My husband gave me a kiss on my forehead and told me to have a good day! He left for work like any other normal day. I got up and started my day with my 3 year old and 3 month old sons. I was giving my 3 months month old his bottle and watching my 3 year old eating his dry Cheerios in his Bob the Builder pajamas. The phone rang, it was my mother calling from Ohio, her voice was anxious. She asked me if I was watching TV and I said, yes Clifford the Big Red Dog on PBS. She said, turn on a local channel. That’s when I saw the smoke billowing from the WTC tower. I immediately got off the phone and called my husband..no answer on his cell, pager or desk phone. He finally answered. I said, are you ok? He said, what do you mean? I said a plane has gone into the WTC. I heard someone say something to him and he says, I gotta go, that was at 8:52 am, His building was 7 WTC. For hours I didn’t know where he was or if he was alive. I was alone with my 2 young kids, no family near by. Watching the day unfold was so surreal and unsettling. The pastor from our church came to pray with us. Around 4:30 pm the phone rang, his voice was so rattled and strained. All he said was, I am ok, give the boys a hug and a kiss. Please call my parents and let them know I am ok! I don’t know when I’ll be home. I love you! Click…

His building 7 WTC collapsed at 5:20 after burning for hours and sustaining heavy debris damage from the collapse of the North Tower. As the evening approached, I got another phone call from him saying, I won’t be home tonight! My heart sank, but I knew that people needed him more than I did.

I couldn’t let the boys out of my sight so we all camped out in the family room. Around 11:00 pm I heard keys rattling at the front door. As the door opened I saw his silhouette standing there. I will never forget that moment. He looked exhausted and emotionally drained. He said, he just needed to come home to see us because the day was filled with chaos, smoke, dust, debris, death, fear, grief, anger, and sadness. We were the only ones that could show him signs of life and hope. He had to be at Ground Zero at 5am on 9/12/2001 and the days after were extremely long and tiresome. He spent more time away from us for the months following. I know it was for the safety of our country and for that I admire him. He is my Hero! My story may have a happy ending, but my heart will always be heavy and broken for those families who lost loved ones. I support law enforcement, emergency responders and our Military.

May there be hope for the safety of our nation and peace for the world. Spread kindness!