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9-11 responders
9-11 responders
MILWAUKEE — They are our nation's heroes -- 9/11 responders. Years later, the terror attack continues to take lives and dramatically alter others -- so is our country doing right by those who served and sacrificed?
The sights and smells of Sept. 11, 2001 are burned into the memories of those who responded. While the emotional toll took little time to surface, the physical impacts are still coming into clear view today.
Among the responders impacted is Peter Jensen of Mukwonago.
9/11 responder Peter Jensen goes over paperwork with Contact 6's Jenna Sachs.
"Really the magnitude and really the historical importance of the event took its registry in my brain," Jensen said. "It will always be a part of you. It's never gonna leave you, but you have to learn that life goes on at that point in time and that's the way you deal with it."
With a career in emergency management, he arrived in New York City hours after the attack to head up the planning section.
"We are the go-to people at that time if you want to find out what's happening," Jensen explained.
Jensen was at the site every day for 40 days.
"If I look back would I have done things different? Probably not," Jensen said.
Jensen now has chronic sinusitis.
"The early respiratory equipment that we were given was not sufficient for the job," Jensen said.
He has nearly constant headaches and sinus pressure.
"Really the only treatment I've been told at this point is going to work is the surgery," revealed Jensen.
Jensen is enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program, which treats and monitors conditions resulting from time spent at Ground Zero. The program is overseen by the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH), which contracts services in Wisconsin to Logistics Health Inc. (LHI) in La Crosse.
"I have had to wait continually to get any sort of response back from LHI," Jensen said.
Jensen's doctor recommended surgery in Sept. By Jan., Jensen was still waiting for LHI to confirm his case was being reviewed.
"There needs to be a better system in place," Jensen said.
LHI sent FOX6's Contact 6 the following statement about the situation:
John Feal is familiar with complaints like Jensen's. Feal is a tireless national advocate for 9/11 responders. It's part of his work with the Feal Good Foundation.
"These men and women who are sick and dying now or who have died, they were our nation's greatest resources," Feal said. "People fall through the cracks. There's bureaucracy. There's lost paperwork."
John Feal
Feal says he's gotten hundreds of similar complaints from other responders. Still, he believes in the program. He's enrolled in it himself and advocates for others to join.
"I'm not going to attack them. I'm not going to say anything mean about them. But they need to do a better job," Feal said.
The World Trade Center Health Program was created 2010. It covers treatments, preventative medicine, surgeries and medications. According to the Centers for Disease Control, between 50 to 99 people are enrolled in the program in Wisconsin. The vast majority are in New York.
Feal says it needs to increase its staff to keep up with growing demand.
"This time last year, we had 73,000 enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program across the country. We're now at 80,000," Feal said.
In mid-January, LHI expedited Jensen's case.
"I'm looking forward to it and getting it over with and moving on with my life," Jensen said.
He finally had surgery on Feb. 6.
After waiting months for approval, Peter Jensen walks in to get surgery for sinusitis.
He's grateful but hopes his story with be a wake-up call.
"Although I have problems, there are many other people who have far more serious problems," Jensen said.
Contact 6 asked NIOSH for a statement about Jensen's case. We received the following response: