A Red Cross volunteer who survived both terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center is urgently seeking assistance as her body turns against itself due to an autoimmune condition. Jenn Ashcraft, now 60, was present at the World Trade Center on February 26, 1993, when a truck bomb exploded beneath the North Tower, killing six and injuring over 1,000. She was also there on September 11, 2001, when two planes struck the towers, causing their collapse and killing nearly 3,000 people.
After surviving these attacks, Ashcraft moved to Prescott, Arizona, where she began volunteering for the American Red Cross. 'It was a way for me to heal and to honor all of those firefighters that lost their lives,' she told 12 News. She has been battling health issues for decades, but her condition has recently worsened dramatically. Ashcraft describes the pain as her body burning from the inside out.
'My cuticles started bleeding. My skin developed some type of an attack, which now basically means my antibodies are attacking my body,' said Ashcraft from a hospital bed. Doctors have diagnosed her with a serious autoimmune disease, causing numerous severe symptoms, including abnormal and speckled red blood cells, bleeding nail cuticles and hair follicles, painful skin wounds appearing overnight, and severe inflammation throughout her body and skull, according to a fundraiser.
Ashcraft also endures constant and sometimes unbearable physical pain, post-traumatic stress injury, and damage to her retina and vision. A GoFundMe campaign supporting her recovery notes that she has dealt with medical issues since the 1993 attack. She suffered a ruptured middle ear and dislocated left jaw, later corrected surgically. She also experienced severe electrical shock sensations in her skull, arms, hands, and legs. Metal shrapnel was found lodged in her legs and feet, with some pieces surgically removed. She has chronic tinnitus, blood cell abnormalities detected after the attack, and lasting emotional and psychological trauma.
Her list of conditions grew after 9/11, leading to a diagnosis of conversion syndrome, causing disruptions in brain signals. The campaign adds that she suddenly lost use of her left leg and right arm and experienced blackouts, requiring hospitalization and weeks of recovery. In 2014, due to overwhelming medical conditions and mounting bills, she lost her home. The Mayo Clinic declared her disabled, but she was denied Social Security benefits. The World Trade Center Health Program, which provides healthcare for survivors and first responders with 9/11-related health issues, does not recognize autoimmune diseases, as reported by 12 News.
Ashcraft hopes her story will spotlight the ongoing challenges faced by survivors decades after the tragedies. According to the outlet, petitions have recently been launched to add autoimmune disorders to the Health Program's list of covered conditions.
