When Oral Patrick lost his job as a computer systems engineer on the 83rd floor of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center on 9/10/2001, he assumed his future had ended.
According to his account, the superior who summoned him to an office to inform him of his termination unfairly chose him to be the first victim of what was described as a scaling down of staffers.
Patrick said at that time, all he surmised was how he was escorted out and summarily dismissed.
The next morning, he drove to New York from his New Jersey home and, as he always did when entering the city, looked at his former workplace, reminiscing about the best times he shared with associates.
Simultaneous to his meditative moment, he said he recalled seeing a small plane crashing into one of the towers.
Like many others, his initial reaction to Tuesday’s primary election was that the craft might be a minor distraction.
But at a second glance, he noticed smoke billowing from the sky.
Patrick said he immediately turned on his car radio to hear the devastating news that an American Airlines passenger jetliner had breached airspace to act like a missile against the world-famous landmark.
According to Patrick, he was devastated, pondering the fate of his former associates. He later heard Al Qaeda had waged a terrorist attack on two of the tallest buildings in the world, resulting in the deaths of 2977 individuals with 16 casualties from his birthplace. Reportedly, hijackers commandeered two planes into the towers.
The date that records a day of infamy, September 11, indelibly inscribes in Patrick’s memory that had he not been fired one day earlier, he would have been a casualty—a statistic.
Typically, his workday begins around 7 a.m., but the tragedy occurred at 8:46 a.m.
As if his survival didn’t already merit mention, there’s more to detail in a book he collaborated with his daughter, Deborah.
“Restorative Healing Begins with Rest” is the health encyclopedia penned by the Patrick duo.
Although his offspring was born after America’s worst domestic attack, the Harvard-educated daughter joined forces with her dad to document the inspirational story.
From its miraculous storyline surrounding Patrick’s fortunate firing to his benevolent, unselfish mission to help in the rescue mission at Ground Zero to tear-jerking moments when he broached homelessness, lost friends, and probably questioned his faith, Patrick details how an immigrant persevered to triumph over adversities.
Patrick’s life story testifies to work ethics, yielding to nurturing mind, body, and spirit and the power of organic healing.
That REST formulates the first letters of the first word to the title is no coincidence.
Patrick seriously convinces readers that rest is the formula for healing and wellness.
Destiny might have spared him on 9/11, but it was double jeopardy when Patrick faced toxic conditions to volunteer his services helping at Ground Zero.
Patrick showed up to work for weeks after two planes splintered chemicals throughout lower Manhattan.
That dutiful service took its toll.
Patrick suffered from chronic eczema and bronchitis.
As fate would have it, he also overcame those debilitating health hazards.
His testimonies fill chapters for readers to peruse and adhere to.
Regarding faith, Patrick is also now a pastor in Garden State.
But that’s another chapter for another column.
The book is available at Amazon.com and all reputable bookstores.
Catch You On The Inside!
