Regina aka Reggie Cervantes

Regina Cervantes was transported by the New York Fire Department to Shea Stadium, where she organized the medical component of the staging, and then she was transported on the first team to Ground Zero.

She re-staged triage, and  continued to treat rescue workers and injured people at the scene until after 9:00 P.M. that evening.

Going home, and returned on the 13th and then on the 14th, … by that time, her airway was so burned she could barely speak. Regina sought medical care on that Saturday, and she struggled ever since to catch her breath when she walks, and has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gastro-esophageal re-flux disease, chronic asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks.

On the 13th, she received a hard hat on the pier on the West Side prior to going in, never owned a hard hat before.

Regina had her jump bag, her gear from home, when she left on the 11th, had a dust mask, and wore that for a few hours earlier on 9/11, but other than that, when it was too wet from the moisture from breathing and too clogged on the other side from the dust, she had to discard it.

Then it was just a matter of continuously inhaling and gasping. And when you opened your mouth, you ingested the dust and the smoke.

As a volunteer emergency medical technician, Regina fell outside the realm of organized Fire Department or EMS.

As a volunteer, you know, basically we’ve been on our own ever since.

She is a 9/11 EMT survivor.

Regina’s message is of empowerment and growth. “We are not a product of our circumstances but we are molded by them.”

She has been featured internationally in news articles, magazines, news clips, documentaries …

“Reggie is dedicated, motivated, energetic and easy to interact with on any level.”

“Reggie is a true professional, an articulate orator”

“Held our audience attention.”