On September 11, 2001 we, as Americans,
lost a bit of our innocence. We started to view ourselves
and our world in a different content. A different perspective
than anything most of us have known in our lifetimes.
We all have our own memories of that early
September day. We likely remember the sick feeling deep
inside, the emotion of pain, the feeling of helplessness.
We felt the human loss and the desire to help.
December presented a rare opportunity
to assist in the recovery process. A national request went
out to the chiropractic profession for seasoned and experienced
chiropractors. Chiropractic was needed at the tragedy sites
to assist in the health care of the rescue workers.
Chiropractic doctors had been on site
at Ground Zero since day one, twenty four- seven providing
care to the stressed bodies and over burdened spirits of
the on site workers.
With the approval of my daughter Jordan,
I departed for New York City on December 22nd. That evening
I checked into historic St. Paul’s Chapel the primary
relief center at Ground Zero.
St. Paul’s Chapel is located directly
next to the twin towers within in the high security, quarantined
area around the Twin Towers. Built in 1766, George Washington
would pray here when visiting New York City. It was the
only structure not damaged by falling debris.
It was here Chiropractors, Podiatrists
and Massage Therapists provided health services to the
workers day and night. It was a sanctuary for the tired
and fatigued rescue workers. Daily mass was performed,
a haven to heal the pain and sorrows that permeated the
air.
December 23rd, my first shift started
at 8 p.m. Firefighter crews and iron workers in groups
of six to eight, police officers in pairs would come to
St. Paul’s to get a hot meal, warm socks and well
deserved rest and sleep on one of the many cots provided.
Anything and everything was made available to the rescue
efforts
Like clockwork, the firefighters, iron
workers, police officers and other on site volunteers would
line up for chiropractic care. Most had never before experienced
the benefit of healthcare healing without drugs.
One by one I would re-align spines boosting
more life into a body that had been working twelve hours
shifts. Work shifts performed in horrible, stressful and
dangerous conditions.
This timeless church, the pews and limited
opened space were used to their fullest to keep the recovery
process running smooth. Shifts of every type of personnel
were coming and going into the early hours of the night
to the next sunrise.
Ground Zero was described outside by one
iron worker as “a graveyard of bones” . A sobering
thought to think, considering it had been 90 days since
the towers fell. Many people were still missing, never
to be found.
During my first shift twelve intact bodies
were found and another fire truck was uncovered. It was
hard to believe something so big could have been lost until
later when I would see with my own eyes the massive destruction.
At 2 a.m. I ended my first shift relieved
by a doctor from North Carolina. It was strange to be performing
chiropractic care at two in the morning, but I left emotionally
charged. It could of been the middle of my day at my Omaha
office as far as I was concerned.
I returned by subway to my mid-Manhattan
hotel. I felt ‘safe’ in New York City for the
first time in the many times that I had been there. The
city has been changed by this tragedy.
I returned the next morning on Christmas
Eve, December 24th, at 8 a.m. re-charged for another shift.
The morning continued as clockwork with many more spines
and spirits to recharge. I returned and slept the afternoon
at my hotel, knowing I would be back that night.
In arranging my volunteer schedule with
the New York Chiropractic Council, I was there for three
days to work as often and as long was needed to cover the
late and early hours. This provided the local doctors the
chance to stay home with their families during the holiday.
I returned the evening of Christmas Eve
to assist a doctor from New Jersey. Dr. Steven Clark and
I made an immediate friendship. He had arrived on September
11 and treated over a hundred people strained by the lifting
and digging. He has been there many times since giving
incredible support.
Midnight Christmas Eve mass was held for
families of the victims, the workers and local dignitaries.
In their thick New York accents my ‘new’ patients
expressed their appreciation. They were surprised that
a doctor from Nebraska was there for ‘their needs’ through
the Christmas holiday. They were giving their best, months
into this tragedy, to me it was the least I could do.
Twice I was personally taken by New York’s
finest to view directly the carnage of the fallen buildings.
Standing at the edge overlooking the huge mass of steel
it was difficult to find a single focus on anything recognizable.
Twisted steel, a gray mass of disrupted lives.
Stepping into that world would leave an impression on anyone. What we saw unfold
on television left us in disbelief. But seeing the incredible fortitude displayed
by the workers those two days left each of us with a positive redeeming effect.
To me there are no words written or spoken,
any photos, nor any television images that can depict the
magnitude of destruction and the emotions that a person
would experience being near these tragic sites. The emotional
feeling was at least overwhelming.
I met many incredible people from around
the world who were there to help see through this tragedy.
We all felt the need to help in any way we could.
December 25th, Christmas day came and
I returned for a final early morning shift before I departed
on my afternoon flight.
My experience at Ground Zero has given
me the greatest experience of my personal and professional
career. I was able to give my best at a time when it was
truly needed. A small contribution to the efforts of this
unfortunate tragedy.
On this anniversary of September 11th
I send my best to all those that so greatly touched my
life and gave their best in America’s time of need.
Best of Health, Dr. Shawn Schmidt
