I was recently contacted by Heather Von St James,
a wife and mom who has, quite literally, faced my biggest fear and won.
Heather asked if she could share her story on my blog
to bring more awareness to others.
to bring more awareness to others.
I was so moved by her story that I couldn't refuse.
Here is Heather's story in her own words.
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You Have Cancer-Words that Changed Everything
There are some moments in your life that you will always remember. Some of these moments are good, and some are bad. I will never forget how it felt to look at my newborn daughter for the first time. I will also never forget hearing the words, "You have cancer," just 3 1/2 months after she was born.
I would not be surprised if you have never heard of malignant pleural mesothelioma. I did not really know anything about the disease before I found out that I was suffering from it. My shock continued when my doctor explained that mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. I was a young wife and mom at the age of 36, so I had no idea how I could have been exposed to this dangerous substance.
After some investigating, we found out that I had actually received secondary exposure to asbestos. My father is a wonderful man, and he supported our family by working in the construction field, especially with drywall. Many years later, we would find out that much of that drywall was contaminated with asbestos.
It breaks my heart to think of how excited I was every day to run into my dad's arms when he returned home. I would wrap him up in a hug and bury my face in his shoulder. However, the clothes that I was touching were filled with asbestos fibers. I was breathing in the poison that would later completely change my life.
In the past, most mesothelioma patients looked a lot more like my dad than myself. Patients were usually older males who had been active in construction or other trades.However, my case is not as rare as it used to be. Now, many women and young adults are also receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Most of us were unwittingly exposed to asbestos by our family members. When a worker would come home each evening, his wife would be the one to wash his clothes. Thousands of other children hugged their fathers and touched the clothes that were contaminated. We are now the faces of mesothelioma.
I would never have chosen a mesothelioma diagnosis for myself, but there are plenty of positive things that have come from my struggle. Mesothelioma treatments have come a long way in the past few years, and more patients are surviving and leading normal lives.
The best part of my cancer journey has been the people that I have had the privilege of meeting. I know that mesothelioma patients are some of the strongest human beings on the planet. They are also some of the kindest and most generous. We love working together because we are committed to a common purpose. We want to make more and more people aware of mesothelioma. As awareness increases, more funding is available for research for new treatments.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma changed my life, but it has not broken my spirit. I am honored to be able to advocate for this disease, and I will never stop fighting.
There are some moments in your life that you will always remember. Some of these moments are good, and some are bad. I will never forget how it felt to look at my newborn daughter for the first time. I will also never forget hearing the words, "You have cancer," just 3 1/2 months after she was born.
I would not be surprised if you have never heard of malignant pleural mesothelioma. I did not really know anything about the disease before I found out that I was suffering from it. My shock continued when my doctor explained that mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. I was a young wife and mom at the age of 36, so I had no idea how I could have been exposed to this dangerous substance.
After some investigating, we found out that I had actually received secondary exposure to asbestos. My father is a wonderful man, and he supported our family by working in the construction field, especially with drywall. Many years later, we would find out that much of that drywall was contaminated with asbestos.
It breaks my heart to think of how excited I was every day to run into my dad's arms when he returned home. I would wrap him up in a hug and bury my face in his shoulder. However, the clothes that I was touching were filled with asbestos fibers. I was breathing in the poison that would later completely change my life.
In the past, most mesothelioma patients looked a lot more like my dad than myself. Patients were usually older males who had been active in construction or other trades.However, my case is not as rare as it used to be. Now, many women and young adults are also receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Most of us were unwittingly exposed to asbestos by our family members. When a worker would come home each evening, his wife would be the one to wash his clothes. Thousands of other children hugged their fathers and touched the clothes that were contaminated. We are now the faces of mesothelioma.
I would never have chosen a mesothelioma diagnosis for myself, but there are plenty of positive things that have come from my struggle. Mesothelioma treatments have come a long way in the past few years, and more patients are surviving and leading normal lives.
The best part of my cancer journey has been the people that I have had the privilege of meeting. I know that mesothelioma patients are some of the strongest human beings on the planet. They are also some of the kindest and most generous. We love working together because we are committed to a common purpose. We want to make more and more people aware of mesothelioma. As awareness increases, more funding is available for research for new treatments.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma changed my life, but it has not broken my spirit. I am honored to be able to advocate for this disease, and I will never stop fighting.
To learn more about Heather, check out & “like” her new Facebook page dedicated to mesothelioma awareness & support! You can follow her journey:https://www.facebook.com/HeatherVonStJames?ref=hl
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