9/11 first responder's powerful message to survivors as new book published for 25th anniversary

9/11 first responder's powerful message to survivors as new book published for 25th anniversary EXCLUSIVE: Irish author speaks of pride at helping 9/11 hero first responder with inspiring new book A powerful new book about hero 9/11 first responders has been published and co-written by an Irish author. Responder John Feal sat down to write the book with author Charles Daly. The pair wanted to document the battles 9/11 victims have had to achieve justice. The book called “I will follow you anywhere - the true story of the 9/11 responders who took on Congress" has already been widely praised. It was published just ahead of the 25th anniversary. John lost a foot helping with recovery work on 9/11 and needed 28 operations as surgeons battled to save his life. Now Charles, from Bantry, Co Cork, has spoken about his pride at working at the project with John. He said: “There are no half-measures with John Feal. You’re either all-in, following him and his band of responders anywhere, or you have the good sense to get out of their way. Working that way as his co-author meant sharing their tears and laughter and anger. “On the other side of hard won trust was a group of brave men and women whose gratitude for simply being heard brought me to tears many times. One responder timed our interview between rounds of chemo for throat cancer caused by 9/11 dust exposure. “At the end of our call, he told me this was the longest he had been able to talk in a long time, and he apologised for his soft voice. I kept it together then, but wept when we hung up, overcome by my sense of honour to be trusted with his story. “John used to take long showers to decompress after our interviews, joking that this book was bad for his water bill. “Other times, we’d get off a call, and I’d be sore from laughing over John’s genius for profanity and niche insults. He once told a politician on live TV: 'I hope your dog bites you and your wife divorces you.' Actor Steve Buscemi, who returned to his old fire station and worked with rescuers on 9/11, said: “In this powerful and inspirational book, John Feal expertly demonstrates what it means to be a leader, organiser and activist. “Through fierce determination and relentless perseverance the Fealgood Foundation … and a devoted array of sick and dying first responders shows the true meaning of Never Forget.” John has urged any Irish citizens who were in Lower Manhattan back in 2001 to immediately contact the World Trade Center Health programme whether they were working in Wall Street, attending the New York Fashion Week or in the city as tourists. He said: “Register with the programme - make a claim. If you don't want to do it, do it for your family. It's that simple. You know, don't make our work, don't make my 388 trips to Washington DC and my 2,400 plus meetings go to waste. Don't let it go in vain. “If you were in lower Manhattan in the six months after 9/11 go and get checked. Take advantage of these things. I took so many people to D.C. with me, and so many of them have died fighting for the masses. My job as an advocate is to get people in the programme, get health care, get compensated. “But sometimes that's not enough and they die from their illnesses.” John was instrumental in getting a memorial wall to responders erected in a park on Long Island. On Saturday another 345 names will be added. He said: “This park is a book, and it has so many pages. This book is not over until the last name is on the wall." The walls contain the names of not only uniformed first responders but also car mechanics, telephone company workers, forensic dentists, photographers, reporters and architects who worked or volunteered their time at Ground Zero. He said: “Everybody on there played a part in ensuring that New York was up and running again in a timely manner.”