Lauren Manning

Lauren Manning
Born	1961 Essex County, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Writer, entrepreneur, business executive
Known for	Surviving September 11 attacks; author of Unmeasured Strength
Notable work	Unmeasured Strength (2011)

Lauren Manning (originally named Lauren Grace-Forshay Pritchard; born 1961) is an American writer, entrepreneur, and business executive. After sustaining critical injuries during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, she spent over half a year hospitalized, recovering from burns covering 82.5% of her body. Her remarkable healing journey attracted widespread attention from both national and global media outlets, including The New York Times. Manning's ordeal led to the publication of two books, most prominently her New York Times best-selling memoir Unmeasured Strength (2011), released by Henry Holt and Company.

Following the memoir’s publication, Manning’s narrative continued to garner considerable media focus. In 2013, then-President Barack Obama recognized her as an emblem of American endurance.

Early life and career

Born in 1961 in Essex County, New Jersey, Lauren Pritchard Manning was raised in St. Simons, Georgia. She completed her studies at Glynn Academy in 1979 and later obtained an MBA from Fordham University in 1987. Manning launched her professional career at Lehman Brothers in 1985 before joining Cantor Fitzgerald, a New York-based bond trading firm, where she became partner in 1995. By 2000, she was promoted to managing director overseeing the global market data division.

Surviving the September 11 attacks (2001)

On September 11, 2001, Manning was en route to her office on the 105th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, where she held a senior executive role at Cantor Fitzgerald. As she entered the building, the first plane collided with the 96th floor, igniting fires that spread through elevator shafts. A fireball engulfed Manning, setting her ablaze. She managed to escape onto the sidewalk with assistance from a bystander who helped extinguish the flames.

Although seriously injured, Manning remained alert and witnessed the second plane crash into the South Tower. Understanding this as a terrorist act, she committed herself to survival. Approximately 40 minutes after the initial impact, she boarded an ambulance which left just before the South Tower collapsed. Her injuries included burns over 82.5% of her body, with third-degree burns affecting 75%.

Recovery period (2001–2002)

Initially treated at St. Vincent's Hospital, Manning was subsequently transferred to the William Randolph Hearst Burn Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Medical professionals initially estimated her survival odds between 10 and 15 percent, which later declined to single digits. She remained sedated in a medically induced coma for nearly two months and faced complications such as lung collapses, partial amputations, and severe infections.

When she awoke in late October 2001, Manning learned about the collapse of both towers and that 658 Cantor Fitzgerald employees had died. After being discharged in December, she spent three months undergoing intensive rehabilitation at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. Her recovery was considered extraordinary given the extent of her injuries and was attributed to her strong mindset and prior good health. In March 2002, she returned home and committed to full-time rigorous physical therapy for eighteen months.

Media attention and dissemination of story (2001–2002)

While still under sedation, her husband Greg provided daily email updates to their friends and family. On March 15, 2002, she was able to return to her residence in Manhattan. In September of the same year, she addressed Cantor Fitzgerald’s private memorial service commemorating the first anniversary of the attack, where she was honored as "a symbol of resilience" and delivered the event's most poignant speech. That autumn, Manning was the keynote speaker at the New York State Occupational Therapy Association’s conference and received recognition from the American Occupational Therapy Association. Additionally, she was awarded the Anti-Defamation League’s "Without Fear" honor at the Kennedy Center and named one of Glamour Magazine’s "Women of the Year," with Hillary Clinton presenting the accolade. Greg Manning’s 2002 publication, Love, Greg & Lauren: A Husband's Day-by-Day Account of His Wife's Remarkable Recovery, was translated into seven languages.

In February 2003, Manning recorded a public service announcement for Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. By June 2004, she participated in carrying the Olympic flame during the New York segment of the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay, an event that made The New York Times front page. That same year, both she and her husband were recipients of the Norman Vincent Peale Award for Positive Thinking from the Blanton Peale Institute. Her story was featured in profiles by The Sunday Times and Reader's Digest, along with interviews on television shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show, where Oprah referred to her as "an American hero." On October 17, 2011, The New York Times once again showcased her story on its front page, describing her as a "symbol of hope."

Unmeasured Strength (2011)

Following extensive media coverage on programs such as The Oprah Winfrey Show and Today, Manning was often asked about authoring a book. In January 2011, Henry Holt and Company secured a publishing agreement for her memoir. Manning expressed that her goal in sharing her journey was to motivate others confronting difficulties.

Her memoir, titled Unmeasured Strength, was published in 2011 by Henry Holt and Company and achieved New York Times bestseller status. Proceeds from this book, along with Greg Manning’s work, continue to benefit nonprofit organizations including the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund. Selected excerpts were published in Vogue and USA Today in August 2011; she also appeared on Today in September 2012. Hillary Clinton commended Manning’s perseverance, emphasizing her message that adversity can be confronted without being defined by it.

Recent years (2012–present)

On May 23, 2013, President Barack Obama recognized Manning as an emblem of American perseverance: "Lauren Manning, the 9/11 survivor with severe burns over 80 percent of her body, said, 'That's my reality. I put a Band-Aid on it, literally, and I move on.'"

In July 2016, Manning delivered what the Washington Post described as "one of the most effective" speeches at the Democratic National Convention.

She holds a position on the board of directors at Sanctuary for Families, an organization dedicated to assisting survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and related gender-based violence.

Personal life

Lauren Manning resides in New York City with her husband Greg and their two children.

Filmography

Selected film appearances featuring Lauren Manning

Year	Title	Medium	Production Company	Role, Remarks
2004	Nine Innings from Ground Zero	Television documentary	HBO Sports	Honoree
2011	The Tavis Smiley Show	Television series	PBS	Appeared as herself (November 9, 2011)
2011	Piers Morgan Tonight	Television series	CNN	Guest appearance as herself (November 9, 2011)
2014	The Kelly File	Television series	Fox News	Featured as herself (January 15, 2014)

Further reading

Books

• Manning, Greg (2002). Love, Greg and Lauren: A Husband's Day-by-Day Account of His Wife's Remarkable Recovery. New York: Bantam
• Manning, Lauren (August 30, 2011). Unmeasured Strength. Henry Holt and Co.
  • Excerpt titled "Lauren Manning: A Will to Live" from Unmeasured Strength, published in Vogue, August 30, 2011

Articles and video interviews

• Then & Now: Lauren Manning, CNN, June 19, 2005
• Rebuilding a Life After September 11th, TODAY, September 7, 2011
• 9/11 Survivor Lauren Manning – Video Feature, PBS, September 9, 2011
• 9/11 Burn Victim Reflects on Attack and Recovery Journey, FOX, September 11, 2011
• After Burn Injuries, Sept. 11 Survivor Demonstrates 'Strength', NPR, September 11, 2011

See also

• Survivors of the September 11 attacks
• List of authors by name: M
• List of American authors