story20582.xml

story20582.xml

born-digital

story

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2006-09-11

As I reflect back that day I can't help but think of the big question "What if?" I was to leave for NYC that day. I was setting out on my first travel assignment as an ER Nurse. I was going to do a mini New York vacation before heading to Maine for my assignment. I am plagued with thoughts of what would have happened if I would have left a day sooner or if things happened a day later. Where would I have been? What would I have done if I would have been there... in NYC? Since then I have visited all sites... WTC, Shanksville, and the Pentagon. The WTC in Decmeber of 2001 was a smoldering mess of debris that sent a stench through the streets that if I close my eyes I can still smell. When the world starts to complain and such about America's actions since then, and I find myself questioning things I close my eyes and take myself back to September 11 and my walk in NYC on December 17th. I get chills and then remember that for those people lost we MUST go to the ends of the Earth to stop anything else from ever happening again.
I have dedicated myself to working with the Disaster prepardness in my hospital and the plans we would have in place if.... We drill and plan for a day that I hope never comes. But that is my way of dealing and praying that we will be ready to handle whatever the world may throw at us here in Fort Worth, Texas.

Always Remembering-
Jennifer Nelson RN