9/11 First Responder Receives Double Lung Transplant, Thanks Medical Team

A First Responder's Health Battle

• 🚒 Bill Gia Marino, a former NYPD emergency service unit officer, spent nearly 5 months at ground zero after the 9/11 attacks.
• 💔 His selfless work exposed him to over 150 toxins, leading to a diagnosis of COPD, a 9/11-related respiratory illness.
• 🚶‍♂️ The illness progressed severely, impacting his daily life to the point where he struggled with basic activities like showering and putting on shoes.

Life-Saving Double Lung Transplant

• 🏥 Bill received a double lung transplant one year ago at Northshore University Hospital, the only lung transplant program on Long Island.
• ✅ He is one of 111 people who qualify for free care under the World Trade Center Health Program, which serves nearly 135,000 patients.
• 🩺 Dr. Jacqueline Molen highlighted that over 50,000 cancers have been linked to ground zero exposures, a significant increase.

Gratitude and Recovery

• 🙏 Bill expressed his deep gratitude to the medical team who saved his life, emphasizing the importance of simple actions like hugging and breathing.
• 🌟 With his new lungs, Bill has dodged cancer and is recovering well, walking two to three miles daily.
• 🎗️ His primary wish is for more people to receive the same life-saving treatment he did.