As 9/11 approaches, America remembers. We remember the terror, the awe, the shock that we felt that anyone would or could do something to this magnitude on US soil. We also remember 9/11, the losses, and the heroes.
The Hero’s of 9-11
There are many heroes from that day. The police and fire-fighters were on the front lines, and many perished trying to save others. There were also the civilian heroes, whether it was someone helping lead another from the falling building or lending a shoulder to cry on as it all unfolded on our televisions from all over the US. Then there are the medical professionals. The EMT’s that were on the scene, the doctors and nurses that responded to the emergency calls. I want to take just a moment to recognize all of these heroes on this day of Remembrance.
I wasn’t directly involved; I stood watching the TV in the nursing home where I was working at the time. As I stood in shock at the foot of the patient’s bed watching; awestruck. Then came the questions. The patient wanted to know what was happening, and I didn’t know. I couldn’t console her. We both watched as the second plane collided into the tower. I felt helpless as I stood there watching with a slightly confused elderly lady looking to me for answers that I didn’t have.
As the day wore on the questions continued.
As the realization of what was happening started to sink in, we (staff and patients alike) tried to console one another and tried to make sense of it. We couldn’t. There was no sense in the entire event. It was senseless—a senseless loss of life.
As I look back on that day now, I have to wonder about the medical professionals directly involved, and I think of them with a sense of heroism. On that day, I found it difficult to focus and do my job. I can only imagine how much worse it was for those that were there. The chaos that ensued, the anxiety, the worry for loved ones, all combined. But…they did what needed to be done. Being the professionals that they are, they did their job and put their personal crises aside to do it. They cared for the incoming patients with everything that they had. They bandaged the wounded and cried with the families. They are heroes in my mind.
On this one day, we all found a sense of camaraderie. We helped where we could and cared for how our fellow nurses felt and dealt with the disaster at hand. I only wish that we could hold on to that feeling.
The ANA published a story in their Nov/Dec 2001 issues that speaks with a couple of 911 Nurse Hero’s. I would encourage you to read it.
