Naples couple met on 9/11 and built a life from tragedy

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK) — A family's 9/11 story turned into something unexpected.

For Barbara Madera, 9/11 started like it did for many New Yorkers. She was close to the World Trade Center, about three or four blocks away.

"I mean, I woke up, and I thought, it's nice today. It's going to be a great day," Madera said.

She was close enough to feel the trouble starting and a change under that perfect September sky. The moment she got out of her car, she knew something was wrong.

"So, you can feel the rumble. You can, I mean, it was scary. You knew something was not right in the air," Madera said.

The terror and tragedy unfolded. For Madera, life changed in the very next moment.

"I wasn't too far from my working place, and I got to the door, and the door wouldn't open, and I kind of panicked because I'm outside," Madera said.

She had four children and couldn't control her crying. A gentleman outside the next building waved her over and asked her to sit down.

"He was a security guard, and he said, 'Hi, my name is George. Why are you crying?' And I said to him, 'My children. I have to get my children, and I don't know how I'm going to go get them.' And he was just so kind and said, 'Well, don't worry. I guess the goal is to get the children,'" Madera said.

They started to walk home. There were no subways and no cars.

"We had to walk all the way back to the Bronx," Madera said.

By the time they got the children, George was stranded. She asked him to stay, and he never left.

A life began on that terrible Tuesday with their moment in Manhattan.

When asked if he knew he was going to marry her, George said he never thought he was going to get married. He's been there all these years and is now "pops" and "dad".

"It feels like family. I love it, man," George said.

They now look at a lifetime of pictures together with those four children who became their mission on 9/11. Barbara's favorite picture is George with all of the children.

"That is my heart in one frame," Madera said.

They still celebrate their life together, but not in September. Almost 3,000 people died on 9/11, so they don't celebrate around that time.

"We save it for June, and it's just an easier transition for us, so we don't hurt anybody, and we have our moment as well, because we will never forget," Madera said.

The moments, the memories and the lessons remain with them.

"Enjoy your family because you know one day they can be here, one day they won't be here," George said.