Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino opens up about son's choking scare to save lives
A family dinner at Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino's house took a terrifying turn when his 2-and-a-half-year-old son started choking on a piece of gnocchi.
(KTLA) -- A family dinner at Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino's house took a terrifying turn when his 2-year-old son started choking on a piece of gnocchi.
"It was a normal dinner at 'The Situation' household," he explained on the KTLA 5 Morning News. "On Friday nights, it's pizza and pasta night, and we were having pasta and pizza. He didn't chew his food. It slipped down his throat, and he started to choke."
Immediately, Sorrentino and his wife Lauren sprung into action to save their son, Romeo, grabbing a device designed to help remove airway obstructions.
"I went to address the situation as quickly as possible and she went a separate way to grab the anti-choking device in the kitchen ... we were prepared," he continued.
It's worth noting that neither the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Red Cross nor the American Heart Association recommend the use of anti-choking suction devices, according to Consumer Reports.
“The data indicates chest thrusts, back slaps, and abdominal thrusts are feasible and effective for relieving severe foreign body airway obstructions," an AHA spokesperson said. "The AHA does not endorse or recommend the use of devices to remove foreign body airway obstructions.”
The "Jersey Shore" star later shared a video recorded by the family's Ring camera of the incident to his 3.4 million Instagram followers.
"I posted this video -- thank God everything worked out -- to spread the word to other parents," he said in the post earlier this month.
Sorrentino and his wife also have a 1-year-old daughter, Mia Bella, and are expecting a third child, another daughter, in March.
"I know by spreading this type of information, I'm helping other people about what to do and what not to do in a crisis."
Over the past six years, the GTL (gym, tan, laundry) enthusiast has shifted his focus to helping others.
Last year, he released his memoir "Reality Check: Making the Best of the Situation-How I Overcame Addiction, Loss and Prison." The explosive tell-all pulled back the curtain on his time on the MTV reality series. He also got candid about his struggles with sobriety and opened up about his time in prison for tax evasion.
On Christmas Eve of 2023, he celebrated eight years of sobriety.
"I feel that I'm breaking down barriers and doors and saving lives by sharing my story," he said proudly. The book is currently at the top of Amazon's Best Sellers list.
Sorrentino's journey has been an emotional one, and he held back tears when he revealed some of the darkest moments in his life to his "Jersey Shore" castmates.
By opening up about his personal rock bottom, Sorrentino hopes it can help others face theirs.
"If 'The Situation' can do it, anyone else can do it. This is why I shared my deepest, darkest secrets," he explained.
"Not only have I been on TV for 15 years, everybody thought they knew 'The Situation,' but once I released this book they were like 'Oh my God! I can't put the book down.' By me doing that I feel that I'm saving lives. I'm making a difference in this journey we call life. I'm so proud, in my feels, that it's a bestseller now."
His story is also opening more doors. He revealed there are talks for a movie about the book as well.