story5931.xml

story5931.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

I have a very dear friend who lives an works in NYC, my first concern was of his safety. I found him home and crying, his wifes sister worked in that building. I immediately drove into the city to be with him, as she was a very positive influence in my life several years ago. When I arrived in NYC, I realised I still had on my uniform from work, I am a nurse, it served me well, as I was allowed to join the many who had volunteered. I worked in a near by hospital for nearly two days straight. I was asked to go home when I fainted from lack of sleep and food. I was driven home, on the ride I slept, and dreamed all of this was just a nightmare. When I woke back home, 35 miles from the city, I remembered it was reality. I found that our hospitals were calling for volunteers. I showered, ate a sandwich and went back to help. All I could do, and still it was not enough.
Several days later they found my friend. One of her legs was completely gone, the other was partically gone, she had managed to drag herself down several flights of stairs, before she bled to death.
These terriorists took her legs, and ultimately her life, but not her soul or her spirit, for it lives on in many Americans. I feel it deep within me each and every day.