Bon Secours Hampton Roads is very proud of our sister hospital for their efforts on September 11. In our country’s time of need,  Bon Secours Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York, leapt into action ready to help. Praying that many would survive the attacks on the World Trade Center, just a short drive away, they prepared for the worst. Their trauma center was ready to sustain life and heal the injured, but their preparedness turned to despair as the hours went by and no survivors arrived. Knowing this meant there were many lives lost, the tears began to flow. However their resolve to help did not fade. Michael Lippe MD, Joe Bonsignore, coordinator of outreach services for the hospital’s emergency department, and Ray Florida, director of Rockland Paramedic Service, mobilized a caravan of ambulances and emergency professionals and headed for the city. They soon experienced a sickening realization that ambulances weren’t really needed either. So, they hopped in a paramedic car and drove to the base of building 7 of the World Trade Center.
They recall seeing the heartbreaking remnants of office belongings strewn about the scene. Here, a ledger sheet burned around the edges. There, someone’s phone list. Over there, a lone shoe. “These things were everywhere,” he said.
 They took to helping rescue workers with their varied injuries, but the group still felt helpless without heavy equipment to assist in clearing the debris. When glass windows from adjoining buildings started falling to the ground the team was forced to retreat. Without hard hats, they were in a position to be added to the injured list. “It was very frustrating,” said Lippe, “like most Americans, we had a tremendous desire to help.”
Meanwhile, back at Good Samaritan Hospital, an overwhelming show of support was forming. The lobby filled with blood donors. The auditorium was packed with staff and supporters. Free crisis counseling was offered to all, and a memorial wall was set up in the lobby and remains a special place of remembrance.
As the staff of Good Samaritan helped receive blood donations and comforted all who entered, stories of the tragedy were shared. Tom and Delores Baker, who live near the hospital, were among the hundreds who gave blood. Their reason for wanting to help was very simple and deeply personal. Tom had escaped unhurt from his 25th story office in the north tower of the World Trade Center, which was the first to be hit in the terrorist attack.
“Organized and calm” is how Baker described the 25-story descent down the stairs. “There were two lines of people coming down the stairs. Then at the 15th flo or there was one line down and one line up, as the firefighters worked their way towards the devastation. There was a somber mood among the firefighters,” said Baker, who describes a haunting image of the faces of countless firefighters who passed by him. Baker speaks highly of the courage and calming influence the firefighters had over the people in the stairway. “As they walked by us they kept telling everyone over and over that it was going to be fine. And I could tell, looking into their faces, they knew it wasn’t going to be fine,” said Baker. “I stared into the eyes of a lot of the firemen and I know that a lot of them didn’t come down.”
God bless all of you who came to the aid of your fellow man on September 11, 2001.
Kudos to Bon Secours for matching employee donations to the disaster relief fund up to $100,000!
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