story5716.xml

story5716.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I have 5 children and never thought that another day in my life would stand out as much as the day that each of my children came into my life - until 9/11/01. That day I had my entire family in my van, my husband and 4 of my children. I was 3 months pregnant and getting IV treatments for dehydration due to the pregnancy and disbility from work. I was driving my husband to work and dropping the kids off to day care and the schools that the older children attended. It was just an oridinary day until as I was driving on one of the busier streets heading downtown in Ft Wayne and our entire wheel flew off of our vehicle at 8:14am. The tire, rim and all. Luckily I was in the far left lane on a one way street and I was able to slow down and pull off on to a side street. No one was hurt - at least no one in my situation. I didn't realize until after my mother came to get us and dropped everyone off that there was something going on. Until I arrived home and turned on the television did I realize the nightmare that was happening in my country. Because I was on disability I was home all day to watch the news coverage and I sat horrified for hours, days... and I can't even imagine being there in person. Actually being there and seeing all of this first hand. I struggled to find the best way to explain this tragedy to my children and thought about what if I was one of those mothers that lost a family member and had to explain that. My hearts go out to everyone who was lost and everyone who lost someone. My thanks goes out to all of the heroes. God Bless.