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

"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 heavy-weights like Jon Stewart, Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi, proving at every turn that her survivor community also deserves mental and physical health care, and that her voice too deserves to be heard."--Provided by publisher.

List of contents

Foreword by Congressman Jerrold Nadler
Foreword by Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney
Preface
Chapter One: New Shoes
Chapter Two: Fleeing
Chapter Three: Brooklyn
Chapter Four: Return to Stuyvesant
Chapter Five: Debris
Chapter Six: Beginnings of Memories
Chapter Seven: Another September
Chapter Eight: A Modern Network
Chapter Nine: The Tooth Fairy Angel of Death
Chapter Ten: Never Enough
Chapter Eleven: Coming Forward
Chapter Twelve: Compensation
Chapter Thirteen: The American Disaster Victim
Resources
Acknowledgments

About the author

Lila Nordstrom is a writer, producer, activist, and the founder of StuyHealth, an advocacy group representing former students who were in lower Manhattan during 9/11 and the resulting cleanup. She has worked with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to raise awareness for the health programs in place to support 9/11 survivors;

was appointed to the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program's Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee, where she served three terms between 2013 and 2019; served on the WTC Survivors Steering Committee; and has organized lobbying trips to Washington, DC, to share the student 9/11 story with members of Congress. In June 2019, Lila 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, given by the mayor. Under Lila's direction, StuyHealth has received a wealth of media from local, national, and international outlets, including the New York Times, Economist, CBS, Fox, and NBC. A graduate of Stuyvesant High School and Vassar College, Lila's writing has appeared in The Guardian, Huffington Post, Bustle, Pasadena Weekly, Yahoo News, the New York Daily News, and other outlets. In 2011, she won a Content of the Year Award from Yahoo! for a 9/11 tenth anniversary essay she wrote for the site. In 2020, she was named a Fellow by the Equality California Institute Leadership Academy. Lila is also the cofounder of VoteCaptain.org, a nonpartisan voter education site, and the producer and host of Brain Trust Live, a weekly independent political podcast started in 2012. She has worked in film and television production and development for fifteen years. Originally from New York City, Lila now lives in Los Angeles, California.

Summary

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.

Foreword

Huge anniversary hook with built-in fresh angle for media: The book will release in advance of the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and will present media with a compelling, fresh angle—the little-known story about what happened to the students who went to school near the towers.
Perfect for news, human interest, and women’s media, with a compelling, expert author who can speak to the issues, will make this attractive to print, online, TV, radio, and podcast media. Targets will include the likes of CBS Sunday Morning, 60 Minutes, 20/20, Fresh Air, 1A, All Things Considered, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Mother Jones, New York magazine, Bloomberg/CityLab, Gothamist, New York Times Metro (John Leland), the Brian Lehrer Show, Vanity Fair, the New Yorker, NY-1, Slate, Salon, the Daily Beast, the Daily Show, the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, People, Buzzfeed, Vox, the Joe Rogan Experience, and the Dr. Oz Show. Variety magazine has already expressed interest in covering the book in its September issue and the New York Post has confirmed planned coverage.
Bicoastal author in NYC and LA will further ability to get major media, multiple events/signings, and twice the author hometown media.
Big-name endorsements: Already endorsing the book with blurbs are huge names like Jon Stewart, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and activists John Feal and Kat Calvin. NY Representatives Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney are contributing forewords! Author will also be reaching out to people she's met like NY Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and MA Senator Elizabeth Warren, and all will be asked to promote the book on social around its release.
Targeted digital advertising with SEO keywords tied to 9/11 and more.
Trade media outreach: Book is well-written and compelling and should elicit reviews from the likes of Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, Library Journal, ALA Booklist, and Shelf Awareness. PW has already confirmed the book will be included in a 9/11 feature!

Additional text

"Nordstrom’s detailed narrative offers a balance of seriousness and humor that will enlighten and inspire readers; it belongs on the shelves of every public and school library."
—Library Journal
"A powerful story of dedication and determination."
—Kirkus Reviews
“It was the honor of a lifetime to advocate and testify with Lila Nordstrom who represented a large portion of the 9/11 community that often went unnoticed and would have remained unnoticed without her voice and courage.”
—Jon Stewart, comedian, writer, political commentator, and former host of The Daily Show
“In sixteen years on the Hill, I feared no politician, meeting, press conference, or interview. And while others like Jon Stewart or myself get too much credit for helping pass vital legislation, it was a young woman like Lila Nordstrom who was instrumental in ensuring these pieces of legislation were passed. And to be honest, to this day she is the only person I fear.”
—John Feal, 9/11 first responder, activist, and founder and president of the FealGood Foundation
“Lila writes with humor, grace, and courage about the fight to ensure that the children of 9/11 received the benefits they needed to deal with the harrowing aftereffects of that awful day. She gives us a glimpse into the long, challenging journey of getting federal legislation passed and the battle to make sure the right people benefit.”
—Kat Calvin, founder and executive director of Spread The Vote and cofounder and CEO of Project ID Action Fund
“When I look at Lila Nordstrom, I know the future of our country is in good hands. She has been an incredible advocate and leader for the 9/11 survivor community, bravely sharing her story of returning to school at Stuyvesant High School after the attacks, to ensure that all survivors receive the care and support they need. I am so proud to have worked with her, StuyHealth, and the entire 9/11 responder and survivor community to make permanent the World Trade Center Health Program and September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. Lila was just a child when she and her family were told it was safe to go back to school—it wasn't. She has seen too many of her classmates fall ill and be taken far too young because of ailments caused by the toxins in downtown New York City. And yet, she has never given up—instead choosing to turn her grief and anger into action. She is a truly remarkable young woman with an empowering story to tell.”
—Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12)
“With Lila’s commitment to justice, her dedication to serving as a champion for the vulnerable, and her capacity to deftly navigate the harsh, often vicious world of health care and politics, she has made a meaningful, lasting impact in the lives of tens of thousands of others affected by the attacks of September 11.”
—Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10)
“Some Kids Left Behind is both a clear-eyed personal account of the events of 9/11, and the story of the making of a political advocate. Nordstrom writes with intelligence and passion about the ways that local and national politics increased the damage done to children and other community members in the wake of national tragedy. She asks us to reexamine what we thought we knew about the aftermath of 9/11, and to take a hard look at who our political and health care systems cover—and who is left behind.”
—Annie Thoms, editor of with their eyes: September 11th—the view from a high school at ground zero and teacher at Stuyvesant High School

“Lila Nordstrom was one of the quiet forces that secured lifetime healthcare and compensation for the people that were exposed to toxins from their work or proximity to Ground Zero after the 9/11 attack. She has never given up and will continue to be the voice for the kids who returned to school just blocks from the toxic pile.”
—Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY)
“This book reveals a powerful and courageous story that provides lessons on the importance of comprehensive policy making, the power of listening, and the attention still needed to the many people—then children—who were left behind.”
—Farah Pandith, author of How We Win: How Cutting-Edge Entrepreneurs, Political Visionaries, Enlightened Business Leaders, and Social Media Mavens Can Defeat the Extremist Threat and former senior US diplomat
“Lila’s personal and inspirational story of tragedy and triumph tells the common plight of America’s children having to protect themselves when the adults don’t and offers powerful insights into a group of victims that have often been overlooked since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. At the end of this long fight for access to health benefits and recognition as victims, the politicians finally listened. It’s about time we all do too.”
—Shaniqua McClendon, political director of Crooked Media

Product details

• Authors: Lila Nordstrom, Nordstrom Lila
• Assisted by: Carolyn B. Maloney (Foreword), Jerrold Nadler (Foreword), Jerry Nadler (Foreword)
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 24.08.2021
• EAN: 9781948062626
• ISBN: 978-1-948062-62-6
• No. of pages: 360
• Illustrations: Photo insert with 16 full-color images
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Politics, society, business > Politics; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Social Activists, Biography: historical, political & military, MEDICAL / Health Policy, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Disasters & Disaster Relief, SELF-HELP / Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), EDUCATION / Educational Policy & Reform / School Safety, Personal & public health / health education, Aid & relief programmes, True stories of heroism, endurance & survival, Social impact of disasters / accidents (natural or man-made)