On September 11th, he helped save countless lives, but since then, his life hasn't been easy.
In the following NY1 For You report, Susan Jhun has more on the long road back for a local hero.

The events of 9/11 changed Marvin Bethea's life forever.

"Everyday is a constant reminder of 9/11, because I'm not working," he says.

A former paramedic for St. John's Hospital and part of the rescue effort on September 11th, Bethea risked his life trying to save others. A month after the attacks, he suffered a stroke while on the job, a condition his doctor attributed to the stress of September 11th.

When NY1 first brought you Bethea's story two months after the tragedy, he was at home, using his sick time and worried he would lose his health benefits. At that time, we were able to get his Union, 1199, to extend his benefits and replace his lost wages.

We also contacted Catholic Charities on Bethea's behalf and they gave him several thousand dollars in assistance.

After being honored for his work on 9/11 and returning to the job in May of 2002, the veteran paramedic was diagnosed with intrinsic asthma and post traumatic stress disorder.

"I went to the doctor and they rushed me to the hospital and said, 'that's it,'" he says. "So my career ended."

His career ended after 23 years on the job. At that point, Bethea was out of work, rejected for Social Security and denied a disability pension, tough treatment for a 9/11 rescue worker who is considered by many a hero.