they hope they can find her and thank her for her quick action that saved their family from tragedy.

The family has posted in multiple Facebook groups asking for help in identifying the woman, but so far they have not been successful. Family members describe the woman as approximately 5 feet, 6 inches tall with reddish brown hair, middle aged and white.

"We just want to meet her and thank her," said Georgie's father, Andy Theodorou. "Thanks for saving his life. We just want to express our gratitude."

"She's our miracle," said Georgie's mother, Stephanie Theodorou. "She's a godsend."

Georgie was still a little shaken up following the incident, but he did want to make sure he got one message out to the "miracle" woman.

"Thank you."

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