Cancer was a terrorist too…
It’s sad enough that for the rest of time, citizens of the United States will stop, bow their heads and say a prayer for the victims of the 9-11 attack. I think we all remember where we were, what we were doing and how we were glued to televisions and radios as this horrible day, eleven years ago, unfolded.
Some of us knew passengers on the four planes, or had a friend who never got out of the towers. Maybe we knew someone who was trapped at the Pentagon or on United flight #93 when it crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
So many deaths on that day and now we know about the other casualties…the long term suffering of the first responders who inhaled the dust and debris at ground zero. They may not have died on 9-11, but so many have suffered with various cancers after putting their lives on the line hoping to save a life. Residents who lived in the neighborhoods, office workers from surrounding buildings in Lower Manhattan, people who just happened to be on the street as the toxic dust rained down from above….so many now fighting cancer, or have lost their battle.
As cancer began to show its face in so many of these victims, action was taken and the World Trade Center Health Program was signed into law in January, 2011. You would think 4.2 BILLION dollars would do the job, with all these late effects of the attack. But in fact, the program covered lung diseases,asthma and chronic cough along with mental health issues, PTSD and depression.
Where was the cancer coverage? It took an advisory committee made up of doctors, union heads, and community health voices to strongly recommend cancer be covered too. The National Institute of Occupational Safety listened and acted. The government added 50 types of cancer to the list of 9-11 related illnesses that will now be covered for responders and other victims exposed to the toxic dust.
Who knows how much money will be needed to properly cover those who made a decision that day to try and help. To do whatever they could to pull a person to safety or direct traffic or provide aid to a tired first responder, only to be diagnosed with lung cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia or lymphoma months later.
We owe those people so much. With out knowing it at the time, they also gave the ultimate sacrifice.
September 12, 2012 @ 4:56 pm
I could go on a rant about today’s events in Libya which seem to conveniently coincide with the 911 anniversary but I shall refrain. It seems inconceivable to me that our government still sends hundreds of millions of dollars to these middle eastern countries who hate us, our way of life, our ideals….largely anything in this country but has not seen fit to take care of those 1st responders and others who ran towards the towers to try to help. Not only did many of them die but those that survived have suffered beyond belief for their heroism.
I still remain convinced that there are good, common sense people in this country who would “stick-up” for America if they were in Congress. The bunch we have now surely can’t be this stupid but they continue to defy my premise. Not funding care immediately for our 1st responders is just one example and the list goes on for as far as the eye can see.
I watched part of a film about 911 last night. It highlighted 2 men who went up the tower to the 88th floor and ultimately saved about 70-80 people. They continued to look for others trapped full well knowing that they were going to perish but would not quit their search. True heroes, selfless in their quest to help others. Just an example of 2 people among the hundreds of 1st responders.
September 11, 2012 @ 6:15 pm
They all should be given free medical care for the sacrifice they made on 9/11.
Please keep in your healing and encouraging thoughts my friends Tracey, Walt, and John, all with tough cases of cancer.