story2010.xml
Title
story2010.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-10
911DA Story: Story
I've thought long and hard before contributing my story. After all, I am not an American and I was safe here in Australia at the time of the attacks. What finally made my decision for me was the fact that the events of September 11 have scarcely been far from my mind since.
On September 11th I was in hospital. I remember being very uncomfortable at the time that I didn't have a room to myself (how pathetic this worry seems now) and that I had to share with three others. You know how it is in hospital. You get woken up at some ridiculously early hour. At 5.45am our time I turned on the television. I wasn't really awake and at first I thought what I was seeing was some kind of film or show. Unfortunately it soon became apparent this was all too real. Of course I was seeing it somewhat later because of the time difference.
I have never been so grateful to have not been alone. We were all crying, suddenly our concerns seemed petty and ridiculous. The doctors and nurses were coming in and watching the television in disbelief, standing there for long periods at a time transfixed. And that was how the day went and it seemed to go on forever. Lying in bed, watching the coverage and tears, plenty of tears. Later anger as they showed coverage of the jubilation in the Middle East. Incomprehensible to every single one of us.
Although this tragedy was not ours directly, it has affected us all the same. Life changed for all of us on this day. I have read the stories of those brave men and women who risked their life to rescue those from the WTC. I have read the stories of people who lost loved ones in NY, The Pentagon and Pensylvania. I have read the stories of those who were in any of these places as these events occured. I have read the stories of their fellow Americans who, as I did, watched all of this horror unfold on television whilst knowing that they, purely by virtue of being American, were targeted. And I have seen America stand tall in the aftermath. Be proud.
On September 11th I was in hospital. I remember being very uncomfortable at the time that I didn't have a room to myself (how pathetic this worry seems now) and that I had to share with three others. You know how it is in hospital. You get woken up at some ridiculously early hour. At 5.45am our time I turned on the television. I wasn't really awake and at first I thought what I was seeing was some kind of film or show. Unfortunately it soon became apparent this was all too real. Of course I was seeing it somewhat later because of the time difference.
I have never been so grateful to have not been alone. We were all crying, suddenly our concerns seemed petty and ridiculous. The doctors and nurses were coming in and watching the television in disbelief, standing there for long periods at a time transfixed. And that was how the day went and it seemed to go on forever. Lying in bed, watching the coverage and tears, plenty of tears. Later anger as they showed coverage of the jubilation in the Middle East. Incomprehensible to every single one of us.
Although this tragedy was not ours directly, it has affected us all the same. Life changed for all of us on this day. I have read the stories of those brave men and women who risked their life to rescue those from the WTC. I have read the stories of people who lost loved ones in NY, The Pentagon and Pensylvania. I have read the stories of those who were in any of these places as these events occured. I have read the stories of their fellow Americans who, as I did, watched all of this horror unfold on television whilst knowing that they, purely by virtue of being American, were targeted. And I have seen America stand tall in the aftermath. Be proud.
Collection
Citation
“story2010.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 16, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/10304.