9/11 Survivor’s Ongoing Battle: A Burning Inside

Imagine living through not one, but two of the most devastating events in modern history. For Jenn Ashcraft, a dedicated Red Cross volunteer, this isn’t a hypothetical scenario – it’s her reality. She was present during the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and then again on September 11, 2001. While she survived these horrific attacks, the story didn’t end there. Decades later, Jenn is battling a new, internal enemy, describing a pain that feels like her body is ‘burning from the inside.’

A Double Dose of Tragedy

Jenn Ashcraft’s connection to the World Trade Center is tragically profound. Her first brush with disaster occurred on February 26, 1993. She was inside the complex when a powerful truck bomb detonated in the parking garage beneath the North Tower. This attack, though less publicized than 9/11, injured over a thousand people and claimed the lives of six.

Less than a decade later, on September 11, 2001, Jenn found herself at the World Trade Center once more. As the world watched in horror, two planes struck the towers, leading to their eventual collapse and the deaths of approximately 3,000 people. To survive both of these catastrophic events is almost unimaginable.

The Lingering Health Crisis

After relocating to Prescott, Arizona, Jenn continued her service by volunteering with the Red Cross. However, the physical toll of her experiences began to manifest. For years, she’d dealt with health issues, but recently, her condition has taken a severe turn. She shared with 12 News that her symptoms include bleeding cuticles and skin issues, explaining, ‘My skin developed some type of an attack, which now basically means my antibodies are attacking my body.’

An Autoimmune Diagnosis

Doctors eventually diagnosed Jenn with an autoimmune disease. This is a condition where the body’s own immune system, which is supposed to protect it, mistakenly targets and attacks healthy cells and tissues. The symptoms Jenn is experiencing are not only painful but also relentless, significantly impacting her quality of life.

Seeking Support and Recognition

Now, Jenn is bravely reaching out for help as she navigates these mounting health challenges. Her GoFundMe page reveals that while the Mayo Clinic declared her disabled, she has been denied Social Security benefits. Compounding her struggles, the World Trade Center Health Program currently does not recognize autoimmune diseases as conditions directly linked to the attacks.

Jenn’s story is a stark reminder of the long-term, often invisible, consequences faced by survivors of traumatic events like 9/11. It highlights the critical need for comprehensive support and recognition for the health battles that continue decades later.