It is a situation no parent wants to find themselves in.
Reality TV star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino has shared a harrowing incident on Instagram where he and his wife, Lauren, saved their two-year-old son, Romeo, from choking on a piece of pasta. Check out the terrifying moment below:
The Jersey Shore alum posted Ring camera footage of the terrifying ordeal, highlighting how quick thinking and action were essential in saving their child's life.
The video shows Mike, 41, and Lauren, 39, seated at their dinner table with their children, Romeo and one-year-old Mia Bella, during what should have been a routine family meal. However, things took a terrifying turn when Romeo began to struggle and showed signs of distress, prompting an immediate response from his parents.
In his Instagram post, Sorrentino described the incident as "THE SCARIEST MOMENT OF OUR LIVES".
He explained that Romeo had choked on his favorite pasta pesto gnocchi and had hunched over, unable to breathe. Mike and Lauren's quick thinking and composed reaction were crucial in dislodging the obstructing piece of food from their son's airway, ultimately saving him.
"It was an ordinary dinner at the Situations when suddenly without notice Romeo started choking on his favorite pasta pesto gnocchi!! He hunched over and wasn’t breathing," Sorrentino wrote.
Sorrentino expressed pride in how he and his wife managed the crisis, highlighting their ability to remain calm and focused during the emergency.
"I am so proud of how my wife and I didn’t panic, didn’t hesitate and eventually dislodged the food which was blocking [the] airway and saved his life," he wrote, before adding: "I love my family with all my heart and am so grateful things worked out."
As a result of this frightening experience, Sorrentino revealed that he now plans to take CPR lessons, further stressing the importance of being prepared for such situations. He also mentioned that they would temporarily refrain from giving Romeo his favorite gnocchi.
In response to Sorrentino's Instagram post, several of his Jersey Shore co-stars expressed support.
Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi commented: "So scary! Poor Romeo! You guys are wonderful parents," while Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola conveyed her relief, stating: "Omg my heart, so glad he's okay!"
Jenni "JWoww" Farley joined in, saying: "Thank goodness everything is okay."
In a reply to a fan's comment, Sorrentino revealed that his wife had used a Dechoker device in order to help Romeo dislodge the gnocchi - a device that many parents hailed as a "must-have".
Mike and Lauren, who married in November 2018, are currently expecting their third child. They shared their joyous news in September 2023, revealing that baby number three is due in March 2024. The couple welcomed their first child, Romeo, in May 2021, and their second child, Mia Bella, arrived in January 2023.