story9441.xml

story9441.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-08-28

I had just woken up and turned on CNN to watch the news as I do every morning.I saw the regular journalists talking away and I was not paying much attention until the female reported screamed as they showed a live image of the World Trade Centre tower with smoke billowing from its side.I was very shocked and just thought to myself how something like this could happen to the most secure and powerful country in the world.I called my mother who was shopping dwontown and told her about it.I was concerned for my father and 2 siblings who live on Long Island,and spend most of their day in Manhattan.I called my father,with many failed attempts because people from everywhere were calling their loved one's in New York as well.I spent most of the day worrying for my father,and comforting my friends and other family.I remember going downtown mid-day to see it quiet and bare, with hoards of people crowded at the Convent Market and London Tower watching the news.I turned to the church for prayer,and prayed for the lives lost and for the safety of my father and siblings,and the recovery of all those who were injured.I remember returning home with my mother and picking up my other siblings form school and heading for the train station,since flights were cancelled throught North America.We didnt make it very far,and stopped in Niagara Falls for the night.We returned the following day to London,and continued to call my father,but with no luck.We were in tears and pain,assuming the worst for our family.Luckily we did get a call from my father on the 22nd,but with bad news.My sister,Maria,had been hurt very badly while they were evacuating her school just a block or so from the towers.She had a broken leg and fractured arms and a concussion to her head.Fortunately,she recovered 7 months later and they returned to London for a visit.They stayed with us for Christmas and most of spring.They did return to New York in April,and in September 2002,we all traveled to New York and attended the service at Battery Park.It was my first time in New York and it was that much more special and sad to remember all the lives lost and hopes faded.Thank you for allowing me to share my story and God Bless you,America,and the people of the world.We will never forget.