09/12/2024
9/11/01 - So many lives lost that day, so many more over two plus decades due to the health effects from debris in the air or exposure to hazards in rescue attempts. Countless people changed forever.
Where were you?
I was a junior in high school at Mountain View H.S. I was late leaving the house, no time for TV or radio. At the bus stop (~ 7AM) I heard talk of a plane flying into the World Trade Center. I distinctly remember thinking it was a joke.
In home room, the TV is already on when we arrive, tuned to the news. It’s real.
The towers are standing, smoke billowing from North and South. We see replays of the second plane flying into the south tower. Then a plane crashes into the Pentagon. I watch the live feed of the collapse of the South Tower.
In those moments, I was changed forever. I’ve always cared about others, but it was different that day. The empathy for everyone inside, on the roof, first responders running up the stairs, family that must have been watching that tower fall not knowing if their loved one was safe. It was, and still remains, overwhelming, heartbreaking, soul-crushing. I could only think of ALL the lives affected.
Some gave all that day, but I truly believe that in ways we all gave some. As a teen, I lost part of my innocence. I can still watch tiny specs jumping from the upper floors of the towers in my mind’s eye; all of the sudden I had insight into REALLY hard choices.
I look back and count my blessings for the amazing community of MVHS. On such a terrible day, I can’t imagine a better place. We were surrounded by friends, classmates, dedicated teachers, administration, and staff. The only thing I remember about school that day is calm (and Ms Lynne Coté turning off the news to bring us back to the present and necessary in 4th period, one of those things that seemed like hard decisions then.) The composure and compassion of every adult on campus created an environment in which we safely explored our reactions to the day’s unfolding events. It continues, to this day, to be a shining example by which I approach emergent and urgent situations. It shaped how I act as a healthcare provider, sometimes called upon to be one of those first responders we reveled at that day, those still known to be some of the true heroes of our country. (For me, now, the call to action would come as code triage - external. You would think we pray we won’t be called; really, it’s the hope the event never happens, but when it does, you can’t keep most of us away.)
Thank you to all who made that day feel safe and calm when the world was chaos and we didn’t know what our exposure to risk really was. I wouldn’t be who I am today without you.
Never forget. Never Forgotten.
