Story highlights Randy Scott worked at the World Trade Center

Family thought he was killed instantly September 11

DNA testing links him to a note written after impact

For years, Denise Scott and her three daughters thought they had certainty about their loved one's death on September 11, 2001.

They believed Randy Scott -- Denise's husband and father to Jessica, Rebecca and Alexandra -- died instantly when the second hijacked plane, United Airlines Flight 175, hit the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

Randy Scott worked for Euro Brokers Inc. on the 84th floor, very close to the plane's point of impact. The family took some comfort believing that he might not have suffered.

But a handwritten note with just five words and two numbers on it has changed everything for the Scott family.

The note reads, "84th floor west office 12 people trapped."

Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – The "Tribute in Light" marks where the World Trade Center buildings stood to commemorate the 11th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on Tuesday, September 11. The 2001 attacks resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people after hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Hide Caption 1 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, left, and President Barack Obama stand during a memorial service at the Pentagon in Washington. Obama attended the memorial service, near where American Airlines flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, to honor the victims of the September 11 attacks. Hide Caption 2 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – A flag is held over the reflection pool during remembrance ceremonies on Tuesday. Hide Caption 3 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – The firefighters of New York City's Engine 33-Ladder 9 observe a moment of silence on Tuesday. The company lost 10 firefighters in the 9/11 attacks. Hide Caption 4 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – Khudeza Begum etches the name of her slain nephew from the memorial of the 9/11 attacks. Hide Caption 5 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – A woman cries as she stands over the reflecting pool at the World Trade Center site on Tuesday. Hide Caption 6 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – Jillian Suarez, left, consoles Eloy Suarez during observances of the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on Tuesday. Hide Caption 7 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – A woman cries during the rememberance ceremonies at the World Trade Center site in New York on Tuesday. Hide Caption 8 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – Fire fighters pay their respects at the 9/11 Memorial during ceremonies on Tuesday. Hide Caption 9 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – U.S. military platoons operating out of Lindsey-Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan stand in formation Tuesday during a brief ceremony. Hide Caption 10 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – Scott Willens, who joined the U.S. Army three days after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, pauses at the South Pool of the 9/11 Memorial on Tuesday. Hide Caption 11 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9-11 memorial 16 – People pause near the World Trade Center site on Tuesday during a memorial to the victims. Hide Caption 12 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9-11 memorial 13 – New Yorkers pause near the World Trade Center site on Tuesday. Hide Caption 13 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9-11 memorial 14 – An honor guard carries an American flag Tuesday near the South Pool of the 9/11 Memorial. Hide Caption 14 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9-11 memorial 15 – David Peters displays his jacket depicting the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center site. Hide Caption 15 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama observe a moment of silence with White House staff on Monday. Hide Caption 16 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – A New York City police officer salutes a flag hanging from One World Trade on Monday. Hide Caption 17 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – A flag sits in a name on the 9/11 Memorial on Monday. Hide Caption 18 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – New York City's "Tribute In Light," a memorial to the victims of the 9/11 attacks, shines from One World Trade into the sky over Manhattan on Monday, September 10, as they are tested for ceremonies marking the 11th anniversary. Hide Caption 19 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – Pictures of loved ones killed in the attacks are displayed at a preview of the National September 11 Memorial Museum's memorial exhibition on Monday in New York. Hide Caption 20 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – Soldiers with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force pray during a memorial ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday, September 11. Hide Caption 21 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – Flowers are left Monday at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, prior to ceremonies commemorating the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Hide Caption 22 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, right, participates in a wreath-laying ceremony in Shanksville. Hide Caption 23 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – Family members left messages to loved ones killed in attacks. Hide Caption 24 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – Defense Secretary Leon Panetta speaks during the wreath-laying ceremonies in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Hide Caption 25 of 26 Photos: Photos: 9/11 victims remembered 9/11 victims remembered – Germano Riviera carries the Flag of Honor, which displays the names of the victims of the September 11 attacks, across ground zero on Monday. Hide Caption 26 of 26

JUST WATCHED 2001: Reporter's notebook on 9/11 attack Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH 2001: Reporter's notebook on 9/11 attack 02:07

JUST WATCHED Respecting the 9/11 Memorial Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Respecting the 9/11 Memorial 04:16

Photos: Photos: Ground Zero now Photos: Photos: Ground Zero now Ground Zero now – The National September 11 Memorial and Museum, top, stands next to one of the reflecting pools on September 11, 2013, the 12th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks. Hide Caption 1 of 15 Photos: Photos: Ground Zero now Ground zero now – Pedestrians walk by One World Trade Center on the eve of the 11th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks on September 10, 2012, in New York City. Hide Caption 2 of 15 Photos: Photos: Ground Zero now Ground zero now – A flag sits in a name on the 9/11 Memorial on September 11, 2012, before ceremonies marking the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks begin. Hide Caption 3 of 15 Photos: Photos: Ground Zero now Ground zero now – The skyline of Lower Manhattan now contains One World Trade Center, which is scheduled to be completed in 2013. Hide Caption 4 of 15 Photos: Photos: Ground Zero now Ground zero now – New York's "Tribute in Light" for the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks shines into the sky over Manhattan on September 10, 2012. Hide Caption 5 of 15 Photos: Photos: Ground Zero now Ground zero now – One World Trade Center is viewed from the 72nd floor of Four World Trade Center on Friday, September 7, 2012. Hide Caption 6 of 15 Photos: Photos: Ground Zero now Ground zero now – A view of One World Trade Center from the 72nd floor of Four World Trade Center on Friday. Hide Caption 7 of 15 Photos: Photos: Ground Zero now Ground zero now – Construction workers continue to work on one of the four office towers being built on the site on Friday. Hide Caption 8 of 15 Photos: Photos: Ground Zero now Ground zero now – The progress of the construction on One World Trade Center can be seen in this photo, as well as one of the pools of the memorial site below. Hide Caption 9 of 15 Photos: Photos: Ground Zero now Ground zero now – Construction workers work on the 72nd floor at Four World Trade Center on Friday. Hide Caption 10 of 15 Photos: Photos: Ground Zero now Ground zero now – Visitors view the National September 11 Memorial & Museum on Friday. The memorial was completed in time for the 10th anniversary in 2011. Hide Caption 11 of 15 Photos: Photos: Ground Zero now Ground zero now – Only two of the four planned office towers for the site have had finishing beams placed on their top floors. Hide Caption 12 of 15 Photos: Photos: Ground Zero now Ground zero now – New York City is seen through a window of Four World Trade Center on Friday. Hide Caption 13 of 15 Photos: Photos: Ground Zero now Ground zero now – The reflecting pool at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum is viewed on Friday. Hide Caption 14 of 15 Photos: Photos: Ground Zero now Ground zero now – Visitors walk through the grounds of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum on Friday. Hide Caption 15 of 15

The note was written by Randy Scott.

"We all just wrote the same ending," Denise Scott told CNN Connecticut affiliate WTIC-TV , "and it wasn't correct."

The note reveals that Randy Scott was not only alive after impact but actively trying to get help.

He somehow sent the note out an opening in the South Tower and down to the street below.

Randy Scott's best friend, Steve Ernst, believes he knows what happened.

"He actually literally broke a window, probably with a desk," Ernst said. "That's how they found that it was his note; his bloody thumbprint was on the corner of the letter."

According to Ernst and accounts the family gave to WTIC and the Stamford, Connecticut, Advocate newspaper, the note was recovered on the street almost immediately.

Then, according to those accounts, it was handed to a guard at the nearby Federal Reserve Bank. The South Tower collapsed shortly after that.

The Federal Reserve kept the note stored for years and then turned it over to the National September 11th Memorial & Museum, according to those accounts. The museum worked with the New York Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to process the note.

It was that smudge of blood on the note -- Randy Scott's blood -- that enabled the medical examiner to use DNA technology to trace the note.

By the time the note had gone through all those processes, a decade had passed.

In August 2011, the medical examiner's office called Denise Scott, said it had something written and asked her to identify it.

She brought Ernst with her. "When we saw the letter, you can't mistake his handwriting," Ernst said. "So we knew right away that ... he went down fighting as hard as he could."

"It was hard to hold back your tears," said Ernst, who like the Scott family lives in Stamford. "It's another part of him that just comes back."

Ernst and Denise Scott decided it was best not to tell Denise's daughters right away.

"I think we both realized that it's a really tough awakening, to realize that your father didn't die instantly, and might have really suffered or might have had a harder time than we thought," Ernst said.

Only "fragments" of Randy Scott's body were recovered, according to Ernst.

Denise Scott waited until this year, when the youngest daughter, Alexandra, was out of college, to talk about the note.

"My youngest, when I told them about the note, said, 'Oh, Daddy must have been so scared," Denise Scott said. "And I said 'No, your father was hopeful.' "

Ernst said he believes the physical characteristics of the writing tell Randy Scott's story in those final moments.

"He wasn't trembling. He wasn't nervous. It just looked like, 'This is what I gotta do. I gotta get some help to these 12 people.' "