25 Years On, 9/11 Legacy Splits Between Heroism and Lingering Harm

Mia Farina was a rookie New York police officer on September 11 2001 when the second tower collapsed around her. She escaped the falling debris only to spend months afterward sifting through rubble at the site. In 2014 what began as what she thought was pneumonia turned out to be chronic lung disease tied directly to her exposure that day.

Farina now lives on Long Island amid a cluster of other responders dealing with similar conditions decades later. Like tens of thousands of others she relies on the World Trade Center Health Program for treatment. The federally funded effort was created to address the long term medical effects of the attacks but its resources have repeatedly fallen short of demand as more people develop cancers respiratory illnesses and other conditions linked to the toxic dust.

The program has struggled with chronic underfunding even as scientific evidence mounts showing why illnesses continue to appear so long after the event. Particles from the collapsed towers contained a mix of asbestos heavy metals and other carcinogens that can remain in the body and trigger disease years or even decades later. Doctors who have treated these patients describe a pattern of delayed onset that defies earlier expectations about recovery timelines.

This week the investigative podcast Reveal examined the situation through the eyes of a Long Island physician who once cared for responders and has since turned to journalism. The reporting highlights how families in the area watch neighbors and colleagues decline while navigating bureaucratic hurdles to receive care. Many responders describe the program as a lifeline that could close or shrink without sustained congressional support.

Among the earliest casualties was Danny Lewin an American Israeli technology executive and former Israel Defense Forces commando. He was aboard American Airlines Flight 11 and is widely believed to have been the first person killed when the plane struck the north tower. Childhood friends recall his direct style and note that he would likely view current political arguments over the attacks with dismay.

Some observers point to conspiracy theories and partisan finger pointing that have persisted in public debate. These narratives have complicated efforts to maintain broad consensus around support for survivors. At the same time the practical challenge remains securing consistent appropriations for medical monitoring and treatment that match the rising number of certified cases.

Farina and others continue to push for stable funding rather than repeated short term extensions. They argue that the federal commitment made after the attacks must reflect the reality that the human cost has not ended. Without that the same community that responded on the day of the attacks now faces a quieter but no less serious struggle for survival.