Ground Zero first responder needed major surgery decades after 9/11 exposure: ‘I thought it was over’

Those who were present at Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001, continue to experience the physical effects of their exposure.

As Lower Manhattan was engulfed in dust and debris from the remnants of both towers, first responders and survivors were forced to breathe in toxic air.

More than 400,000 people were exposed to toxic contaminants, physical-injury risks and stressful conditions in the days, weeks and months following the attacks, according to the World Trade Center Health Program.

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As of March 2025, 8,215 people who had enrolled in the WTC Health Program had died, including 5,844 responders, as reported by the CDC. The figures include deaths from all causes; the program does not track whether a member’s death was related to 9/11 exposure.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Mordechai Shedrowitzky, a volunteer EMT who responded on 9/11, shared how his exposure led to multiple hospitalizations and, ultimately, major surgery.

Queens-born Shedrowitzky, 51, was living in Brooklyn at the time of the attacks. After helping cover his local area for much of the day, he headed into Lower Manhattan that evening to assist with the response.

"My most vivid memory was actually entering Manhattan from Brooklyn," he said. "As we approached the tunnel, the first thing we noticed was there were no lights, there was no electricity in the area, it [was] pitch black."

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"When we entered the tunnel, there was a tremendous amount of swirling debris, at speeds that I just can't even imagine."

Once Shedrowitzky and his team arrived at South Street Seaport, where his ambulance was staged with others, he described the debris as "overwhelming."

"I remember the engine actually sputtering at times," he said. "I would imagine that it was taking in a tremendous amount of dust."

"We were definitely not cognizant of what effect ... the air might have on us. And therefore, we did spend a significant amount of time outside of the ambulances, just commiserating with the people around us."

Shedrowitzky said he "thought it was over" once he left the scene. But years later, he noticed small symptoms that were turning into a big problem.

His pre-existing asthma — which typically flared during seasonal changes and caused coughing that required an inhaler — was worsening each year.

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"I started to require oral steroids," he said. "I would have wheezing; I would have coughing. It would last longer; it would be more serious ... I wouldn't be able to go to work, wouldn’t be able to take care of my kids. So, the effects were definitely increasing over time."

Shedrowitzky added that his condition was "getting to the point where it was leading to frequent respiratory infections and hospitalizations."

"It took a number of years, many years, for us to realize that what was going on with my health was probably related to 9/11."

In 2019, Shedrowitzky described that his condition got "significantly worse," after experiencing a cough that wouldn’t resolve itself, even after the "highest doses" of steroids and antibiotics.

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Shedrowitzky ultimately was put in touch with the World Trade Center Health Program – a federal program administered by the CDC – where his condition was classified as 9/11-related and was monitored.

It was eventually confirmed that Shedrowitzky had tracheobronchomalacia, a condition in which the walls of the windpipe and major airways weaken and collapse during breathing.

"[It] was probably secondary to both the asthma getting worse as well as steroid use over the years to try to treat those symptoms," he said.

In 2024, Shedrowitzky underwent a procedure called a tracheobronchoplasty to structurally reinforce his trachea and main bronchi.

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Two years after the procedure, he said he is feeling "much better," although he still experiences occasional infections. He hopes to return to work as a physical therapist soon.

"Even a couple of months ago, I wouldn't have been able to speak for more than a very short time," Shedrowitzky said.

As a father of six, Shedrowitzky – who is now also a grandfather of two – said his condition made it difficult for him to spend time with his children as they were growing up.

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"Things as simple as lifting my children, even speaking to them," he said. "The amount of time that I spent in the hospital and its effect on them was quite significant."

"Now, they're older, but my ability to spend time, interact with them ... has been greatly improved."

Dr. Denise Harrison, medical director of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine WTC Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence, has been involved in post-9/11 healthcare since 2002.

The program has since grown to provide screening, monitoring and treatment for people experiencing health effects related to their 9/11 exposure.

The doctor noted that the dust on 9/11 was "highly alkaline," which can be "very irritating" to the airways.

"Usually, the larger size dust gets deposited in the upper airways and the smaller size dust gets deposited in the lower airways," she told Fox News Digital. "Because of the overwhelming nature of the disaster, a significant number of large particles got deposited into the lower airways as well. So, this is not just the airways, but also the digestive tract, in the esophagus."

Harrison said patients often report sinus problems, asthma and COPD. These conditions can occur alongside other "aerodigestive" issues, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, which may complicate diagnosis and treatment.

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Other 9/11-related conditions may also be interlinked.

"We have patients with asthma and PTSD who might perceive their asthma symptoms differently than the patients without PTSD, so that requires a combination of providers," the doctor said.

Shedrowitzky urged other first responders who are experiencing health issues to not wait to get help and to confirm that what they’re experiencing may be linked to 9/11.

"Continue to be monitored so that potential issues can be picked up early," he advised.

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"If we can look back and see the quality of life that it's robbing you of, it might push you to contact the World Trade Center Health Program, get the help that you need."

As of March 31, 2025, the WTC Health Program had more than 130,000 currently enrolled members.

The program, which is authorized through 2090, operates branches across multiple health systems, including NYU Langone Health, Mount Sinai, Northwell, Stony Brook and Rutgers.

Harrison reiterated that the health effects of 9/11 exposure remain "persistent," and can be exacerbated by the environment and other illnesses. Experts predict that the fallout will continue for decades to come.

"Symptoms are still ongoing and research is still ongoing," she said, urging the public and responders to "have patience."

"While it might not directly benefit them or may provide some benefits now, it could be more beneficial in the future and help the overall response to disasters."