Rudy Giuliani’s current hospitalization is being linked to health complications stemming from his time at Ground Zero following the September 11 attacks, according to information he shared publicly on Thursday.

The 81-year-old former New York City mayor reposted a message from Dr. Maria Ryan, who detailed how Giuliani developed restrictive airway disease after spending prolonged periods at the World Trade Center site in the aftermath of the attacks.

“On 9/11 @RudyGiuliani ran to the towers to assist and lead,” Ryan wrote on X. “While there one of the towers fell and he was trapped. Upon emerging from the building he was covered by white dust.”

According to Ryan, the long-term effects of that exposure led to chronic respiratory issues, which were recently aggravated when Giuliani contracted human metapneumovirus.

“He lives with difficulty breathing every day,” Ryan wrote. “Recently he got a virus, metapneumovirus that overwhelmed his already compromised 9/11 lungs.”

She noted that Giuliani is still in the hospital but remains conscious of the widespread support and prayers being offered on his behalf.

“He is a deeply religious man. Keep the prayers coming!” she wrote.

Giuliani has since been transferred out of the intensive care unit, though he continues to receive treatment in the hospital as he recovers from pneumonia.

His spokesman, Ted Goodman, said that Giuliani and his relatives are grateful for the “outpouring of love and prayers” expressed by supporters.

Giuliani became a global figure during the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, when he led New York City through the crisis, earning widespread recognition as “America’s Mayor.”

In the days and weeks that followed the attacks, he was frequently present at Ground Zero, working alongside emergency personnel and recovery teams amid hazardous conditions filled with dust and debris.

Health officials and advocacy organizations have since documented that many first responders and workers who were exposed to the site developed serious respiratory conditions and other lasting medical issues.

Giuliani’s recent health crisis was described by some as “nothing short of a miracle,” following his hospitalization with severe breathing complications tied to double pneumonia.

Individuals close to him told Newsmax that doctors initially viewed his condition as potentially fatal.

Despite the seriousness of his illness, Giuliani is said to be focused on returning to his media appearances and continuing his vocal support of President Donald Trump.

Trump commented on Giuliani’s condition earlier in the week, writing on Truth Social that Giuliani is “a True Warrior” and “the Best Mayor in the History of New York City, BY FAR.”

Giuliani has been a prominent supporter of Trump since backing him in the 2016 presidential race.

Those familiar with his condition say that physicians are encouraged by his progress as he undergoes continued care and recovery efforts in the hospital.