MANHASSET (WABC) -- Thursday will mark 24 years since the September 11 terror attacks.

Years later, first responders continue to face their own health battles, including William Giammarino, who spent nearly five months at ground zero.

His selfless work eventually led to a diagnosis of COPD and, recently, a double lung transplant.

He had the chance to thank the team that helped save his life on Tuesday.

"It was terrible. Not breathing is hard. It's very hard to do," Giammarino said.

The former NYPD emergency unit officer survived 9/11.

"There were about 14 guys I worked with died that day and that's who you were thinking about. You weren't thinking about yourself," Giammarino said.

The Holbrook husband and father of two was 38 years old when he was dispatched at ground zero at the s

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