Asbury Park Press : 9/11 rescue workers should be tested

Saturday, August 19, 2006

9/11 rescue workers should be tested

by John A. Reeps | BERKELEY | August 19, 2006

On Aug. 7, the New York Daily News, as part of its series on "the forgotten heroes of 9/11," wrote about my nephew, Mark DeBiase of Jackson. The article touched on his losing battle with ILD, interstitial lung disease, which was with a reasonable degree of medical certainty caused by his work at ground zero and later at the Staten Island landfill.

The story stressed the importance of anyone who spent time at ground zero taking a rather inexpensive lung-function test, and then following up. As one with lung disease, I can assure them that detection and proper treatment will, in many cases, improve the quality of their life and, quite possibly, its length.

When we recall the stories about the families who lost someone in the tragic attack, there were many from Monmouth and Ocean counties. Why wouldn't there be many from the same area who helped afterward?

It is my hope that newspapers inform their readers of the need for lung-function testing and make them aware of the Mount Sinai World Trade Center Monitoring Program.

My nephew was an active member of the Jackson Knights of Columbus. He took the time to help others who were not as fortunate as he was, and helped their children as a coach and mentor with the Jackson Little League. He left behind a wonderful legacy in the form of three sons. What better way to commemorate his passing than to pass along information that might save someone else's husband, father, brother, etc. It's how my nephew would have wanted it.

John A. Reeps

BERKELEY