**The Miraculous Survival of Genelle Guzman-McMillan: A 9/11 Story**
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Genelle Guzman-McMillan’s life took an extraordinary turn on the morning of September 11, 2001. At 30, she was working as an office temp on the 64th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center when it was struck by a hijacked plane at 8:46 AM. As chaos erupted, she faced a fight for survival that would last over 27 hours beneath the wreckage of the tower.
The horrific events of that day began to unfold as many employees rushed to escape the building. Just 15 minutes after the North Tower was hit, a second plane collided with the South Tower, further adding to the panic and confusion. Guzman-McMillan, along with her colleagues, attempted to evacuate via the stairwells but paused briefly on the 13th floor to remove her high-heeled shoes.
It was during this brief moment that fate would cast its shadow. The North Tower collapsed at 10:28 AM, burying Guzman-McMillan under a mountain of debris. Trapped and unable to move, she felt the crushing weight of the rubble atop her and was enveloped in darkness. Overwhelmed by pain and despair, she thought her time was near.
“I felt like I was there forever. I just thought I was dreaming. I didn’t know if anybody was going to find me,” she recalled in later interviews. Guzman-McMillan was conscious of the world above her, hearing the muffled sounds of chaos, yet she could not call out for help. The dust and rubble weighed heavily on her, both physically and emotionally, while she battled the thought of impending death.
In a moment of desperation, Guzman-McMillan turned to faith. With thoughts of her daughter, Kimberly, who was just 12 at the time, she prayed for a miracle. Her commitment to prayer paid off when a voice broke through the silence. “I feel like he said, ‘I got you. My name is Paul,’” she recounted, describing how a rescuer, whom she later referred to as her angel, found her and provided comfort amidst the dire situation.
Ultimately rescued after an extensive search, Guzman-McMillan was transported to a nearby hospital where she spent over a month recovering from numerous injuries, including a crushed leg and severe burns. Throughout her ordeal, her boyfriend, Roger McMillan, remained by her side, offering unwavering support as the couple faced uncertainty together. In the wake of the trauma, Guzman-McMillan asked Roger to marry her, a testament to their deepening bond forged through adversity.
On November 7, 2001, they wed in a civil ceremony, and the couple later reaffirmed their vows with family and friends in July 2002. As the years passed, they welcomed two daughters while raising Guzman-McMillan’s daughter from a previous relationship, forming a close-knit family on Long Island.
Reflecting on the events of 9/11 and its impact on their lives, Roger McMillan expressed gratitude for the second chance they were given. “We appreciate each other knowing that there was a 99% I almost lost somebody that I fell in love with,” he remarked. Guzman-McMillan herself has navigated complex feelings of ‘survivor’s remorse’—wondering why she survived when so many others did not. Her gratitude for life is evident, as she shared, “I was given a new life.”
In a remarkable twist of fate, Guzman-McMillan has sought to find her rescuer, Paul, but has yet to locate him. She believes that he was truly her angel sent to guide her through a near-impossible situation.
Today, Guzman-McMillan works as a supervisor for the Port Authority at LaGuardia Airport. Her perspective on life has shifted dramatically since that fateful day, as she continues to grow in her faith and inspire others. She encourages her community to persevere in the face of adversity, believing firmly that “God has a bigger plan for me.”
As a poignant reminder of her journey and resilience, Guzman-McMillan’s life story has been retold in the Lifetime film “Angel in the Rubble: The Genelle Guzman Story,” starring Sherri Shepherd, which premiered on September 12, 2026. Ahead of the premiere, her daughter Kimberly spoke about the impact of that day, expressing faith that their bond is part of a divine plan.
Genelle Guzman-McMillan’s story serves as a powerful testament to the human spirit’s capacity for survival, hope, and the indelible strength born from overcoming unimaginable challenges.