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CNN Live At Daybreak

Six Months Later, 9/11 Survivors Still Suffer

Aired March 18, 2002 - 06:25   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: CNN has spent much of the past six months reporting on the victims of September 11th. As part of our continuing coverage, CNN's Maria Hinojosa revisits a man injured in the World Trade Center attack to see how he's doing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): I first met Ivan Almendarez in early October. His wife was about to give birth on October 11th, one month to the day of the attacks. They both lost their maintenance jobs in the World Trace Center. He lost 25 friends. In October, Ivan's emotional trauma was still fresh.

IVAN ALMENDAREZ, 9/11 SURVIVOR: I want people to get decent salaries. I want people to have jobs. Don't feel the way we feel all these weeks.

HINOJOSA: We meet again in late February. I was expecting Ivan to be fully recovered.

(on camera): How are you feeling?

ALMENDAREZ: Pain -- terribly in pain.

(voice-over): So the 26-year-old, who used to easily work 60 hours a week, is now walking like an old man.

(on camera): I don't remember you being in such bad physical shape.

ALMENDAREZ: Yes, I know. It gets worse and worse.

HINOJOSA (voice-over): Three times a week he has physical therapy at a trauma specialist.

(on camera): What do you remember that you did that could have caused you all of this pain?

ALMENDAREZ: Well, when the building collapsed, as I was entering the door, I got hit. I slammed against the door. I fell down, people walked over me and everything. Somebody helped me out. One of my friends helped me up. And when I run away from that building, I fell like two, three more times. HINOJOSA (voice-over): The therapy is supposed to help. But why hadn't Ivan talked about his physical pain six months ago? His doctor says it's typical for survivors who have witnessed close up the deaths of so many people and friends.

DR. GIDEON HEDRYCH, ALEMENDAREZ'S PHYSICIAN: With any aches and pains that he had, no matter how severe, he felt guilty about even concerning himself with that level of injury.

HINOJOSA: At home, he has joy with his wife and baby, but also pills he never used to take.

(on camera): So what are these?

ALMENDAREZ: Pain killers to be able to sleep, for you not to feel nervous.

HINOJOSA (voice-over): And strange, scary new emotions.

ALMENDAREZ: I get to the point where, you know, where I don't even want to exist anymore because the pain is so intense. And, you know, I'm just sick of it. I'm sick of it.

HINOJOSA: There has been help from the Red Cross, but after six months, his unemployment, union and health benefits will likely end. He'll depend on disability and on the help of strangers -- many who saw Ivan on CNN and sent him help.

ALMENDAREZ: Donna and Bill Wynn (ph).

HINOJOSA (on camera): The money that they have saved for their anniversary...

ALMENDAREZ: They sent it to me.

(voice-over): And through his sadness, some words of thanks.

ALMENDAREZ: Thank you for caring. Thanks, everybody, for caring. I really appreciate what everybody has done for me and my family. It's not much I can say, but thank you. I appreciate it.

HINOJOSA: Maria Hinojosa, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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