Jennifer and Grant Coursey
As a toddler, Grant Coursey was diagnosed with neuroblastoma — a cancer often found in young children.
A tumor was wrapped around his spinal cord and pushing against his lungs.
It took three surgeries — including one that lasted 10 hours — but in March of 2002 doctors declared Grant cancer-free.
At StoryCorps, Grant interviewed his mother, Jennifer, about that time.
Diane Kenney and her sister Linda Kenney Miller
Linda Kenney (R) Miller and her sister Diane Kenney (L) remember their grandfather, Dr. John A. Kenney, who founded the first hospital for African Americans in Newark, NJ.
Dee Dickson
Dee Dickson remembers trying to get a job as a shipyard electrician in the 1970s.
Originally aired February 18, 2011 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Mary Van Beke and her son Charles
94-year-old Mary Van Beke tells her son, Charles, about growing up in the 1920s.
Queen Jackson and Debra MacKillop
Queen Jackson (R) tells her case manager, Debra MacKillop (L), how she became homeless.
Originally aired December 16, 2011 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Rob Littlefield
Rob Littlefield remembers being bullied in junior high school for being gay.
Barbara Cattano
In the early 1970s Alena Sesinova fled communist-controlled Czechoslovakia and immigrated to the United States.
She went on to become a systems analyst for Marsh and McClennan. She was working in their office in the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001.
Alena was 57 years old when she was killed. Her partner of 22 years, Barbara Cattano, remembered her at StoryCorps.
Recorded September 13, 2001.
Granvilette Kestenbaum
Howard Kestenbaum worked on the 103rd floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. He was killed during the September 11, 2001 attacks.
His wife, Granvilette, came to StoryCorps to talk about how they first met while in graduate school—and how one unusual date led to a 31-year-long marriage.
Recorded July 16, 2010.
Gladys de la Torre and Carolina de la Torre
Azucena de la Torre, a native of Ecuador, worked on the 103rd floor in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. She was killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
As a professional, de la Torre was a vice president and senior project manager at Cantor Fitzgerald. In her personal life, she was a mentor to her younger sisters.
Two of de la Torre’s sisters, Gladys and Carolina de la Torre, came to StoryCorps to remember their final moments together.
Recorded August 29, 2010.
Robert Patterson and Karen Patterson
Bob Patterson worked as an aerospace engineer for over 30 years. In 2008, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. His wife, Karen, has been by his side all along. In this conversation, Bob tells her how living with the disease has affected him.
Originally aired August 27, 2010, on NPR’s Morning Edition.