On September 11, 2001, Genelle Guzman-McMillan was working on the 64th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center when it was hit by the second hijacked plane. As she and her coworkers began evacuating, the building suddenly collapsed.

Trapped under concrete and steel, Genelle lay buried in the rubble for nearly 27 hours—alone, injured, and unsure if she’d survive. She prayed, thought of her daughter, and held on to hope. Rescuers eventually heard her voice and pulled her out. She was the last person found alive at Ground Zero.

Genelle’s story of survival is one of faith, strength, and resilience. Today, she shares her experience to inspire others, reminding the world that even in the darkest moments, hope can survive.