9-11 Medical Needs Desperately Asking

Hello. My name is Daniel Stanton. I have lived in NYC since 1993.

On September 11th 2001 I went to work at 7 Dey Street, 1/2 a block away from The World Trade Center. I was sitting at my desk facing east when I heard a loud boom. I looked up and saw paper and insulation flying through the air. We all went down to the street and saw the North Tower on fire. Like everyone else we thought a small plane had hit the tower.

I went up to the main office on the 11th floor. I called my parents and my best friend and told them not to worry, I was ok. We all then went out onto the balcony. One of my co-workers commented that debris was falling off the building.

I looked closely and replied, "I don’t think so...Debris doesn’t have arms and legs...". I saw at least 5 people jump/fall out of the first tower.

We went back inside and that’s when we heard the South Tower get hit, and heard The Pentagon had been hit as well. I ran down to the 3rd floor (someone had turned off the elevator and didn’t inform us). I called back up to the 11th floor and told them everyone was gone and we should all leave. They said they were on their way down as well.

I encountered a frantic man in the stairwell. I informed him about the Pentagon and he got more frantic. He and I reached the lobby. He made a dash for the doors (glass doors) to get out. At that point I set one foot on the lobby floor and heard and felt a rumble. I told him to get away from the door. He again said "I'm getting out of here!!!" I told him "Get the f@*# away from the door" I ran over and pulled him back. He had his hand on the door handle and as I pulled him he pulled the door open. That's when the first tower collapsed...

We both got knocked back into the lobby and everything went pitch black. I got my knee and ankle all twisted and screwed up. At that point the rest of my co-workers from the 11th floor made it to the lobby. Luckily enough we had a connecting hallway to the deli next door. We all grabbed some water, and I grabbed a stack of fabric towels and dowsed them with some of the water bacause the ash was coming into the building. We put them over our mouths and went to the basement.

About 20 minutes later an FBI guy came in and told us we needed to get out NOW!!! I dont know who he was, but Thank You!!! I hope you survived...We went out onto the street which was covered in knee high ash. We made it up to Broadway just as the last bus was leaving the area. I got about 3-4 blocks away (around City Hall) when the 2nd tower fell.

Everyone ran and I limped my way to 14th street and then to Beth Israel Hospital. Along the way I saw likes of people at every payphone just trying to get word out to their loved ones that they were still alive. At the hospital I was run through an outdoor shower. I was apparently covered in ash and dust. I was put in a wheelchair and given oxygen, at which point I apparently went into shock. The nurse just kept telling me that my body knew it was safe and that I had been running on adrenaline.

I saw many injured people come into the emergency over the next several hours.

I finally got home about 6pm to find ever increasingly frantic messages on my answering machine. I was lucky...

Today, please remember all those who were not as fortunate as I, and their families and friends who dearly miss them. I was lucky, but I also learned something very important: EVERY chance you get, tell the people you love that you love them. I learned by the most horrible of circumstances...you may never get that last chance to let them know...

This is my experience from that horrible day.

Unfortunately, this has left me with a medical issues that the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund refuses to cover. The most serious of which is…

For over a year following 9/11 I got physically ill (vomiting) every night. I still have issues from time to time with this because of my PTSD from that horrible day. The result of this is extensive acid erosion on my teeth.

As a result, I have already had to have 6 crowns placed on my teeth and other extensive dental work. All of this I have paid out-of-pocket. The acid erosion is affecting all my other teeth as well, and has become an ongoing issue of deterioration and erosion. As of this time I have 4 more teeth that are on the verge of breaking/cracking, and I expect more as time goes on.

I have exhausted every avenue of trying to get support and assistance (VCF, Law firms, 9/11 Health Registry…). I have been told that they do not cover it. I sincerely and humbly ask if anyone could please help me with this progressively worsening situation. I want to smile again…

I don’t know if the "goal" amount I specified will cover what needs to be done, but it’s a starting point.

I thank you for any help you can provide from the deepest parts of my heart and soul.

I, like many, will be struggling to heal and come to terms with what we experienced and saw for the rest of our lives.

Thank you,

Daniel Stanton