http://www.seanpaune.com/2009/09/11/911-%e2%80%93-eight-years-on-and-its-time-to-sing-some-praises/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:21:01 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.seanpaune.com/2009/09/11/911-%e2%80%93-eight-years-on-and-its-time-to-sing-some-praises/comment-page-1/#comment-43374 Meaghan Sat, 19 Sep 2009 06:27:26 +0000 http://www.seanpaune.com/?p=4650#comment-43374 On Saturday, September 8th, 2001 I learned that my grandfather qualified for a clinical trial procedure that would revolutionize the treatment of pancreatic cancer. That same evening I booked flights for him, my grandmother, and myself to Rhode Island to complete that life saving treatment, brachytherapy, leaving on Wednesday the 12th. The morning before our flight I found out that America was under attack and there was no traffic onto or off of Rhode Island. All flights were canceled and the main ingredient, known as the "magic pill" around the doctor's office, couldn't be shipped into the clinic even if we were able to get there. It was devastating! Fortunately, we were able to get full refunds from the airline (Southwest, God love them!) and head out on the cross-country road trip to save my grandfather's life. I was there for the first week with him and my grandmother and then had to fly home by myself. Let me just say that since I was a travel agent for more than 10 years, I had an unfortunately in-depth understanding of exactly how many deaths occur on airplanes... including those less publicized deaths that occur on the ground rather than in the air. So, being a "white knuckler" (industry term for a fearful flier) , I holed-up in an airport bar and drank 2 glasses of wine after swallowing a Zoloft (don't judge me!). In my comforting cloud of haze I took a seat on the plane and very soon realized that the entire thing was filled to the brim with PD and FD reps from around the nation! The pilot brought their presence to the common man's attention and they were all given a HUGE round of applause! It was and to this day will always be one of the most emotional moments of my life! They stood up and what little part of America that was on the airplane thanked them. It was an unbelievable moment that I'll never forget and will always be thankful that I was a part of. I think of it to this day every time I see an airplane in the sky and every time I see a police office or fire department rep on the news or in person. It will be a part of my life for the rest of it. Even being as scared of flying as I was (am), I have never felt safer in my life. God Bless America!! On Saturday, September 8th, 2001 I learned that my grandfather qualified for a clinical trial procedure that would revolutionize the treatment of pancreatic cancer. That same evening I booked flights for him, my grandmother, and myself to Rhode Island to complete that life saving treatment, brachytherapy, leaving on Wednesday the 12th. The morning before our flight I found out that America was under attack and there was no traffic onto or off of Rhode Island. All flights were canceled and the main ingredient, known as the "magic pill" around the doctor's office, couldn't be shipped into the clinic even if we were able to get there. It was devastating! Fortunately, we were able to get full refunds from the airline (Southwest, God love them!) and head out on the cross-country road trip to save my grandfather's life. I was there for the first week with him and my grandmother and then had to fly home by myself. Let me just say that since I was a travel agent for more than 10 years, I had an unfortunately in-depth understanding of exactly how many deaths occur on airplanes… including those less publicized deaths that occur on the ground rather than in the air. So, being a "white knuckler" (industry term for a fearful flier) , I holed-up in an airport bar and drank 2 glasses of wine after swallowing a Zoloft (don't judge me!). In my comforting cloud of haze I took a seat on the plane and very soon realized that the entire thing was filled to the brim with PD and FD reps from around the nation! The pilot brought their presence to the common man's attention and they were all given a HUGE round of applause! It was and to this day will always be one of the most emotional moments of my life! They stood up and what little part of America that was on the airplane thanked them. It was an unbelievable moment that I'll never forget and will always be thankful that I was a part of. I think of it to this day every time I see an airplane in the sky and every time I see a police office or fire department rep on the news or in person. It will be a part of my life for the rest of it. Even being as scared of flying as I was (am), I have never felt safer in my life. God Bless America!!

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