http://www.rosie.com/blog/2007/04/25/first-responders-2/

on todays taped show
which will air friday
we had two 911 first responders
both horrifically sick

their lungs no longer function
that tuesday in september
in they went to the smoking pile
inhaling the toxic mess

nearly 6 years later
these once sturdy americans
r completely disabled
unable to walk up a flight of stairs

one had an oxygen tank with him
tubes in his nose forcing air in
to destroyed lungs
unbearable

there were 50 thousand people
who walked toward the fallen towers
half of them r now sick
25 thousand people

25 THOUSAND PEOPLE !!!!!!!!!!!

we went to commercial
an audience members stood up
holding a sears portrait studio photo
of 2 children

“these r the victims of 911 - she said crying
her hands above her head - showing the picture
my children who will b orphans -
when this disease soon kills me”

she was an EMT
another - alex coughing laboring to breathe
told his tale
and then another

unreal
truly unreal
the united states
no funding for treatment of these humans

i cried
got into my car drove away from the studio
there were 3 dozen press people waiting
cameras video crews reporters

they lept at the car
like i was brittney or lindsay
pushing flashing yelling
breaking news in america

i was the story
not them
what’s wrong with this picture
nearly everything