Born on 9/11, turning 25

When Monica Spoletini tells people she was born on Sept. 11, 2001, "Nine times out of 10 I get a look and … nine times out of 10 the second question is 'on the year? On 2001?'

"And I just smile and (say) yep," she says.

2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the hijacked airplane strikes on the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and the crash of a fourth plane in Pennsylvania. All told, the attacks claimed the lives of 2,977 people, including 24 Canadians.

On that same day, as many as 13,238 people were born in the United States. It's not known exactly how many Canadians also took their first breath Sept. 11, 2011, but Statistics Canada says average daily births in September in that period numbered 1,067.

Among those Canadians were Monica and her twin brother, born in Chestermere, Alta. Both will turn 25 on Sept. 11. Spoletini now works as a hairdresser in Edmonton, where her family moved when she was 12. (Her brother declined an interview.)

Neither twin has yet visited the 9/11 memorial in New York City; however, they were acquainted with the events of 9/11 from a young age, because their father read them articles about it, says Monica Spoletini.

"(He) wanted to educate us a little bit (about) why everyone knows our birthday so much and why it's so recognized," Spoletini says.

One of her most vivid memories is of an old article that her parents framed on the wall, featuring her family. "I would say maybe (we were) eight or nine years old, and we could really understand why" it was so significant.

Christopher Rutkowski was born in Oshawa, Ont. on Sept. 11, 2001.

He says some of his friends believe he is a reincarnated 9/11 victim. "I was born about six hours before the first plane hit. And I have a birthmark on the right side of my face." His friends theorize that he was initially a financier working in the towers. "I didn't make it (out alive) — and then, 'real Christopher' was born."

Rutkowski has visited the memorial at the site of the World Trade Centre three times, the most recent visit in August.

"I never realized the gravity of my birthday until the first time my dad took me to New York when I was 10 years old," he says. He also visited on his 15th birthday.

With his father, he went to the Ground Zero museum, which he recalls displayed "steel columns and pillars and escalators (from the site)… and people's stories and phone recordings."

Rutkowski, who calls himself a "big reader," says he has spent years expanding his home library dedicated to 9/11 to properly commemorate the event.

The Spoletini twins, who had planned to visit the site some years ago, were delayed when COVID struck. Now that they lead independent lives, coordination is a bit of challenge, Monica Spoletini admits, adding that "it definitely is something that the two of us want to do together."

The challenge of being born on 9/11 has been difficult for some.

For instance, "My family pretends it isn't a thing. My birthday, I mean," one person wrote on Reddit. "I was born in NYC, actually between the time the first and second towers were hit. My parents were pretty scarred (sic) by it so we just pretend I don't have a birthday."

Another posted: "My best friend was born on the date. She gets a lot of sympathy aww's and, "Oh, honey" comments. She does joke that our high school has an assembly for her birthday every year though so … "

"My daughter was born on 9/11/2001 a few hours before the 1st plane hit. First few birthdays were rough for the family and we didn't celebrate day of but by now we do. I think it makes her feel kind of special being born that day. But she shows respect and knows the significance of the tragedy," wrote one mom.

For his part, Rutkowski believes in balancing both aspects of the date — taking joy at being born, yet honouring the victims of the tragedy: "It's a double-edged sword in a sense."

Spoletini feels the sadness too. But she also believes in a purpose: "I was raised religious, so normally… my parents would say: 'there was a reason God brought you into the world on that day.' I also believe in God, but I also do believe in the universe as well.

"I do think, you know, the universe or God, or whoever's outside of us, brought us here on that day too. To… teach us."

Both have major plans for their birthdays.

For the Spoletinis, it is the time for a family reunion, and, says Monica, "I'm planning … to realize that I'm actually 25 years old and that my brain is fully developed and that I'm grown up."

Rutkowski, on his third visit to the site last month, stopped in at Fire Engine Company No. 65, which was among the first to respond to the disaster. Rutkowski met New York firefighters at the station during one of his earlier visits too.

He is also training to run a 5K obstacle course to honour the victims of 9/11 and demonstrate resilience: "(T)his will be my first year doing it."

And he concludes: "If things are going bad or I'm having a bad day, you know, people have had a lot worse days or the bad doesn't last forever or there's always going to be some sort of good in something bad that happens.

"And so, it's taught me to be patient and full of gratitude."