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
Apollo Publishers
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.
Congressman Jerrold Nadler represents New York's 10th Congressional District, and has served in Congress for twenty-nine years. He is the current chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and served for thirteen years as chair or ranking member of its subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. He also served as the ranking member of the subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, and was the vice chair and founding member of the House's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality Caucus, and coauthor of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, later leading the fight for its reauthorization. Congressman Nadler resides in New York City.
Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney represents New York's 12th Congressional District, and has served in Congress for twenty-eight years. The first woman to represent her district, Congresswoman Maloney was also the first woman to chair the Joint Economic Committee. She currently serves as chair of the Committee on Oversight and Reform and senior member ofthe House Financial Services Committee and theJoint Economic Committee. Maloney cofounded the House 9/11 Commission Caucus where she pushed for the legislation that created the 9/11 Commission. She also worked to create and fund what would become the World Trade Center Health Program, and fought to expand and reactivate the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. Congresswoman Maloney sponsored the James Zadroga 9/11 Health Care and Compensation Act from its earliest iteration in 2006 to its passage in 2010, championing its reauthorizations in following years. Congresswoman Maloney resides in New York City.
"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
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