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About the Book
From The Pile: A 9/11 First Responder’s Story
A powerful memoir about courage, friendship, and the will to keep giving.
From The Pile tells the true story of Michael Dorian — a man who faced stigma, illness, and loss yet continued to choose compassion. When the world changed on September 11, 2001, Michael ran toward danger to help others. That act of service defined his legacy and revealed the depth of his courage.
Through the eyes of his lifelong friend Neil Adams, readers experience a deeply personal story of love, loyalty, and the human capacity to hope even when life seems impossible.
The Story
Michael Dorian’s life was never easy. The second son of a teenage mother, he faced hardship from the start — poverty, rejection, and an early struggle to survive. In his teens, he left home determined to change his path, putting himself through college and building a career as a veterinary technician.
He lived with a secret: an HIV diagnosis that he carried with quiet strength. Yet when tragedy struck on September 11, 2001, Michael didn’t hesitate. He went to the World Trade Center to help, working through chaos and devastation with a single purpose — to save others.
His time at Ground Zero exposed him to toxins that later caused a rare, aggressive form of cancer. Even while fighting for his life, Michael volunteered as a police officer and became a symbol of courage, selflessness, and the power of love that endures beyond fear.
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