Many 9/11 first responders are still dealing with the fallout from that tragic day. One in particular reached out to NY1 to get help just months after the attack. Here's Susan Jhun with an update on his condition.
As the anniversary of September 11th approaches, former paramedic and first responder, Marvin Bethea, still feels the effects of that tragic day fifteen years ago.
"Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, pulmonary fibrosis, stroke," he said.
The burden Bethea carries from 9/11 according to his doctors. Most recently, Bethea went into cardiac arrest, suffered a second stroke leaving him unable to swallow and now feeding through a tube.
When we first brought you Bethea's story, two months after the tragedy, he was at home after suffering a stroke on the job, using his sick time and worried his benefits would run out. At the time, we contacted his union, Local 1199 and they agreed to extend his benefits and replace his lost wages.
Months later, the veteran paramedic of 25 years returned to work but was soon forced to retire due to poor health. Out of work, rejected for Social Security and denied a disability pension.
"You can't tell me that, 'Okay, you're good enough to put in harm’s way, and we can throw you into a fire and if you don't get burned that's great, but if you do get burned, now we don't know you,'" Bethea said.
After years of battling, Bethea finally received disability benefits and assistance from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Bethea still fights to be awarded the federal Public Safety Officer Benefit for which he was denied since he worked for a private hospital.
"At the time of 9/11 the private hospitals made up 40 percent of the EMS system in NYC," Bethea said.
As he continues to fight for what he believes he deserves, Bethea receives 24-hour nurse care and looks forward to the future with his fiancé by his side.