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CNN Live Today

Survivor of September 11 Attacks Leaves Hospital

Aired January 29, 2002 - 14:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Back here in the U.S., a long hospital stay is over for one of the survivors of the World Trade Center attack. Elaine Duch was sent home today. Despite a long recovery ahead, Duch says she is lucky to be alive.

And our Jason Carroll is joining us from New York. He was right there as she shared her amazing story. Jason, hello.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And, Daryn, you said it, it truly is an amazing story, a remarkable story. Elaine Duch has been released from the Cornell Burn Center. She is going to be on her way to a rehabilitation center.

As you said, it's been a long road for her. And earlier today, we got a chance to hear her story about what happened. We can some share details with you. She's 49 years old. She worked as an administrative assistant for the Port Authority up on the 88th floor of the World Trade Center. And she was on the 88th floor in Tower One when that first plane hit. She said that she was standing in a hallway, and that if she had just been standing just a few feet ahead, she probably would not be here today.

She walked down more than 40 flights before she could get outside and get help. She had burns covering more than 77 percent of her body. She also suffered from severe smoke inhalation. But she survived, seven surgeries later, and a bout of pneumonia as well as a blood infection. She says she survived, and a little earlier, she talked about what it took to bring her through this entire ordeal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELAINE DUCH, WORLD TRADE CENTER SURVIVOR: A strong will. I didn't want to die. God saved me. Like I said, if I was a few feet further in, I would have been blown up.

JANET DUCH, WORLD TRADE CENTER SURVIVOR: I know she thanks God that she's here. She realizes she's a miracle and she wants to get back to the way she was. And I think she's going to work hard towards her rehabilitation to get back, you know, the way she was.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: Not only were Elaine's sisters there to lend their support, but her doctors were there and one very special man. His name is Paul Adams. That is the paramedic that was there that helped to rescue her on that day on September 11. And apparently, he has been visiting her every Sunday in the hospital to lend his support, but now he is going to have to visit her, Daryn, a little further away. He'll have to visit her at that rehabilitation center, which is located in White Plains, New York. But everyone out there just wishing her the best and wishing her a speedy recovery -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Something tells me he'd be more than willing to make that drive. Looks like they've gotten very close. She seemed like a very determined woman and she said she just wants to be like she was. Do doctors give any kind of indication about the road ahead for her?

CARROLL: Well, Daryn, as you might imagine, it's definitely going to be a long road for her. In terms of rehabilitation, there's a lot of stretching that's going to have to be done, muscle work that's going to have to be done. But they don't want to do so much to cause more scaring. So it's definitely going to be a long, painful road for this woman, for Elaine Duch.

But you saw her there. I mean, she's got the kind of spirit that seems like it can pull her through just about anything.

KAGAN: I would not bet against her, I will tell you that. Jason Carroll, thanks for bringing us that inspirational story, really appreciate it.

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