On September 11, 2001, he helped save countless
lives. Since then, life hasn't been easy. Susan Jhun has
more on the long road back for a local hero in the
latest NY1 For You report.
The past three years have been a trial for Marvin
Bethea.
“I take it day by day because I really don't know what
my future holds for me, I really don't,” he says.
As part of the rescue effort of 9/11, the former
paramedic for St. John's Hospital was there when the
towers collapsed, risking his life trying to save
others. Bethea survived, but a month after the attacks
he suffered a stroke while on the job, a condition his
doctor attributed to the stress of September 11th.
“You could hear people were screaming, people were
getting killed, and the building just came down,” he
says. “It was a nightmare.”
NY1 For You first brought you Bethea's story two months
after the tragedy. At that time he was at home, using
his sick time and worried his benefits would run out.
We spoke with his union, No. 1199, and they agreed to
extend his benefits and replace his lost wages. We also
contacted Catholic Charities on Bethea's behalf, and
they gave him roughly $$8,000 in assistance.
The veteran paramedic of 25 years returned to work, and
in May of 2002 he was honored along with other members
of the St. John's Ambulance Dept. for their work on
9/11.
These days things have taken a turn for the worse.
“From November to January of last year I must of had
about five asthma attacks, which three of them I wound
up being at the
hospital,” Bethea says.
Diagnosed with intrinsic asthma as well as
post-traumatic stress disorder, the 44-year-old had
three different doctors tell him he could no longer work
as a paramedic.
“I've been doing this for 25 years,” he says. “This is
all I know.”
Out of work, with medicine that runs over $$800 a month,
the only money Bethea receives now is from his
settlement with the 9/11 Compensation Fund.
“They based that award on the fact that I would be
receiving Social Security, I would also be receiving my
pension disability from the union, as well as worker's
comp,” he says. “Of the three sources of income I should
be receiving, today I'm not receiving anything.”
Bethea applied for Social Security but was rejected.
He's requested a hearing, but that will take at least
another six months, and his union has refused to pay a
disability pension to him because he hasn't qualified
for Social Security.
“I have no health care benefits right now as we speak
today because of this rule the union has,” he says.
NY1 reached out to 1199, and we were told Bethea should
formally appeal the decision.
For now Bethea, focuses on his health and recovery,
receiving free medical and psychological treatment from
the Health for Heroes program at Mt. Sinai Medical
Center.
“Thank God for them, because without Mt. Sinai’s Health
for Heroes program I don't know where I would be today,”
he says.
