King says the treatment has made all the difference for him. He’s no longer taking any medication, his nightmares have stopped, and he’s sleeping normally. As for his fear of bridges and high-rises, “I’m not 100 percent comfortable, but I’m pretty darn close.”

Because of his injured knee, King was forced to retire after the attacks. But he still works on committees promoting safety equipment for firefighters, including new uniforms to protect against bioterrorism. Without the virtual-reality therapy, he says, he’s not sure what would have become of him. “I was in a shambles,” he says. “Now I’ve got my life back.”

Medical Miracle #4: Suffering in Silence

Related:

• Archive: “Features”
• Articles by Yael Kohen
• Table of Contents: Jun 13, 2005 issue of New York | Subscribe!