Some Kids Left Behind: A Survivor's Fight for Health Care in the Wake of 9/11

by Lila Nordstrom

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Activism, Memoir, Historical

272 pages, Hardcover

First published August 24, 2021

About the author

Lila Nordstrom's writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Guardian, Huffington Post, Bustle, Pasadena Weekly, Yahoo News, and other outlets. In 2006 Lila founded, StuyHealth, an advocacy group representing former students who were in lower Manhattan during 9/11 and the resulting cleanup. In June 2019 she testified before the House Judiciary Committee on behalf of the estimated three hundred thousand NYC community members eligible for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, and in December 2019 she was awarded New York City’s Bronze Medallion, New York City’s highest civic honor, for her role in the Zadroga Act renewal efforts. Under her direction, StuyHealth has been featured in local, national, and international outlets, including the New York Times, The Economist, CBS, Fox, and NBC .

Reviews

[CJ]

A side of the 9/11 story that many people either haven't heard or just don't think about. It's very in the weeds, but I'd recommend it to anyone interested in politics and learning about what advocacy and getting legislation passed is really like. I particularly appreciated the way Nordstrom spoke about the way women have been overlooked and dismissed in the fight to get healthcare.

[Carla Nordstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most 9/11 stories are engaging but sad, not Some Kids Left Behind. This memoir is engaging, inspiring, fast paced, and full of humor. Definitely a good read!