For the 20th anniversary of 9/11 comes an awe-inspiring account of the
schoolchildren poisoned by the toxic air left in the wake of the Twin
Towers' destruction and the survivor who fought for health care for them
in front of Congress and against the odds.
On September 11, 2001, high school senior Lila Nordstrom watched from
her classroom's window as the Twin Towers, mere blocks away, fell. Weeks
later, at the urging of local officials and assurance from the EPA, Lila
and her three thousand classmates were returned to their school--even
though the air was thick with toxic debris, dust, and smoke.
In this remarkable, empowering memoir, Lila shares how the illnesses and
deaths of her classmates related to the effects of the 9/11 cleanup
spurred her into action. She created StuyHealth and became involved in
the fight for the Victim Compensation Fund, working alongside first
responders and heavyweights like Jon Stewart, Hillary Clinton, and Nancy
Pelosi, proving at every turn that her survivor community also deserves
recognition and mental and physical health care and that her voice too
deserves to be heard.
This timely tale reveals how tragedy lays bare the American health care
system and how corruption and misinformation continue to fail victims of
tragedies. An honest, at times humorous guide to advocating for one's
self and one's community and navigating the cutthroat world of
legislation and health care, Lila's story begs us to consider how we as
a nation treat our vulnerable communities and how all victims of all
disasters deserve care, truth, and respect. Also included is a section
on the meaning of advocacy work, what it means to be an active citizen,
and how to support a cause you believe in.
