. >> reporter: pat lyons wasn't the biggest guy on the new york city fire department team. he wasn't the fastest. but he would not except defeat. and his comebacks at quarterback were the stuff of legend. that supreme confidence also put him on brooklyn's squad 252, an elite unit trained to rescue other firefighters. what kind of guy was he? how would you describe him? >> the best way i could describe pat would be when you see his face coming off the rig, he had his game face on and a toothpick in his mouth. that would sum it up. >> reporter: he was always a prudent soul, and parenthood took years of planning. >> pat was a huge miami dolphins fan. so there was this time when we were dating and we found these little tiny dolphin socks for a baby and we bought them. it was just a ha-ha, you know? and i tucked them away. and i knew exactly what i would do with those one day. >> reporter: he got those socks in the spring of 2001 and was giddy when they learned they'd be having a son, a little quarterback. but a few weeks from irene's due date, pat got the call to work overtime

. >> reporter: when he wasn't leading comebacks as quarterback of "the bravest," pat lyons was part of elite unit sent to rescue other firefighters and it was a mayday call that sent him racing into the north tower. as it fell, his wife got the worst news of her life. >> and i don't know if it was because i was pregnant, or in shock, but i dropped the phone and i just went hysterical crying. >> reporter: a few weeks later, she gave birth to their first child, a boy named for the father he'd never meet. and if you ever wonder how family like this can survive such loss, just listen to this. >> dear dad, i just missed meeting you. you died on september 11th, 2001, and i was born 26 days later on october 7th. >> smart child. >> i want you to know that mommy is doing a great job of loving me and raising me in a happy home. every september 11th we go to your firehouse, squad 252, for a mass. we get to eat lots of donuts and see the fire truck. i see it every year and every year, i think it's so cool. i think it is really cool that you were such a brave firefighter and that you died saving lo