CLEVELAND -- For a couple of local families, Sept. 11, 2001, was a joyous day. They welcomed new children into the world at McDonald Women's Hospital at University Hospitals of Cleveland.

NewsChannel5 reported that the girls are celebrating their first birthdays on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

"Her being born that day is historic," Chad Clark said.

Clark sounds like any proud father, but his baby daughter is growing up in a world that was forever marked by the day she was born.

"We were sitting there in amazement when she was born, watching it," he said. "We didn't think it was real, because it came onto the TV instantly."

Keyona Clark delivered little Kaleyah (pictured, above) minutes before the attacks, and as they were celebrating, life changed drastically.

"We were trying to call out to let our families know, let our mothers know that she was born, and we couldn't get through the phone lines," Chad Clark said. "Everything was all tied up. You couldn't leave the hospital, (and) a lot of people couldn't get up there to come see her."

"I was thanking God that she came out healthy; on the other hand, I was sad, very sad, (and) nervous," Keyona Clark said.

Sucheera Phommavichit was due with her fourth child at the end of September, and her oldest son called from his military base in Alaska to tell her about the attacks.

"I reached for the remote control -- I turned myself and reached for it -- the water just broke and I said, 'Oh, honey, I can't talk to you because your sister is coming!'" she said.

That afternoon, Sabrina (pictured, right) arrived, but Phommavichit couldn't focus on the excitement of her new daughter. Her heart ached for her son's safety.

"After I had the baby, I called him and he said, 'Everything is fine; I don't think I'm going (anywhere) yet. I don't think they will send me anywhere right now,'" she said.

But, she said that she worries every day that he will get the call to serve his country -- the country they chose as their home nearly 30 years ago after a move from Thailand.

Many Thai customs still hold meaning to her; pieces of white yarn wrapped around flowers have special significance.

"Everybody picks one up and ties it on (the baby's) wrist and gives her a blessing for the rest of her life," Phommavichit said.

Many people think that babies born on Sept. 11 are blessings. As thousands of people lost their lives that day and our country felt defeated, the heartbeat continued, even if it was with the littlest of beats, NewsChannel5 reported.

"I think she's just another gift that God gave us to help us overcome the bad things that happened on Sept. 11," Phommavichit said.

Phommavichit's son is still in the United States. He's now stationed in Louisiana.