Medical experts: Neurological, autoimmune illnesses in first responders is related to 9/11
Medical experts say some Sept. 11 first responders are suffering from neurological and autoimmune illnesses.
Angela Grogran, an NYPD officer at the time when the World Trade Center was hit, says her health has rapidly declined.
She is suffering from several autoimmune diseases and has lesions on her brain indicating multiple sclerosis.
"I don't feel like I am the mother I know I could be, and we really don't know what is going on with me," Grogran says.
Dr. Marc Wilkenfeld, a specialist in 9/11-related illnesses at NYU Winthrop, says he is seeing case after case of other first responders suffering from neurological and autoimmune diseases.
"We know that chemicals cause autoimmune diseases, we know that chemicals cause neurological diseases, it's actually not surprising," Wilkenfeld said.
First responders suffering from these types of ailments are not covered by the World Trade Center Health Program.
John Feal, a 9/11 health care advocate, says it is difficult to prove autoimmune and neurological disorders are related to Sept. 11, but Feal is confident they will be added in the future.
Doctors at NYU Winthrop say they are also seeing an increase in heart disease among 9/11 first responders.