Lee Jean Heller

2001-9-11 The Ladder Lee Jean Heller

My first book, Lights for Life and Sirens for Suffering, was written about my life as an EMT-A serving on a fire department for twenty-three years. I learned about life being first on the scene of horrible events in life, including my own. This book is about serving in New York City after 9/11/01 as a Critical Incident Stress Management team member on the pile of the worst attack on America. No one can prepare a person for the experience everyone went through there. But most importantly, how we all came together on the pile and other locations there and our whole country. We lost so many lives that day and since then.



As a first responder, I found the need to talk about what was on my mind and heart. First responders, police, fire and EMS, and military, must take care of ourselves as well as we try to help others. This also includes nurses, physicians, teachers, and all people giving so much of their lives for others.



The day before I left to serve in New York City, a prayer was prayed for my safety. The person prayed for a ladder for me. I didn't think that I was going to need one as I was not a fireman. But as life happens, I believed it saved my life. I want to thank my Critical Incident team for continuing service and new teams currently being developed. Please, reach out for help, no matter who you are, you deserve it.



Thank you to my family, friends, Eddie of NYPD, and Tom Mills and others who helped me by supporting this book.