nmah5626.xml

nmah5626.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-09-01

I was working day shift in the Neonatal ICU of the University of Maryland Medical Center when my husband called to tell me about the first plane hitting the WTC. At the time he thought it had been a small plane. As he was telling me about it the second plane hit as he watched it on tv. Suddenly it seemed everyone new at once on the unit. A little while later the plane hit the pentagon, where one of the RN's husband was working that day. Another RN's cousin worked at the WTC. A tv accross the hall, a radio and an internet connection in our room supplied us with information while we worked.

It struck me as I worked that the little babies in that room had no connection with what was going on. As one baby dropped its heart rate and we struggled to give it oxygen and get its heart rate up that regardless of what was going on in the world my world and that little baby's world was the same. I was very sad, angry and fearful about what was going to happen next, but I had the comfort of being able to help another human being come back from the brink of death toward life.

Baltimore went into crisis mode and streets were shut down, buildings were evacuated, and we learned about the 4th plane going down in Pennsylvania. There were so many rumors about various targets in DC and Baltimore. We thought we might be at the hospital for a very long time. As the day went on the confusion started to clear. The husband and the cousin were safe. We weren't required to stay at the hospital. The police were letting essential traffic through.

Driving home that night, it seemed everyone was being uncharacteristically courteous to each other. Traffic levels were way down. And there were no planes flying overhead. Of course I could not unglue myself from the television that night until very late. All I could do was cry and talk to friends and relatives. I can only imagine the agony people directly involved in the situation were feeling. The reactions from certain parts of the world were sickening, and maddening, but for the most part I think most of the world pulled together that day in grief and sympathy for all those killed and injured and for those that loved them.

Yes it has changed. I definitely did not realize how vulnerable America is to terrorism until that day. The attack in 1993 at the WTC was a hazy memory, but I guess because it wasn't as shattering I didn't think about it much. And attacks overseas although horrible didn't make me feel fearful. The bombing of the Federal building in Oklahoma was horrible as well but it seemed like such an isolated incident.

9/11 changed the way I feel about the world and America. It's made me learn about the world, especially the islamic terrorist activities. It's made me think about evil versus good not just in abstract ways but in practical ways. Yes it's nice to understand your enemy but I think Reagan had it right - 'peace through strength'. It's true, freedom isn't free.

My life has changed because I value my country more now than ever, and I deeply appreciate those who defend it.

In the midst of the horror and terror, there were people who ran into hell to try and save others. So many of them perished while desparately trying to help others. So no matter how much evil there is in the world, there is still overwhelming goodness and good people and a God who loves us inspite of our failings.

We should remember all those who died, who were injured, and who suffered and try our best to prevent it from happening again. We have already liberated 2 countries from tyranny. We should remember why we need to stand up to terrorists and their allies.

Yes we fly an American flag every day. I have never been more proud of my country than I am today, because since 9/11 I have learned how important America is to human freedom and human dignity in the world. No we are not perfect. No country is. As a country we offer the best opportunity to live free in the world. As a country we offer the best hope to others in the world to achieve liberty.