Joel Berger, a child, swallowed a drawer knob. Includes mother Tessie Berger. Joel Berger, age 2, with his mother, Tessie Berger, at the Alameda County Hospital where the child was treated for a scratched throat. He swallowed a drawer knob, his mother shook him by the heels, then set him right side up after dislodging the knob, reached in and pulled the thing out. The kid got a free ride to hospital anyhow for throat painting.