Light from the darkness: The children born on 9/11
On 11 September, 2001, Nicole Tauber had just gone into labour in New Jersey, around 50 miles from the centre of New York City.
It’s a relatively short distance in terms of the scale of the US and Nicole said she felt everything that was going on as she tried to bring her baby son into the world.
On the morning that Josh was born, thousands of people were murdered when four planes were hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Centre in New York, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and one into a field in Pennsylvania.
Today, Josh Tauber comes of age. His mother says he was the brightest light that came out of the darkest day.
Thinking back, Nicole admits his birthday still overwhelms her.
She told Metro.co.uk: ‘My son has just started freshman year at the University of Tampa.
‘We live in New Jersey and he was born in NJ so we were affected by everything going on around us.
‘It was a nightmare in a lot of regards to be perfectly honest with you.
‘And a crazy story.’
Nicole said the story of her son’s birth affects her more than him, ‘for obvious reasons’.
She added: ‘It’s still very strange and overwhelming.
‘And yet the best day because my favorite person in the world was born.’
The attack on New York’s iconic Twin Towers forever changed the country and it’s ripples are still felt, not just by the thousands of people injured and the relatives of those who lost their lives, but by everyone alive to witness it on television screens across the world.
The anniversary is still, for many, an understandably painful day. For Josh and his family, who should rightfully be celebrating, it is a day of mixed emotions.
One thing Nicole holds on to, is the hope Josh’s birth offered her on a day consumed by tragedy.
She said: ‘He’s such a compassionate, warm, loving boy, it kind of makes sense that something so pure, innocent and special came out of such a terrible horrifying day.
‘I always say every year on his birthday: out of this terribly dark day came a light so bright it gives me hope for the future.’
William Faber, who also turns 18 today, may have helped to save his grandfather’s life by being born on 11 September.
William was born in South Riding, Virginia, just 20 miles from The Pentagon, which was hit at 9.37am and burst into flames.
His grandfather Michael Naylon was scheduled to attend a meeting at The Pentagon and he had initially moved it from 10 September as his daughter had a caesarean scheduled.
But the surgery was moved to a day later.
William’s mother Michelle called her parents and said: ‘How about a 911 baby?’. Michael moved his meeting back to the 10th.
Had William been born a day earlier as planned, Michelle’s father may not have made it.
Michelle told Metro.co.uk that William has this year started as a freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, two hours from home.
She agreed with Nicole, admitting William’s birthday is bittersweet for the family.
Michelle said: ‘It’s one of the best days of my life – our son was born – he essentially saved my dad’s life but it’s also hard not to feel a sense of guilt.
‘We desperately want to celebrate this life given to us this day, but need to remain mindful that 3,263 people lost their lives.
‘We’ve always told William we felt like while he wasn’t supposed to be born that day, he was meant to be born that day.’
Speaking to the Washington Post on the 10th anniversary of the attack in 2011, Michelle said: ‘He’s the special part of that day and while there were many lives lost that day, maybe he replaced one.
‘He was the good that came out of it.’
Were you born on 11 September 2001? Do you want to share your story? Get in touch, email zoe.drewett@metro.co.uk.