One of the several now-iconic images from the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City showed a woman completely covered in dust. That woman was Marcy Borders, who was only 28 years old at the time. Fourteen years after that photo was taken, she died of cancer.
CBS New York reports that Borders was diagnosed with stomach cancer last year. She died on Monday and was 42 years old.
Borders was working for Bank of America at the time of the terrorist attacks. The photo was taken by Stan Honda, a photographer who happened to be at the World Trade Center that day, notes The WAshington Post. The image was distributed by Agence France-Presse.
Sadly, she became depressed and addicted to cocaine. She only found peace of mind following the death of Osama Bin Laden in 2011.
“The treatment got me sober, but bin Laden being killed was a bonus,” Border told the New York Post in 2011. “I used to lose sleep over him, have bad dreams about bin Laden bombing my house, but now I have peace of mind.”
“My mom fought an amazing battle,” her daughter, Noelle Borders, told The Post this week. “Not only is she the ‘Dust Lady’ but she is my hero and she will forever live through me.”