Dorothy Firman - Brace for Impact: Miracle on the Hudson Survivors Share Their Stories of Near Death and Hope for New Life

Miracle on the Hudson
Survivors Share Their Stories of
Near Death and Hope for New Life

BRACE FOR
IMPACT

Dorothy Firman AND Kevin Quirk

Health Communications, Inc.
Deerfield Beach, Florida

www. Hcibooks.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
is available through the Library of Congress.

2009 Dorothy Firman and Kevin Quirk

eISBN-13: 978-0-7573-9586-4 eISBN-10: 0-7573-9586-4

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

HCI, its logos, and marks are trademarks of Health Communications, Inc.

Publisher: Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street
Deerfield Beach, FL 334428190

Cover design by Larissa Hise Henoch
Interior design and formatting by Dawn Von Strolley Grove

CONTENTS

BARRY LEONARD

BILL ELKIN

LUCILLE PALMER AND DIANE HIGGINS

WARREN HOLLAND

DARREN BECK

MICHELE DAVIS

MARK HOOD

SCOTT KOEN

BRAD WENTZELL

MARYANN BRUCE

MATT KANE

DON NORTON

DEBBIE RAMSEY

BILLY CAMPBELL

RAY BASRI, M.D.

VICKI BARNHARDT

GLENN CARLSON

BILL ZUHOSKI

BETH MCHUGH

DAVE SANDERSON

HILDA ROQUE-DIEGUEZ, M.D.

GERRY MCNAMARA

CLAUDETTE MASON

JERRY SHANKO

WHEN I LIVED IN THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY, I loved taking long walks along the Hudson in all four seasons. I always thought there was something different about that river. Something majestic, something old, something... mysterious. Thats what I was thinking while I watched one of the evening news magazine shows two days after the Hudson River miracle plane crash on January 15, 2009. Like millions of people everywhere, I had seen the initial reports and needed to see more. The more I saw, the more mesmerized I became.

Then I thought about Charlotte, the planned destination of US Airways Flight 1549. I lived there for seven years while a sports reporter for The Charlotte Observer, back when newspapers were still vibrant and Michael Jordan was a college kid. What must it have been like to be sitting in that plane heading to Charlotte and winding up crashing in the river, then walking away from it, I wondered. As I learned more details about just how unfathomable this whole near-death experience had been, I felt a stirring. What just happened here? What did it mean?

You have to write a book about this! my wife, Krista, blurted out.

I know, I said. Its the passengers.... Theres something here, something important.

As a counselor, personal historian, and teacher of memoirwriting classes, I have long been drawn to explore how dramatic life experience can serve as a gateway to a profound new perspective or approach to life. But how would I even find these 150 passengers? What would I say if I did find them? How would I earn the trust of people whose lives had just been turned upside down by a combination of terror and jubilation, all about a half-hour apart? How would I explain why I wanted to write such a book, and why on earth they might consider joining me?

Two days later I was making initial phone calls. I tried to find the right words. I do not mean to disturb you during this traumatic time, I would begin. Its just that I feel this... calling.

And so began my connection with dozens of passengers of Flight 1549. I followed a trail that led me on many twists and turns. When the task of somehow bringing together a sizable group of passengers who hardly knew one another initially appeared too daunting, I worked with one passenger. Then, as they began to bond in cyberspace and in person, I shifted course and reached out to a larger contingent of survivors and first responders.

With the scope of the project expanding, I knew I needed a partner to assist me. That was an easy choice: Dorothy Firman, a friend and colleague who had coauthored three of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Thankfully, she said yes right away, and she kept saying yes through the many days and weeks when she could have found so many very good reasons to say no. I cant imagine anyone who could have more clearly grasped what this book was about, and what it could be, nor anyone who could smoothly cocreate pivotal decisions while in the midst of a long trip to Russia, Norway, Finland, and Sweden, presenting on her own books.

Momentum for our book began to gather, then disperse across different paths, then gradually return in a new configuration. All along we held to an idea. All along we have felt honored and deeply appreciative of the connections we have forged with these wonderfully ordinary people from Flight 1549.

Now they are here, willing to share who they are and what happened to them, and to try to make some sense out of this celebrated second chance at life. Theyre here because one way or another they too sense that theres more going on than an uplifting story that captured a public starved for positive news in troubled times.

None of us can know, of course, but we wonder. Not just about the details but the meaning. Could it be that the more we open ourselves to the inspiring lessons and messages this miracle may hold for us, the more our own hearts will be stirred? Could it be that somewhere in those poignant images of passengers standing so peacefully and confidently on the water-covered wings lay the seeds that can help us find the courage, strength, and faith that we as individuals and as a nation need today?

Thats what I wanted to explore from that moment two days after the miracle. Thats what I am continuing to explore. And thats what we invite you to explore with us.

Kevin Quirk

This has been no ordinary book project and many people came together to make it possible. Our deepest appreciation goes to the twenty-five passengers and first responders from Flight 1549 who have shared their personal stories and their commitment to make a difference in the world. Special thanks to passengers Mark Hood and Don Norton for helping to lay the foundation.

Many thanks to our literary agent, Matthew Carnicelli and the folks at Trident Media Group who recognized the real impact of the Hudson River miracle. At HCI Books, Editorial Director Michele Matrisciani, Web Designer Nicole Haye, Communications Director Kim Weiss, and President Peter Vegso have devoted themselves to books that make a difference. Their faith in this, as an important book, has paved the way.

Kevin appreciates the encouragement from the students of his Fall 09 Writing Your Life Story classes at the University of Virginia School of Continuing and Professional Studies and OLLI, as well as aspiring author Alden Bigelow. Kevin especially extends his gratitude to his wife, Krista Weih, and son, Aibek, for their love, support, and guidance. Kristas ideas were always on target and delivered with compassion for the survivors of Flight 1549 and those who can learn from them.

Dorothy wishes to thank her husband, Ted, who has been there for every one of lifes endeavors over more than thirtyfive years. And to our children and grandchildren, who are the future. A special thank you to the passengers I interviewed who knew a bit about the story of my critically ill sister and offered, unhesitatingly, their love and support. Thank you, especially, Barry. Your thoughtfulness knows no bounds. To my sister, who is regaining her health, I offer my love. And to my parents, who at ninety years old have spent their lives being good people, I have nothing but gratitude.