08/12/2025
Never heard this before today … ❤️🦮❤️
#9/11
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Michael Hingson was at his desk on the 78th floor of the North Tower. Blind since birth, he couldn’t witness the flames or falling debris, but he could feel the deep shudders in the building and hear the chaos erupting around him. At his side, his guide dog Roselle awoke from her nap, calm and composed, her steady presence assuring Michael that escape was still possible.
Together, they began the long journey down—1,463 steps—through smoke-filled stairwells, the sharp stench of jet fuel, injured people, and the rising tide of panic. When a coworker cried out in despair, Michael replied gently, “If Roselle and I can make it, so can you.”
Step by step, Roselle led the way, passing firefighters rushing upward—heroes who would never return. Just minutes after they reached the ground floor, the tower gave way. Outside, the air turned to a suffocating cloud of dust, plunging everyone into darkness. But for Michael, who had lived without sight his entire life, this was a world he already knew how to navigate.
Guided by Roselle, they moved through the wreckage until she paused at the edge of a stairway that led down to fresh air and safety. That day, Roselle didn’t just lead her owner out of danger—she became a living symbol of courage, trust, and the quiet power of a dog’s loyalty.