9/11 Stories: Lila Nordstrom

[@nrgao]

I just wanna say- we lost a lot of heroes on 9/11. But then, you look at videos 20 years later and realize that some of those heroes are still actively working to save people from that terrible day. You’re a hero ma’am.

[@sharkinthepark]

She speaks really compellingly and eloquently, in a way that illustrates the madness of the day really well.

[@dougmattis9293]

Lila Nordstrom you are a great storyteller, tons of interesting perspectives and irony and sort of short of breath-anecdotes....your communication/speech skills are excellent. Compelling! And you effusive "kind wonderful person"....thank you for telling your story!

[@terryestepp2615]

So much to think about... Lila understands the plight of those who struggle without healthcare and within a broken healthcare system. Thank you, Lila, for saying so much. Much love.

[@SFGal9]

I admit I was paying attention to her story but at the same time "wowed" by her storytelling, diction, perspectives, honesty. That she's a writer "clicked" perfectly. Wishing you Life's kindest blessings, Lila Nordstrom.

[@gingsing202]

As a Chinese Singaporean, honestly felt very sad and emotional for what happened at the WTC which caused the lives of numerous people etc Personally I do not understand the mindset of those so called terrorists' objectives whatsoever similar to killing others for no reason. I sincrrely hope such rubbish should come to an end towards a peaceful world for each and everyone.

[@marymorris6897]

Thank you for your lovely post.

[@andyfoxy3140]

I like death.

[@X3AmySarah]

@@andyfoxy3140you won’t when it’s your turn.

[@andyfoxy3140]

@@X3AmySarah I’ll love it. Won’t have to get out of bed anymore

[@kelrogers8480]

That's because you do not understand Islam.

[@activedreamr]

This was a compelling and inspiring story. Thank you, Lila for your activism.

[@karencross3815]

Thoughts for New Yorkers who had such an impact from these attacks have stayed with me since day one. From babies to grandparents and the strength needed to endure were a main focus. I had a 17 yr old down to a 5 month old and I was terrified for what the world would look like for them. We live far from NYC and when I visited with my daughter in 2017 I gained an even greater appreciation for the devastation caused by the attack. Thank you for more insight into that day.

[@Indigo00eyez]

You are such an articulate woman! Thank you for sharing your important stories! 💙

[@christineschmidutz5057]

I love listening to educated people speak. This is such a unique 9/11 perspective & aftermath

[@katelynbrown98]

This is such a great perspective. Everyone's story is valid. I can especially see her perspective since she was 17 when this occured and it is less traumatic to listen to this than the first responders. I don't like the commenters who dismiss this woman.

[@reneeraw6927]

She’s a strong, smart woman. Those who dismiss her feel threatened. Projection is a defense mechanism. There are a lot of people who simply feel inferior and lack self esteem. You’re Welcome. I’m a psychologist.

[@maryrees-foster5013]

I believe you are an astonishing young woman!! I applaud your hard work of speaking up for those who had no voice.

[@tenis3313]

Such a great interview. If you haven't read her book, you totally should! Some Kids Left Behind: A Survivor's Fight for Health Care in the Wake of 9/11. Really good read.

[@godstenrules]

Sounds like a good book to read

[@mrasic3507]

Lila you most certainly are a beacon of light! I'm so impressed with your candor, intelligence and confidence as a young adult and a woman. I'm more than sure it's a combination of genetics, your mother's wisdom and your own personal hard work. I personally think you should run for office of some capacity. PS. Please thank your mother for raising such a wonderful person! While I'm sorry you had to endure the horror of 911, I believe it also has given you a plethora of strength. I pray you overcome all medical conditions from that wretched trauma.

[@poetscane]

She attended one of the top 3 Specialized High Schools in the country at the time. I did as well. While mine was number 3 (Brooklyn Tech, that her school was housed in after the tragedy), Hers, (Stuyvesant) was (I'm assuming still is) number 1.

[@kerrynight3271]

@@poetscane I just read the Wikipedia article about Stuyvesant (Lila is mentioned in the part about 9/11). The average SAT score in 2022 was 1510. These are extremely intelligent kids.

[@deyannaf4380]

Yessss I watch all airplanes now too.

[@criticaloptimist]

I can hear her wheezing in the video. I’m feeling sympathy chest tightness just listening to her.

[@gailkellum832]

Excellent video! I've never been to NYC so I really never thought about schools being so close to the TT and students being forced to return to studies in a toxic environment. Lila, you are an excellent story teller and an example for youth to aspire to. Being far removed from 911, I never thought about the difficulties non heros would have to endure to get 911 survivor healthcare. Best of luck in all your endeavors!

[@alonzotanner1226]

I’ve been waiting for an interview with someone who was at a nearby high school. Stuyvesant if I remember correctly was extremely close to the WTC. I know they were around it a lot too even in the days after. I went to high school uptown in Harlem so I was pretty far away when it happened and the aftermath and i never really went downtown for much unless my friends wanted to go to the village or somethin but that was extremely rare. Most of us stayed away for a long time too. The next time I went downtown after the event was early 2004. Was crazy to see how the area cleaned up. The fence was already up. I still think about it cuz I moved to Los Angeles in late 2007. Thank god I didn’t lose anyone I know but I know people who did. My classmate friend told me his cousin who lived and worked downtown at the time still has a lot of cancer scares til today.

[@skl5838]

Your perspective brings up another tragedy, and these are the hundreds of thousands of people, apart from the first responders, who have been affected by the 9/11 toxic dust whether immediately, gradually or over time. Most medical expenses are quite expensive. I don't think many people know that if they were exposed to the air at all near the fallen towers, even for seconds, that if they know reliable witnesses who can vouch for them and they execute an affifavit then they can begin the process of applying for funding for medical needs like testing or treatment or meds...

[@lauracamilleri2072]

An interesting perspective of 9/11 I've never considered before. As an Australian this talk of the health care system both astounds and saddens me :(

[@tomkelly3896]

We luv australia....wish i moved there after i retired....tomk fdny bronx

[@chezzachezza7325]

@@tomkelly3896 come over bra ✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️✌️

[@tomkelly3896]

Id love to🤠🤓😎

[@marymorris6897]

I kept waiting for the surgeon general to step up.

[@veggigoddess]

Oh yeah, it's atrocious Living in America if you ever have the nerve to have any kind of medical issue of any variety. Every human I know that lives here is drowning in debt because of medical situations that happened that they couldn't pay for. It absolutely baffles me when anyone move here from their first world country. It's just the stupidest thing ever, to do something so asinine!

[@Lisa1111]

A brilliant mind seeing the ugly awful truth about our country. Shame on those that are running us into the grave.

[@nrgao]

Great story. And this may seem like a weird take away… but it hurt a little and surprised me to hear that she hadn’t done the pledge since the first grade. I was 13 at the time this happened in the 8th grade, and we did the pledge in SC my entire school career, all the way through 12th. Anyways, such a great and unique perspective of this day of terror that a lot of students can empathize with.

[@kerrynight3271]

In my school in Louisiana back in the 50s and 60s, we never said the pledge. I personally believe it was because our very elderly principal was still basically living in the Confederacy and wanted nothing to do with the Union.

[@Jazzyk-zt7pe]

I was 24 years old on 9/11/01. I saw everything happen on TV so sad. I remember crying hysterically as the first tower collapsed.

[@SusanRoss-q7f]

You said you didn't t help anyone after the attacks on 9/11. You are so wrong. Your life is helping others! God bless you!!

[@purplebunny7728]

Wow what a speaker. Very well done. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@luv2bevl1]

I couldn't imagine being stuck in her situation. As an asthmatic I understand. & I can't imagine the air quality she delt with I grew up literally next to O'Hare Airport which doesn't exactly have great air quality as is, but it isn't compiled with other factors of burning ruble! Also understand Healthcare sucks when you don't have proper meds. I would sue the school for forcing them to choose health or education!

[@KevlarVTX]

Well said, and thanks for doing what you're doing.

[@JustMomHere]

I can't believe that the school just randomly released all of these kids. They should have kept them together and helped them. ... or maybe they couldn't. Poor kids.... shoot, I would have been really afraid of the subways too.

[@juliehandy7212]

Wow. Thank you, Lila.

[@LumocolorARTnr1319]

Her name means Purpule Northstream in Swedish.

[@captainfoxheart]

That's also why Lila in Futurama has purple hair

[@MissBe737]

A very intelligent young woman

[@Toyotaamazon80series]

Forty is old for a woman.

[@emilymvance]

2024 thank you for your perspective-- I was 32at the time my son was so young.

[@catmeow333]

What an inspiration.

[@sonyasimeg9515]

Have many of the little children died as a result of exposure to the cancer cloud? You do not hear mention of them often if at all. Like the rescue dogs. Do many people still live in New York after that?

[@tommysimmons3258]

All the schools in the area got the kids out in time before the first tower collapsed. One school became the headquarters for a few months for search party.

[@sonyasimeg9515]

That is good if true. Sounds like even the firefighters were learning as they were going that day. These witness and survivor accounts are absolutely frightening. Why in the hell did they have to do a cleanup that killed so many people and the whole catastrophe keeps on killing people? I would not worry or feel guilty about not staying and helping it was a matter of survival that day and you were young. An older lady and many stated they felt they needed to get away from there quickly which is the best and only right choice. Now try and keep surviving. How pathetic!

[@tommysimmons3258]

@@sonyasimeg9515 it's a new York thing, before I moved from nyc. I helped look for missing kids with NYPD Auxiliary police and the guardian Angels. ( in my early twenties) still looking for missing kids into my 50s, going in ( no matter the job) is the right thing to do.

[@NickyD]

@@sonyasimeg9515 i can tell you now even if people knew it was gonna cause cancer no cop or firefighter wasnt gonna clean it up and look for people simple as that

[@sonyasimeg9515]

@@NickyD How many children if any were in the towers? How tragic!!!!!!!!! Who in the hell would want to walk into cancer directly????????? You can get cancer even without that!?!? SURVIVAL!

[@luv2luv720]

Epa did the same thing in Palestine Ohio! Unfortunately they do that to us a lot!!

[@ballet07]

A brilliant woman.

[@veggigoddess]

Hopefully her parents as improved their response to traumatic situations since then, cuz that was just horrible!

[@beckybrimmer8754]

I remember the whole bomb threat at that High School on 9/11.

[@sallydorsey1851]

I never heard all the building where down

[@jodywho6696]

Good for you. ✨💃✨🇺🇸✨

[@tasidasilva7897]

im lucky I never had that issue and my school was really far out in queens from impact zone...I was also really little so I dont remember it much either

[@jenkp8179]

Omg 2014?!?

[@lisasmokette6511]

Story teller alright... God blessed her with the gift of gab that's forsure

[@lynnrogersma79]

The only discord for me watching this is the laughing or calling things weird, cynical, etc.

[@pourtoukist]

I am surprised that after the second plane hit everyone did not just simply run away from the building... 🤔

[@eh1702]

Back in 2001, Americans were unbelievably complacent and naive about terrorism. In the early 1990s, coming from Europe and using airports like JFK, O’Hare, and some small midwestern airports, I was astonished at the apparent absence of security. Emergency cards in institutions and hotels (that you find on the back of the doors) talked about wildfires, tornadoes and nuclear attack - and dismissed terrorism with the (untrue) assertion that none had happened in the US. People have an extremely strong compulsion to observe and try to understand something new and dangerous: we are like cats. You see exactly the same effect in videos of the 2011 east Japan tsunami - people walking slowly backward uphill from the advancing water, forgetting that as soon as it hits a flatter contour it will surge. And forgetting what they have been warned about, that it can surge up narrow roads and come downhill at you. Unconsciously people expect something to continue in the way they see it behaving now, and as things get incrementally worse, they incrementally adapt their attitude to it. (Normalcy bias.) At each stage they expect it to start stopping, or start getting back more to normal. Psychological denial is an extraordinarily strong phenomenon. You even see in those videos people standing up on seawalls watching the tsunami water rise about one inch per second - even when it is only a couple of feet below them. They are the height of the house roofs behind them, and they have half a mile of flat land behind - before they can start climbing a hill. They’ve already left themselves no possible means of escape should the water come over the wall…they just still can’t believe it will. Those people have less than a minute to live and they are standing apparently calmly, with their hands behind their backs.

[@eh1702]

By the way, people could not “simply run away”. 1. The main entrance/exit for both towers was onto the Plaza, and - as well as falling on every side of Tower 1 - bodies and debris were falling into the Plaza since the first moment. Early evacuees and first responders were killed by it. 2. As soon as each tower was hit, a blast of smoke and dust was pumped down stairs, escalators, elevator shafts, parking entrances etc into the underground complex of parking, malls and subway stations. People are reluctant to go down into a smoky situation they do not know. 3. These underground levels were the deathtrap in 1993. 4. It was a maze in those sub-levels (up to five basement levels) and you had to know your way around, so as not to exit onto the most dangerous streets (initially to the north) 5. The side streets like Fulton, Liberty, Church etc were only reachable by going into this complex under the plaza and under /through other nearby buildings. These were extremely small narrow streets: the capacity of the towers was 50-60 thousand in total. As it was, the emergency responders were already finding it hard to move in the foyer areas of the buildings.

[@ellenchavez2043]

America does not have a healthcare system, we have a healthcare market. In the most "primitive" tribes and societies, the healers and shaman treated everyone. That a more "advanced" society like the US is not because of lack of resources, it is lack of will.

[@NickyD]

they waited way too long to ecuvate lucky no kids were killed and kids also went back too soon with the shitty air

[@kellymurphy7914]

Exactly, the towers had a 4 block radius kill zone. The school was 3 blocks away

[@Galidorquest]

36:43 500,000 people?!?!... That's insane!!...

[@savedbygrace9933]

There were 50,000 just in the two towers. Think of everyone that lives and worked in that area, plus those that worked the pile and volunteered down there for months and months.

[@Galidorquest]

@@savedbygrace9933 Thanks, I forgot about this video. It's scary to know just how many people were affected by the dust/debris... My Dad almost relocated to WTC 7, right across the street from the towers... He most likely would've been affected...

[@jouezmoi]

The Raging Grannies? LOL !!!

[@lindyford8671]

She didn’t hear the air plane because it was going so fast.

[@Rodmic-hd9pn]

Question Are you from the Nordstrom family?

[@captainfoxheart]

No it's a common name

[@datru82]

Nice girl, I am glad she is ok but as she said traumatic memories are unreliable. The tower did not fall the second she stepped outside then outran the dust cloud. Her memory is just off from trauma.

[@survivormary1126]

@@linedancer23 You have NO compassion.

[@pinlight97]

@@linedancer23 she went through extreme trauma that deeply impacted people well older than her. Perhaps that’s why she has “major issues”? I have been personally judged for not “getting over” trauma. That would be even worse coming from an online stranger.

[@veggigoddess]

​@@linedancer23people that have two point what you pointed out, are usually in the wrong. The fact that you feel you need to point out that other people said the same thing doesn't make what you're saying more legit or matter at all. You sound like you are projecting, as you clearly are the one with the major issues!

[@elliecherise1968]

She remembers some of it right, but agree her memory may be off with some parts. She's correct that people close to the ESB were panicking believing that it would get hit next and she's correct about swimming because people were left on their own to find anyway off of Manhattan and maybe they didn't know about the boats.

[@elliecherise1968]

She couldn't have taken the subway from Manhattan off the island 8:16 because after the 2nd tower fell they were all shut down completely. People were walking across the bridges. No one in Manhattan was acting leisurely after the 2nd plane hit. Everyone knew it was bad.

[@randivester6949]

Stuyvesant-Stuyvesant-Stuyvesant

[@Yzerman1991]

this woman is extraordinary articulate, would've made a good writer.

[@savedbygrace9933]

She is a writer.

[@Yzerman1991]

@@savedbygrace9933 Haha, definitely makes sense...

[@BebienneDeLuz]

It bothers me, and I have to express my feelings, that this story telling sounds like someone who was on a ride at an amusement park. The more years go by since that tragic day, the less sensitive people become when sharing these stories. The first responders always share their stories with heartfelt memories and tears. I can’t watch this one. I’m sorry.

[@texican5619]

This was her experience from a 17 year olds mindset and setting. Good came out of what she went through she’s helped many people.

[@katelynbrown98]

@@texican5619 also it's to note that some times when people discuss trauma they revert back to the age they were when the trauma occurred. Plus someone else said she only thought about how it affected her. If you were there would've you think that too? In other videos in this series there are cops who talk about how they too had moments of selfish survival. Everyone thought it was going to be a lot bigger than it was.

[@olgatrilogymartin3143]

I know what u mean

[@erikrundbergfearn8835]

She has probably been through PTSD😮. She has definitely been through a terrifying experience, she was a child when this happened

[@annashafto8823]

How is her demeanor different from this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5OXmHhrl7qcaNE

[@FerretKibble]

...I wasn't expecting the covid parallels

[@JustMe-gs9xi]

some people (like myself) would

[@godstenrules]

Her school was in the Twin Towers?

[@jodywho6696]

No

[@rashadwalker8218]

Down the street

[@godstenrules]

@jodywho6696 If you watch the video, it sounded like her school was in one of the Twin Towers

[@jg2977]

She said that Stuyvesant High School is three blocks away from the Trade Center

[@itsnicolejulia]

I really like and appreciate her story very much, but I absolutely could not stand the constant giggling/laughing!

[@texican5619]

Well maybe keep that to yourself?

[@itsnicolejulia]

@@texican5619 no thanks

[@conniebarnes8856]

I noticed that as well…talks way too fast for my liking….In fact just about everyone of these speakers

[@annashafto8823]

Many people in these 911 stories laugh nervously. It's called PTSD. Educate yourself

[@jban4457]

Because she not a victim of 9/11, not even close. This is a joke except she's dead serious. She's a sad girl looking for attention/money/fame that she would never receive except for under the title of "9/11". This video should be deleted.

[@GerhardMitchell-sg7ep]

God bless all your will be safe and de Ader love ones Hou be dead 🙏❤️

[@lisamccaff9217]

Of all the discussions, unfortunately I find this one of the least sympathetic.

[@katelynbrown98]

Um this isn't for you to gauge your own sympathy. Just hold space for this woman who was a teenager who was right there when it happened.

[@annashafto8823]

She has PTSD

[@TickingClocks]

Why?

[@sharonwhiteley6510]

I am sorry to say but this is a very hard episode to listen to. There's very little empathy for the loss of life from 9/11. All she keeps saying is "I wanted out". "I was telling my parents no". "I" wanted my parents to leave now". She is very demanding and its all about her wants and needs.

[@isamayoge8736]

Haven’t you listen? She talked about her parents perspective as well and can understand their point of view now. But she was speaking about her observations, thoughts, and actions from back when she was a terrified 17 year old, witnessing the deadliest terrorist attack in history and escaping the aftermath of two collapsing skyscrapers very close to her and was still in survival mode. In her knowledge there were rumors about other attacks on skyscrapers like the Empire State Building, her home was nearby and all she saw was danger. It wasn’t her job as a 17 year old to soothe her parents and make it as easy as possible for them. The parents had every right to fear for their child and wanted her to be back home but they also couldn’t understand her point of view because all of them had different experiences and judged the situation from different angles. She mentioned the many victims, for example when she remembered this gallery at one of the universities she visited, which was sponsored by contor fitzgerald. She was disturbed that it wasn’t even acknowledged that contor fitzgerald had suffered the greatest amount of losses as a single company in the north tower. She constantly spoke about other victims but pointed out that her group of sufferers was forgotten and still needs advocacy.

[@jodywho6696]

Too judgemental

[@lisat2116]

She lost me at being uncomfortable with the "Pledge of Allegiance"== yikes!

[@vicstick75]

From a European/British perspective, making children pledge allegiance to a flag or country is incredibly creepy. We associate overt nationalism with fascism.

[@katelynbrown98]

I was 8 yrs old when the towers were hit and the way millenials have realized it's problematic to be ingrained with nationalism.

[@Jakob_DK]

At that time it would also be a pledge to go to war, as many did.

[@robertscutt2904]

Sounds Like A Lack Of Integrity. { A Far Leftist Liberal} The Pledge Of Allegiance, 🇺🇲 Is Patriotism For Our Precious 🌹 Republic.Of The United States Of America. 🇺🇲

[@sassyt1545]

@@katelynbrown98 Your comments are sanctimonious.

[@Rodmic-hd9pn]

Ms Nordstrom is loaded

[@kathryn2826]

People not eating lunch it was early morning, maybe breakfast ?

[@wendyknoxleet]

She was walking for miles. It takes a long time to walk off Manhattan island

[@vicstick75]

She had been walking uptown for several hours by that point. It was lunchtime.

[@joseywales3964]

Brunch??

[@johnrusselman1364]

The lack of common sense and applied logic is profound !

[@annashafto8823]

How so?

[@TickingClocks]

?

[@captainfoxheart]

You sound ignorant and have clearly never been through a truly truly traumatic event in the moment

[@Rodmic-hd9pn]

I can’t listen to her anymore

[@annashafto8823]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5OXmHhrl7qcaNE

[@Galidorquest]

Why, wdym?...

[@dianesmith7208]

I had difficulty with this video. Yes, the students should have been cared for in a more aggressive manner and it shouldn’t have been an afterthought to the politicians. That should have been a huge concern. The fact that she is making this about ethnicity and political parties. Advocate for all with all politicians and not specific party. Should the nice Jewish boy Republican not have been convinced? Honestly, I do understand that her intentions are to do good, but it felt like it was all about her FOR her. I feel a bit disgusted by her overt bigotry and manner of speaking as if still 17 with her vernacular. She is overshadowing her work with her narcissistic personality. Sad. Still those students should get help and I AM glad she fought for it. But tone down what feels like she’s looking for a gold star or pat on the back

[@TickingClocks]

She did advocate to all politicians, if you look into her work. She only mentioned political parties once in that one joking line. The Jewish boyfriend comment did feel out of nowhere but it wasn't "bigotry". She herself is Jewish.

[@junglebrother8923]

I'm very troubled listening to all the giggling and laughing about an event that had horrific pain and suffering.

[@jodywho6696]

Nervous✨

[@VHTim]

Agreed, her story bounces around as well. Maybe it is nerves. So they kept her in school even after the first tower fell?

[@guywebster8018]

Millennials are annoying even in adulthood. Especially NY libby Millennials. But glad shes an advocate.

[@captainfoxheart]

Your opinions are irrelevant but yeah she's good

[@raymondblundell5746]

Aj lol

[@Mike_Greentea]

👎

[@annashafto8823]

👎🤌

[@TickingClocks]

?

[@dancroitoru364]

I don't understand .. In the case of the Holocaust, people wanted to tell their stories in a non emotional way so that there'd be documentation on the greatest crime in human history. The 9/11 event is not contested by anyone and those who really helped others don't feel the need to run to tell (when you help, you just do it without speaking about it). There's nothing humble in this folklore of "I was there and I couldn't believe it, it was horrible but I escaped ... oh I so lucky ...I ... I ..."

[@shaiaheyes2c41]

Guess you're unaware of the crimes of the Bolsheviks.

[@TheMW2informer]

Exactly, me me me me

[@TheMW2informer]

I wonder how often her classmates would talk down about those measly little normal high school kids, I bet it was similar to how kids would say if you don’t have a college lined up your going to die alone in a cardboard box. Listening to her say how Stuyvesant sends 90 something percent of kids to college makes me think she would be one of them.

[@BebienneDeLuz]

I can’t believe her choice of words, ‘when the towers finally came down…’ finally?!

[@katelynbrown98]

@@BebienneDeLuz I think the thing is that she knew they were going to come down after some point?

[@Augfordpdoggie]

I would like to study the shape of lila

[@mountaineermama8052]

Being uneasy about reciting the pledge of allegiance at any time shows how kids are raised in nyc. You as so disconnected from the rest of the country and that’s pathetic.