With a heavy heart we must report that Dr James Melius had died. Dr Melius was a founding member of 911 Health Watch and Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, Chair of the World Trade Center Health Program Responders Steering Committee and Administrator of the New York State Laborer’s Health and Trust Fund among a number of other positions and committees.

Shortly before he died, a New York State trooper hoped to perform one last act of service for his community. Mike Anson knew he was dying, but he wasn’t thinking about himself. He was worried about every first responder from 9/11. His message? “Don’t be afraid to go get some help.” Mike was there right after the towers fell, helping and breathing in those toxic fumes. For 15 years, he seemed fine. But then, aggressive cancer hit him.

A memorial stands in honor of those who perished in 9/11 but some even right here in the Capital Region are still fighting for their lives. Asthma and cancer are just some of the conditions the CDC reports that 9/11 first responders are plagued with today after breathing in dust and fumes from the debris there. Kevin Terry was part of a group from the Capital Region that headed to the city to help. More.

Researchers identified a novel polygenic expression aggregate among World Trade Center responders with PTSD, but not in control responders without PTSD. The researchers conducted a transcriptome-wide RNA sequencing study of whole blood in 201 World Trade Center responders who never had PTSD, 81 who currently reported PTSD, and 42 who reported having it in the past. More.

A wonderful example of the spirit of giving for the Holiday Season is the message of the Hit Broadway Musical “Come From Away.” For this episode, Host Suzanne Phillips is joined by Sue Frost, the producer and Joel Hatch, a cast member of this remarkable show. More.

Soon after the 9/11 attacks, survivors returned to downtown Manhattan. The air didn’t look right, it didn’t smell right, and it didn’t feel right, but the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it was safe. Some of those who returned were just children. They are young adults now, and have scattered to all corners of the world as people do in early adulthood. More.

The memorial at Pearl Harbor captures terror and loss by allowing visitors to view the destroyed U.S.S. Arizona under the sea. The memorial at Hiroshima makes a statement about death and hope by preserving the ruins of a domed hall that stood at the atomic bomb’s hypocenter. More.

Every tragedy, big or small, leaves behind victims and loved ones whose lives are inalterably changed. In some cases, survivors find themselves driven to become activists or advocates, finding meaning in the tragedy by fighting whatever caused it. There are many examples making headlines all over the country. Chris Hurst was an evening news anchor at WDBJ in Roanoke, Virginia, when his girlfriend, Alison Parker, a reporter, and her cameraman, Adam Ward, were shot and killed during a live interview one morning in August 2015.