Seventeen years ago, everyone’s world shattered as they watched the Twin Towers be attacked. The terror attacks of 9/11 claimed almost 3,000 lives and left approximately double that amount injured, which makes it the deadliest terrorist incident in American history to date. Many nurses, EMTs, firefighters, policemen, and civilians gave their lives to help those who were trapped under the rubble of the Twin Towers in the aftermath of the attacks. Not only did these brave individuals help, they were also left broken and scarred for years after.

September 11th had an impact on the entire world. While the attacks directly influenced our modern culture and even economy, survivors who were exposed to the debris are still facing fatal and debilitating illnesses. The toxins in the debris has led to several different forms of cancers, like prostate, thyroid and myeloma, and has also led to severe psychological disorders, like depression and PTSD.

Many first responders, including nurses, have lost their lives on September 11th to save the lives of others. Let’s take a moment to remember the brave nurses and first responders who were lost during and after the attacks, and honor them for their selfless sacrifice.

Remembering the Fallen

The American Journal of Nursing’s blog, Off the Charts, lists the nurses that were killed during the terrorist attacks on September 11th. Some of these nurses were simply at the wrong place, at the wrong time. However, most of them also died in the line of duty, trying to save trapped victims who were caught in the falling buildings.

Two of the nurses highlighted are Kathy Mazza, port authority captain of the New York and New Jersey Police Departments, and nurse officer Stephen Huczko. Relying on her previous training as a nurse, Mazza participated in the rescue effort of the North Tower. She was working alongside Huzcko, and both of their bodies were found 5 months after the event, right beside the woman they were trying to rescue. The woman was already strapped to a rescue chair and apparently they were very close to escaping the crumbling building.

Nurses who were killed during September 11th

Touri Bolourchi, 69, retired nurse, passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 175

Lydia Bravo, 50, occupational health nurse at Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.

Ronald Bucca, 47, fire marshal, New York City Fire Department

Greg Buck, 37, firefighter, New York City Fire Department, Engine Company 201

Christine Egan, 55, community health nurse visiting from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Carol Flyzik, 40, medical software marketing manager, passenger aboard American Airlines Flight 11

Debra Lynn Fischer Gibbon, 43, senior vice president at Aon Corporation

Geoffrey Guja, 47, lieutenant, New York City Fire Department, Battalion 43

Stephen Huczko, 44, police officer, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department

Kathy Mazza, 46, captain, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, and commanding officer, Port Authority Police Training Academy

Michael Mullan, 34, firefighter, New York City Fire Department, Ladder Company 12

Jean Hoadly Peterson, 55, retired nurse, nursing instructor, volunteer EMT, and passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 93 (found on nurse.org)

Honoring Their Sacrifice

Every American  knows exactly where they were and what they were doing at the moment the planes crashed into the Twin Towers. Users on allnurses.com shared their stories of what they were doing on this tragic day, and also discussed what 9/11 was like for them from their perspective as a nurse.

Here are just some of their accounts.

From MamaCJRN: “There weren’t many survivors so they didn’t need us.”

I was working in Bakersfield, CA at Mercy Southwest. I was ending my night shift and walked into the break room to see the 1st tower burning and then the 2nd plane hit, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

Some of the travel companies were asking for nurses to volunteer to go to New York to help. The sad part is there weren’t very many survivors so they didn’t need us. A few years later I heard an ADON from St. Vincents in NYC speak at a conference. It was very moving to hear how [the] staff and citizens came together to deal with this great tragedy.

Now my son, who was 11 years old when 9/11/01 happened, is in Afghanistan serving in the Army.

God Bless America and God Bless our troops!

From CT Pixie: “You don’t notice how many planes fly overhead until there are NO planes overhead at all.”

I wasn’t a nurse at [the] time. But I was a 6 months pregnant EMT for our local volunteer ambulance. We are about 1 hrs drive to NYC (I’m in CT). We (the ambulance) had offered our vehicles and staffing to help with rescue and recovery. We were on standby. Sadly, as we all [know], there were only a very few who were rescued. At the time […] the actual plane hits, I was working in an office (scheduled to work an EMT shift at 5pm). The owners of the company let all the staff go home as the schools were doing emergency dismissals for kids..and honestly no one at the office could concentrate after watching what happened.

It was an odd and very [eerie] day. You don’t notice how many planes fly overhead until there are NO planes overhead at all. Most schools were closed down, many companies shut down, many people (Including me) worried about those we know who live and work in the area..etc. It was strangely quiet. No matter where you went, people seemed to be talking in hushed tones..even in places you normally wouldn’t talk quietly..almost as if everywhere you went you were attending a wake or funeral.

The world might not have stood still..but in a sense the USA did. We did our jobs but did so in a bit of a fog, maddened and confused by what happened. Scared to death another plane would hit somewhere else, or have some other form of terrorism happen. My town is very close to […] several places in CT that could be major targets (places that supply the military with aircraft), we also have the place that makes submarines for the military.

I pray nothing like that ever happens on our soil again. And MANY MANY MANY thanks to all the soldiers and their families who protect this great Country. I, for one, appreciate all your [sacrifices] you give so that me and my family and loved ones stay safe!

From FancypantsRN: “that event is what led me to nursing. I was a flight attendant.”

I was not a nurse yet on 9/11 but that event is what led me to nursing. I was a flight attendant. I was NYC based and was on a trip that morning (New York to Chicago flight). Actually 10 years right now I was with a coworker at the time visiting her friend in the north tower.

I was furloughed right after 9/11 as my base was closed. The airline massively downsized and eventually ceased to exist. My next step? Nursing school. I still can’t believe it’s been 10 years.

From glencovediva: “To this day, I just can’t believe those buildings that I knew so long ago are not there anymore.”

I was in nursing school and working as a lab supervisor at a specialty hospital in midtown manhattan in NYC. My co-worker was listening to Z-100 radio station and they said a plan flew in the WTC. At first I thought it was one of the stations ‘phone scams’ that they were always doing, [and] I laughed. But my co-worker insisted it was not. I still didn’t believe it. Soon everybody was saying that plane hit the twin towers. We all gathered in the lobby to watch the tv, [and] sure enough, the first tower was on fire. Then, all of a sudden, I saw the second plane hit the other building live on tv. We all screamed. Then we were placed on disaster alert. We were going to be a staging area as the victims were going to go to area trauma centers. Unfortunately, no one survived. A group of us walked home that night over the 59th Street bridge. 35 years ago, I used to work as a bank teller in the tower that had Windows on The World, so I was very familiar [with] that building. To this day, I just can’t believe those buildings that I knew so long ago are not there anymore.

For more stories and discussions about these nurses’ perspectives on September 11th, please visit this forum on allnurses.