Local man's health deteriorating after 9/11

a victory today for the thousands of first responders who

helped

On 9 11 and in the days weeks and months

following the House and Senate passed a $4.2 billion aid

package

It will in part cover medical expenses for those who

became sick after being exposed to toxins at the World

Trade Center ruins the bill also provides compensation for lost

wages

One of the first responders that day has since moved

to wake County W

Orioles Beau Minnick met with met today with that firefighter

who spent days rescuing people from the rubble

He says it was more than a year later when

he first noticed his health deteriorating on the morning of

september 11th 2000 and one Anthony

Salerno was one of the first firefighters on the scene

at the World Trade Center for him one thing still

stands out great

I just distinctly remember the color gray at times

It was hard to see anything other than gray that

day

The air nothing but a cloudy mess

Salerno was in the thick dust and ash for four

days straight rescuing lives never going home

It's kind of like a tunnel a tunnel vision effect

Yet just that cost of motivation to move on because

you're going to do something you're gonna find somebody you're

going to get somebody out and you're going to do

the right thing

11 firefighters from his station died that day

And even though nearly a decade has passed the memories

of what happened have not faded neither have the side

effects of breathing in that air

You have to take heartburn medicine every day

Sometimes if you don't take the medicine it's like swallowing

nails on fire

Salerno will spend the rest of his life on several

medications

After 9 11 he was diagnosed with asthma and GERD

a reflux disease

All those in favor say a all those opposed

No he's habit

Salerno was a strong advocate for the bill that will

provide free treatment to those suffering from work at ground

Zero

Now approved in the Senate

He says it's just the right thing to do

I don't see this as an economic issue

I see this as a morality issue

It's time to come now and have all these issues

go to fruition and take care of because we all

getting sick and enormous employment Beau Minnick WRL

News 14001st responders are currently living with illnesses they contracted

after breathing in the dust at ground Zero

Salerno says he knows at least 30 people who are

living with illnesses

The bill now goes to the House and if approved