For Jewel Mosley and her sisters, life will never be the same.

Not a student nor an alumnus, but one of the A&D family nonetheless, security guard Jewel Mosley has two sisters who worked at the World Trade Center. Jerilyn Merchant was working as a temp for Aon, on the 92nd floor of the South Tower; Pamela Phillips worked for Morgan Stanley on the 102nd floor of the South Tower. It was a miracle that they both escaped the collapse with their lives, but not without serious trauma and extensive injuries.
____Pamela, 35, remains in a coma and had to have both legs amputated. Jewel has kept vigil at the hospital every day, with the exception of the period where she, herself, was hospitalized for stomach problems (just before and after Thanksgiving). By now her sister's condition is deteriorating, with only family members allowed to visit. She never regained consciousness and has been experiencing heart failure.
____Jerilyn, 30, was doing relatively well, after a long recovery period in a nursing home. She had no recollections of what took place, but on September 11th of this year, suffered a serious setback when she caught news coverage of the attack on a television set in the home's recreation room, and consequently attempted suicide. She therefore remains confined to the nursing home requiring round the clock surveillance .
____Jewel's mom is taking care of Jerilyn's two children, ages 21/2 and 4. Jewel is taking care of Pamela's two children, ages 4 and 13. Jewel's own children, who are 11, 15 and 19 years old, have been helping her take care of their cousins. People at Art & Design have pitched in to help and offer support. Recently retired faculty Rose Romero got her son, a lawyer, to help Jewel with paperwork for funding help. Jewel attended our Grand Reunion as a guest last year, and this year we invited her to join us to see the hit musical, "Hairspray". Jewel and her sisters remain in our thoughts and we hope their lives will take a turn for the better.

____We were saddened to learn that Pamela Phillips, 35, passed away on October 15, 2002.

Messages of condolence may be sent to Jewel Mosley, c/o the High School of Art & Design, 1075 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10022.

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