Angel in the Rubble-The Story of 9/11's Last Survivor

On September 11, 2001, the world changed. Those of us who sat glued to our television sets and witnessed the horrific events unfolding in New York will ever forget the sadness that filled our souls at the loss of life and property. On Sunday we celebrated the tenth anniversary of the destruction of the twin towers.

As I watched the families of the victims talk about their loved ones who died, I grieved along with them. I also rejoiced with those who told of their survival and heroic measures taken by rescuers. In the midst of chaos, emergency personnel went to work to try and find anyone who might still be buried underneath the mountain of rubble.

The last survivor to be pulled from the carnage was Genelle Guzman-McMillian. She lay buried with her leg crushed in the remainder of the first tower for 27 hours before she was pulled to safety. Since she could only squeeze her fingers through the debris on top of her, rescuers had a hard time spotting her. But that wasn’t the most amazing thing that happened to her that day. While she lay buried, a man named Paul grabbed her hand, called her by name, and told her he was there for her. 

However, when she was rescued, she realized there was no way a man could have gotten in or out of the space where she lay. There was no man named Paul there when she was pulled free, and he has never been found. She believes she had an angelic encounter, and the experience changed her life. She knew it was a wakeup call from God and that she had been saved for a reason. She turned her life over to God, joined Brooklyn Tabernacle Church, and now travels the world giving her testimony and encouraging people to not put off their salvation.

Her book Angel in the Rubble released last month from Howard, and she is using the book as a means of getting her message out to the world. Of her new direction in life, she says, “It’s not about what we want but it’s about Jesus Christ and what He wants us to do in this life that we’re living.”

Gary Tuchman, CNN national correspondent says of the book: Even though we know Genelle was “the last survivor,” the detail in this book is intricate and tense; as you read each word it makes you angry, sorrowful, and incredulous all over again. But the underlying story of Genelle’s strength, fortitude, faith, and kindness is a vivid and important reminder that good is far more powerful than the evil we saw that day.

What is an outstanding memory you have of September 11, 2001? We’d like for you to share it with us.