To deal with the loss of a loved one — a family member tragically killed — is a devastatingly, heart-wrenching experience. Losing someone close when you’re a kid, not truly mature enough to fully understand (if understanding is even an option), is very difficult.

Thea Trinidad can attest.

Just 10-years-old, her life took a tumultuous turn when her father, Michael, was killed in the 9/11 attacks. Situated on the 103rd floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, Michael worked for the firm Cantor Fitzgerald as a Telecoms Analyst.

Anti-America, terrorism, political prostration, religious strife, hatred, jealousy, bullying, the means doesn’t justify the end. He was 33.

• Trinidad was featured in an NBC special titled “Children of 9/11” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RpBWC9j32s) on Sept. 5.

During the 10th anniversary of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2011, she also discussed her father in an out-of-character interview on TNA’s No Surrender pay-per-view.

“On 9/11, the TNA No Surrender pay-per-view was here [Universal Studios Orlando], and I was booked for it,” said Trinidad, who is TNA Knockout Rosita. “Usually, me and my family will go to [New York City] and pay our respects to my father there, but it meant so much to me to pay my respects to him in the ring here. God, I almost lost it. Thanks to Kurt [Angle] I did. I was holding the American flag. I was fine, and I heard the song playing, and it was almost done, and then Kurt hugged me. I just lost it after that.

“Kurt Angle is one of the people I look up to. He is a machine. I remember going to Madison Square Garden with my dad, and [Kurt] was there, and I’m seeing these wrestlers who I watched with my dad.”

Awe inspiring.

“I know my dad would be so happy,” she said. “If he got the chance to go backstage, he would be all over the place.

“I’ve had such a family vibe from everyone here [TNA]. They took care of me that day [Sept. 11, 2011]. They really, really did. After the interview, I spoke to Hulk [Hogan] and told him he was one of my dad’s favorites, and Hulk told me that meant a lot to him, and we had a long talk, and it was really good.”

Trinidad had a decision to make.

She recalled: “When they [TNA] first came to me about [the interview], they said, ‘We want to do an interview with you as Thea and just talk to us. Tell us your thoughts, how you’re feeling.’ They made me feel very comfortable with anything I wanted to say. I thought about it for a second, and I thought what better way to honor him, and it was good to have good people to trust with that.

“I called my mom [Monique] and told her they wanted to do an interview with Thea, and they wanted me to hold the American [flag], and she said she couldn’t think of a better way that he would have wanted it.”

When an emotional Trinidad walked into the locker-room, Mickie James and Tara lent support. People helping each other; by honoring her father on television and telling her story, Trinidad helped others deal with heart-tugging issues.

She noted: “Some fans have said, ‘You’re my inspiration because you’ve helped me with my mom passing away with cancer’ and things like that.”

In the past, Trinidad served as a camp counselor at Camp Haze (http://www.camphaze.org/), a camp in New Jersey for children who lost a parent on 9/11. Also, she volunteered through her church to assist those less fortunate.