BRAMA, September 13, 2002, 1:00pm ET

Birth and death under threat of bombs: One year later, a family mourns a 911 victim
— H. Krill

© HK/BRAMA The family of 911 victim Oleh Wengerchuk at the Ukrainian Museum. (l-r) Ostap Wengerchuk (brother), Stephania Czorny (mother), Andrea Wengerchuk (daughter), Oksana Wengerchuk (wife).

The new exhibit at the Ukrainian Museum titled "SEPTEMBER 11th 2001 IN THE UKRAINIAN PRESS" includes memorial boards for two of the Ukrainian-American victims of 911. The exhibit features photographs, articles and editorials published in the Ukrainian American media, along with the HBO Documentary Film "In Memoriam: New York City 9-11-01." The exhibit will be on display through October 6. Visit the Ukrainian Museum website for more information. The Ukrainian Museum 203 Second Avenue New York, NY 10003 Tel: 212 228-0110 e-mail: info@ukrainianmuseum.org

The story of an infant barely surviving the harsh circumstances of war can be a miraculous one. Coupled with an account of death in the 911 attacks, the story of the same child becomes strangely prophetic. Stephania Czorny, mother of 911 victim Oleh Wengerchuk, emotionally recounts her escape towards the end World War II from Berlin to Vienna, pregnant and still carrying her older son Ostap in her arms. She went into labor shortly after reaching Vienna. Amid the air raids with bombs shattering glass on the table where she lay, left alone when the air raid siren sounded, Mrs. Czorny was grateful to the lone physician who dared remain to help her deliver the baby. Born prematurely at 6 and 1/2 months, the infant was unlikely to survive. As the air raid sirens sounded again, she pressed her fragile newborn son to her breast and gingerly carried him down seven flights of stairs, herself severely weakened by the labor.

To everyone's amazement, not only did Oleh survive, but he flourished. He seemed to defy the conventional medical wisdom of the day with deliberate intent as he grew and became stronger. Eventually, the Czorny's immigrated to the United States and settled in New York City. Oleh became quite the athlete - he enjoyed skiing, and was a powerful enough swimmer to swim the Long Island Sound. He was also talented, and took pleasure in sculpting. Oleh was married, had a daughter, and a good job working for Washington Group International as a designer - on the 91st floor of the World Trade Center, tower 2.

On the morning of September 11th, 2001, Oleh's wife, Oksana, went to work as usual. His daughter, Andrea, did the same, but both came home as soon as word of the attacks spread at their respective places of employment. From the moment of the attacks they were undergoing an emotional trauma that the rest of us can only imagine. First there was the hope of finding Oleh. Andrea spoke about the endless hours of television programs about the attacks that she carefully watched hoping against hope that she would catch a glimpse of her father in the crowds running from the falling towers. Oksana told about the telephone calls to Oleh's office, but reaching only his voice mail. Her optimism rose, thinking that he's probably making his way out of the building. Then came the searches at local hospitals - maybe he didn't have his ID, maybe something hit his head and he's walking around with amnesia. "That first week," Andrea says, "was hell."

Oksana says that they watch new footage as it's released just as intently even now, with the hope that they will see something new, "any new piece of information that will tell us something we didn't know before." Talking about it, seeing the videos, looking at pictures, going to Ground Zero - all offer a connection, a sense of closeness to the moment of Oleh's death that they cannot get otherwise. His remains were never found.

Mrs. Czorny deeply mourns her son Oleh's death but is grateful that he had the opportunity to live a full life. Still, she says, "at age 55 ... if his death had at least been for something … but it was for nothing."

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