“We Will Never Forget: Honoring the Lives Lost on September 11”.1025
“To all those we lost on September 11th, and those we continue to lose because of that day — may God welcome them among His blessed and surround them with the protection of angels in Heaven.”
These words, simple yet profound, carry the weight of a nation’s grief, the echoes of a world forever changed on that fateful morning. On September 11, 2001, the lives of thousands were taken in an instant, leaving families shattered, communities scarred, and a country grappling with a loss so immense it defies comprehension. But even as the smoke cleared and the dust settled, the memory of those who perished refused to fade. It lingered in photographs, in stories told by survivors, and in the hearts of every person who witnessed the aftermath.
Among the dead were ordinary men and women, people who had lived humble, quiet lives, unaware that their final moments would be etched into the history of humanity. Firefighters charged up stairwells toward danger when others fled, police officers directed panicked crowds to safety, and office workers made desperate calls to loved ones, offering words of comfort in a moment when no comfort seemed possible. Every life lost carried a story—a family left behind, a dream unfinished, a laugh that would never again echo through the halls of a home or office.
But the tragedy of that day did not end with the collapse of the towers or the lives lost in the skies over Pennsylvania and the Pentagon. In the years that followed, countless others have suffered the lingering effects: first responders battling illnesses caused by the toxic dust, families coping with unresolved grief, and a nation continually reminded of the fragility of life. Each anniversary brings back memories, each memorial service rekindles pain, and yet, each act of remembrance is a testament to resilience, love, and the human spirit’s refusal to forget.
Prayer, reflection, and memorials have become the threads that weave the lives of the living with the memories of the dead. People gather every year at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, leaving flowers, photographs, and personal mementos. Bells toll in solemn tribute. Stories are recounted, tears are shed, and hearts are united in shared sorrow and reverence. Through this remembrance, the legacy of those lost is not one of fear or despair but of courage, devotion, and an enduring impact that continues to shape the lives of those left behind.
May God welcome all those who perished on September 11th into His loving arms, surrounding them with angels and eternal peace. May He comfort the families who continue to feel the void, granting them strength, hope, and healing. And may we, as a nation and as individuals, never forget the lessons of compassion, bravery, and unity that arose from that dark day. For though the shadows of September 11th will never fully disappear, the light of memory, honor, and human resilience shines on, guiding us to stand together, to cherish life, and to honor those who gave everything so that others might live.
WE WILL NEVER FORGET.
“The Baby of the Family, Fighting the Battle of Her Life”.1044
She’s the baby of the family… and she’s in the fight of her life.
Six-year-old Anahi Yvarra should be spending her days laughing with her sister, running around the yard, and dreaming about what she wants to be when she grows up. Instead, most of her days are spent inside hospital walls, surrounded by nurses, doctors, and IV poles that have become as familiar to her as toys once were.
At just five years old, Anahi was diagnosed with leukemia — a word that shattered her parents’ world. In a single moment, their lives shifted from ordinary routines to a relentless battle against cancer. What followed was months of tests, treatments, and side effects that no child should ever have to endure.
For Anahi, the treatments have been grueling. Some days, she’s too weak to lift her head from the pillow. Others, she fights waves of nausea and pain. Her hair has thinned, her energy drained, but her spirit — though tested — still shines through in the rare moments she feels strong enough to smile.
Her parents have carried her through it all. Anahi’s father has been disabled since 2018, leaving her mother to take on the role of full-time caregiver. Their days revolve around medication schedules, appointments, and making sure Anahi is as comfortable as possible. The strain is heavy, emotionally and financially, but giving up is not an option.
They take each day one step at a time. On Anahi’s good days, they make the most of it. They celebrate the little victories — when she has enough strength to walk outside, when she can eat her favorite meal, when laughter fills the house instead of silence. On the harder days, when pain and exhaustion keep her confined to bed, they lean on faith.
Her older sister has become a quiet source of strength for the family. She says that prayers from friends, neighbors, and even strangers help keep their parents from losing hope. In their darkest moments, those prayers feel like lifelines, reminding them they are not alone in this fight.
For Anahi’s family, hope is everything. Hope that the next treatment will bring progress. Hope that she will one day ring the victory bell in the hospital, declaring herself cancer-free. Hope that their little girl will have the chance to grow up, to live the life every child deserves.
They know the road ahead is long and uncertain, but they refuse to stop believing. Their faith tells them miracles are possible, even when doctors’ reports are hard to hear. Their love for Anahi pushes them forward, even when exhaustion threatens to overwhelm them.
What they ask now is simple: to keep Anahi in your heart. To share her story so more people can lift her name in prayer, surround her family with love, and remind them that they are not walking this road alone.
Because in battles like these, community matters. Faith matters. And most of all, love matters.
Six-year-old Anahi may be the baby of her family, but she is showing a strength far beyond her years. And with each prayer whispered and each act of kindness shared, her family finds the courage to keep fighting alongside her. 💜
