It was September 11, 2001.
Sarah Rudder was earning a promotion from the Marine Corps at Ground Zero, the Pentagon, in Washington DC.
But what started as one of the best days for Rudder soon turned into a nightmare when a plane crashed into the symbolic building, shaking ground to its core.
Watch her inspiring story below.
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Video credit: Rumble
At the time, Rudder wouldn’t even have imagined that she was going to embark on a journey of depression that would end after a long 13 years.
Rudder instantly sprang into action, helping the rescue operation at the Pentagon.
While searching for survivors in a pile of debris with a search team, Rudder shattered her ankle in a painful injury.
The 9/11 attacks left her so angry that the woman didn’t even go to a medic and kept easing her pain with alcohol.
Unfortunately, the injury worsened and she had to undergo amputation.
Soon after that, Rudder was discharged from the service on medical grounds. She found herself terribly helpless and plunged into the depths of depression.
“I was so angry because I saw the devastation that was left behind from 9/11,” she recalled.
“The anger I held inside for them not allowing me to do my job and work side by side with my brothers and sisters in arms and fight for what I saw happen that day, to this day I still hold anger inside.”
After years of living in severe depression, Rudder discovered Catch A Lift Fund which helped her in rekindling her fighting spirit.
The motto of the organization is “Changing Bodies, Healing Minds, Saving Lives.”
Rudder was inspired when she learned the stories of other vets, some of who had injuries way worse than hers but were still satisfied with their lives.
Interacting with peers, going to the gym and lifting weights on a regular basis helped her deal with her anger, eventually helping her overcome the trauma she faced in life.
Replaced!