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by Eyewitness News' Joe Torres
(New York-WABC, May 10, 2005) — Firefighter Joseph Dibernardo was badly hurt when he and five others jumped from a burning building last January. Two firefighters lost their lives. Dibernardo spent three months in the hospital and today received a promotion.
Eyewitness News reporter Joe Torres has the story.
Battling physical pain and emotional joy, Joseph Dibernardo bravely walked across the stage to accept his promotion to lieutenant and the ovation from fellow firefighters echoed throughout the hall.
Lt. Joseph Dibernardo, FDNY: "I wanted the people to see I'm capable of doing this and that you can come back from these injuries and you may lead somewhat of a normal life following it."
Joseph Dibernardo, Father: "He went through hell this kid. He lived three times when he shouldn't have and he's in a lot of pain. It's just a great day. He worked hard for this and he deserves it."
It was late January when the 34-year-old and five other firefighters jumped from the top floor of a burning apartment building in the Bronx. Two firefighters died. Dibernardo and the others suffered serious injuries.
Dibernardo family members told us this graduation wasn't just physically painful for their loved one but emotionally difficult as well, as they remembered the firefighters who died in January.
Barbara Dibernardo, Mother: "He feels it for the men, the brothers that he lost. And he can never get that out of his mind, so he can't fully accept all this that he's getting, all the attention."
Dibernardo returns now to a 3-hour-a-day, 6-days-a-week rehabilitation regimen to strengthen his legs and feet, which were crushed in the fall - a lieutenant, a hero, and forever one of New York's bravest.
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