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Chester Davis Judkins Jr: The tragic story of one man affected by the horrors of 9/11

We all remember where we were on 9/11. Who we were with, what we were doing. Brooklyn-based photographer Jennifer Judkins remembers that day only too well.

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A man in a metal-frame bed holds his head in his hands in a sparse bedroom with exposed ceiling beams and a closed shutter window

Her father Chester Davis Judkins Jr. coordinated and serviced the equipment used in 9/11 recovery efforts, going back to Ground Zero several times in the months following the attacks to continue clean-up efforts until he began experiencing difficulty breathing.

Less than a year later, a growing list of health issues turned into congestive heart failure. He was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia, a defibrillator was placed in his chest, and a Hickman port implant in his neck. When he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2007, systemic cancer that has been linked to toxic fume exposure from jet fuel, Jennifer made him the focus of her work.

She explains: "I documented the progression of my dad’s illnesses, the daily confrontation of life and death that takes place in a hospital, as well as the evolving complexity of his family relationships.

"Turning my camera toward my father fundamentally shifted my work. It lets me process what was happening, to see and be present. I recorded a process so many 9/11 recovery workers’ families have lived, and are living, years after September 11, 2001. I now gravitate toward recording images that document struggle, recovery, and the ability to prevail."

Jennifer has just launched a new podcast series where individuals share their 9/11 stories. If you're interested, visit theripplepodcast.com. Or see more of Jennifer's beautiful work at jenniferjudkins.com.

Via direct submission | All images courtesy of Jennifer Judkins

Man in grey shirt sits in medical office with hand to face during consultation, black and white photograph
Black and white photograph of a man seated in a hospital gown with medical equipment visible, looking towards a mirror or reflective surface in what appears to be a medical setting
A man in a white t-shirt sits while a woman in dark clothing leans down to examine his neck during a medical appointment
Man sitting in a medical chair holding a newborn baby during hospital treatment
Black and white photograph of a family meal, with several people seated around a table eating together in a bright, window-lit room
A man in a black shirt sits at a table being attended to by someone in a grey cardigan in a domestic setting
Black and white photograph of a woman holding a baby while seated at a table with other people nearby
Chester Davis Judkins Jr sits at a table with a cup and plate of food, with a woman in a floral shirt standing beside him in a black and white photograph
A shirtless man sits on a hospital bed while a woman in dark clothing stands beside him holding medical equipment in a clinical room.
An unwell man lies in a hospital bed surrounded by medical equipment, wearing a hospital gown with various tubes and medical devices attached to his body
Black and white photograph of a person's back showing a Hickman port implant in their neck, wearing a patterned hospital gown
Black and white photograph of a shirtless man crouching indoors, viewed from behind, interacting with a young child in a doorway
Two people wearing face masks lean over a laptop in a clinical setting, with medical equipment and paperwork visible on the desk
A man in a dark sweater holds a newborn baby wrapped in white cloth in a hospital room, with other family members visible in the background
Man sitting at laptop beside hospital bed where patient lies connected to medical equipment in monochrome hospital room
A man in a plaid shirt leans over a hospital bed to embrace a patient, with medical equipment and monitors visible on the wall behind them
Black and white photograph of a funeral service at a cemetery with pallbearers carrying a flag-draped casket whilst mourners stand nearby among gravestones
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