story7952.xml
Title
story7952.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-18
911DA Story: Story
September 11th, 2001 was the fifth day of kindergarten for my 5 year daughter. I was 7 months pregnant with my son. After the first plane hit the Trade Center, my Mom called to tell me to turn on the TV. We assumed it was a tragic accident. However, as we watched on horror as the second plane hit, it became apparent this was more than an accident. Terrible thoughts about the potential loss of life raced through my mnd. I then thought of my beloved brother Mike. He is a crew chief for the Port Authority Tunnel and Bridge agents at the Holland Tunnel. He won an award in '93 for being one of the first emergency services personnel on the scene when the WTC was bombed. I frantically called him over and over on the cell phone and finally got in touch with him. I was so nervous that I made him promise to call me every few hours so I could be sure he was safe. He worked many, many hours in the next few weeks, without pay and sometimes 40 hours in a row in the rescue/recovery operation. He is my hero-one of those people who runs to help while others run away. He lost many friends at work and a dear friend- a beautiful 40 year old woman from Australia who worked for Cantor-Fitzgerald for a mere two months.
As I walked to meet the school bus, I was struck by what a beautiful, quiet day it was-no planes and beautiful blue skies-so incongruous with the horrific events that had just transpired. I was so relieved to hug my daughter as she arrived home from school. She had heard that planes had crashed into the Trade Center and was very worried about Uncle Mike. It helped her to make cookies, light candles, and deliver supplies to our town's relief efforts. I didn't want her to feel helpless, although that is how the rest of us felt. I was sad that my son would be born into a world that had changed so much. My heart still aches for all those who lost so much, especially those women who delivered babies who would never know their dads.
United We Stand, Theresa Ryan
As I walked to meet the school bus, I was struck by what a beautiful, quiet day it was-no planes and beautiful blue skies-so incongruous with the horrific events that had just transpired. I was so relieved to hug my daughter as she arrived home from school. She had heard that planes had crashed into the Trade Center and was very worried about Uncle Mike. It helped her to make cookies, light candles, and deliver supplies to our town's relief efforts. I didn't want her to feel helpless, although that is how the rest of us felt. I was sad that my son would be born into a world that had changed so much. My heart still aches for all those who lost so much, especially those women who delivered babies who would never know their dads.
United We Stand, Theresa Ryan
Collection
Citation
“story7952.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 12, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/15003.