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9/11 Survivor: From Breakdancing to Trauma Triumph
12 Sep
Summary
- Survivor escaped the 46th floor of the North Tower during 9/11.
- She found healing through meditation and writing her memoir.
- Her story emphasizes finding oneness even in worst experiences.
Annabel Quintero, then 25, was pursuing her dreams in New York City when she experienced the September 11th attacks firsthand. She was on the 46th floor of the North Tower when the event began, initiating a harrowing escape. Quintero has since found peace and strength through meditation.
Her escape involved a unique rhythm of 'step, step, jump' down the stairs, a phrase that later inspired her memoir. She navigated through the debris and chaos, encountering firefighters and others also seeking safety.
Quintero eventually relocated to West Seattle. It took years before she felt ready to share her story publicly, a journey catalyzed by a flashback during a political event in 2018.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she began writing her memoir, "Step Step Jump: Transforming Trauma to Triumph from the 46th Floor." The book details her experiences and the profound realization of oneness she felt in a church after the attack.
She advocates for an end to war, reflecting on the 25 years of conflict and the lasting trauma it inflicts, while honoring survivors and victims.
