Category: Family
Mesothelioma Help Scholarship – Great Opportunity to Make a Difference
Once again, I was humbled and honored to be a judge for the spring Jan Egerton and Don Smitley Mesothelioma Scholarship contest. Jan was an inspiring woman who I was happy to be acquainted with and, of course, Don was my father. A scholarship memorializing these two amazing mesothelioma warriors seems only fitting.
As I read through each entry, I was astounded at the interest and compassion shown by each student. They really did an excellent job researching the topic and many stated how much they learned through the process. I gain a lot of hope in knowing that teens and young adults are becoming aware of this disease and showing a genuine interest in how they can help.
These youths are the next generation of up-and-coming professionals and philanthropists, and it will be up to them to continue the fight against mesothelioma. I find comfort in knowing that the torch will be passed to such motivated individuals.
Educating ourselves about the dangers of asbestos and mesothelioma is the first step in eradicating this cancer. It is our responsibility as a community to make sure that this is done and done well. I am extremely proud of the scholarship participants for their hard work and commitment to serving others.
I pray that you all continue on your journey to help those with mesothelioma, believing in a cure!
Dad Continues to Bounce Back From Setbacks During Mesothelioma Treatment
It was time for Dad to start another round of radiation treatment in Philly. This treatment was supposed to relieve some pain in Dad’s side by hopefully shrinking the cancer. He would have 14 treatments, basically most of February minus weekends. There was going to be a lot of traveling back and forth to get treatment since Dad prefers to be at home and not at my place in the city, or the Hope Lodge that is nearby. My mom was able to get a leave of absence from work to drive him back and forth each day because, unfortunately, Dad can no longer drive himself to treatment anymore.
Dad got through the first week of treatment before the nurses at UPenn noticed that something wasn’t right. Each day, while he waited for treatment, one nurse would take his vitals and check in with him. On the fourth day of treatment his vitals were taken and his blood pressure was 80/30. He was immediately admitted to UPenn Hospital and tests upon tests were done.
Dad was found to be in renal failure and was in critical condition. There were a few reasons that his kidneys could have failed: severe dehydration, his blood was too thin, or the cancer was growing and causing a blockage. After countless tests it was determined that it was a combination of his blood being too thin and dehydration. This was a relief that cancer wasn’t causing any blockage. They had also conducted a scan of his brain to be sure that cancer did not spread there. They were concerned about this because he was very disoriented and confused about what was going on.
Dad stayed in the hospital and continued treatment while he was there. At first they were unsure what would happen, would his kidneys come back? Would he come out of the state of confusion he was in? There was a lot of uncertainty and it was scary to not know what would happen.
Despite the uncertainty of his hospital stay, we were glad that he was there receiving the best treatment that he could get. All of his Mesothelioma doctors were close by and would stop in each day, and he was able to be transported over to the neighboring building to receive treatment. My mom was also able to stay in the hospital room with him to keep him company and to feed him since he would not eat on his own.
He gave us a pretty good scare, but once again Dad bounced back. He was released from the hospital 11 days later with fully recovered kidneys and only three days left of radiation.
Dad continues to amaze me with his will to fight against this nasty cancer.
Know more about Mesothelioma and how you can deal with it.
Dad Keeps Up the Fight Through More Mesothelioma Complications
While living with mesothelioma there are so many worries on your mind that you do not even think about the small complications that could go wrong. Being focused on how fatigued the person is and how much pain they are in, it’s hard to notice other symptoms that occur.
The first signs experienced by my father are nausea and vomiting and we all knew something was wrong, but he didn’t do anything about it. This happened only one week after he was out of the hospital recovering from blood clots in his lungs. The doctors just told us to monitor him and make sure he was still eating and drinking. This was difficult because he had no appetite and could not keep anything down. One thing I was watching for when I was home on the weekends was if he was dehydrated.
I noticed he was dehydrated as soon as I came home one weekend. I finally got him to agree to go to the emergency room to get checked out because he was not eating or drinking anything and was still getting sick. He was checked into the emergency room and was treated for severe dehydration with multiple bags of fluids.
Another concern the doctors had in the emergency room was if he had C-diff because of the many occurrences of bowel movements. They tested him for that, and held him there until his results came back. Having C-diff would have caused a delay in him starting his next treatment. Thankfully this test came back negative and he could go home that night after being rehydrated and prescribed more anti-nausea medicine.
It is so important to monitor your loved one closely for any small symptom. Something small could turn into something very harmful. If my dad hadn’t gone to the hospital that night, his kidneys could have failed from dehydration and postponed receiving any treatment. With this aggressive cancer there isn’t a lot of time you have to play with in between treatments.
Know more about Mesothelioma and how you can deal with it.
Help Ease the Pressure On Mesothelioma Caregivers
Being a caregiver for a mesothelioma patient is a challenging, yet rewarding, experience. When you are helping out a loved one facing mesothelioma, remember to care for the caregiver as well.
Living three hours away from my parents, I was a part-time caregiver for my father. Helping him accomplish tasks that he used to do without hesitation was challenging, but mostly on an emotional level. Having family members and friends to talk to helped me tremendously. It was tough to see such a strong, active person as Dad having to ask others for help cutting the grass, cutting down a tree, moving something heavy. Being able to voice my concerns and share my feelings was (and still is) invaluable to me.
You might wonder what you can do for the caregivers, family members, and friends. As I said, for me, a listening ear made all the difference. You might offer to prepare a meal for them or to give them a night off and take over their duties for the evening. Sometimes, it’s tough to get out to run errands; pick up some groceries for them!
I know that for my Dad, it was hard to be stuck in the house in the cold weather. He loved being out in the snow, but with the meso and its effects, it made it difficult for him. In cases like this, go visit them. Take over a movie or a board game; make it a fun night in for everyone. This could also allow the caregiver some light-hearted time. They appreciate the gestures and company just as much as the patient does.
Above all, remember that just because someone has mesothelioma and their family and loved ones are caring for them, they are the same person as before their diagnosis. They need prayers, love, and support. Your friendship and concern can provide respite and peace to them when they need it the most.
Know more about Mesothelioma and how you can deal with it.
Meet Miss March (and May) of the Mesothelioma Warriors Calendar
In December, we brought you information about the group of UK women who created the Mesowarriors calendar to raise money for the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund. This month we highlight the March mesothelioma advocate: Angela Caulfield of Cumbria, England.
Why did you do this calendar?
My wonderful, beautiful daddy fell asleep in 9th May 2011, 4 1/2 years after diagnosis of mesothelioma. My dad was a true family gentlemen, he worked hard all his life to give my mum and my siblings the best upbringing any child could ever want. My dad has always been my rock, no matter how, he was always there, he loved all his grandchildren and mesothelioma stole the earth’s most genuine, most funny, most caring and most loving dad any child could ever be blessed to have. My dad never smoked, he wasn’t a big drinker, he went to the gym, he always ate healthy, well unless he got caught – lol. The rollercoaster of emotions everyone goes through is horrible.
Was there a point where you wanted to back out from doing the calendar for fear or nervousness?
Ha! No, I didn’t want to back out for one minute! I enjoyed every single second of sharing and doing this, with some meso warriors I haven’t even met. It was quite stressful at one point, but the laughs we had and the wait of people uploading their photos was so funny. I loved every minute of it!
What does the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund mean to you?
I had heard of the June Hancock charity, but have not used their services. But I believe it has helped so many meso sufferers. There has to be more successful research to find a cure for mesothelioma, more awareness to stop people contracting mesothelioma and also removal of all asbestos from schools/buildings etc should be made compulsory.
What message would you give to patients and families who are battling mesothelioma?
Reach out. If it wasn’t for the impact of the mesothelioma warriors, many of us have walked alongside each other for years, through good and bad, without this bond, without each other, I don’t personally think anyone who is associated with warriors would have gotten, or could still get through the journey with mesothelioma, as we have. We lean on each other for support, we have each other for laughs, this group can never be replaced, never be bought and can’t just be joined, it’s a group of unity and thank God we have all got each other.
About The June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund
The June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund of Sheffield, England, was established in 1997 for June Hancock and her mother who lost their lives to mesothelioma. The funds raised by the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund go toward sponsoring vital epidemiological research into the causes of mesothelioma, raising awareness of the disease amongst healthcare professionals and the public at large, and to provide good quality up to date information and advice for mesothelioma sufferers and their carers, according to the organization’s website.
Know more about Mesothelioma and how you can deal with it.
Free Mesothelioma Patient & Treatment Guide
We’d like to offer you our in-depth guide, “A Patient’s Guide to Mesothelioma,” absolutely free of charge.
It contains a wealth of information and resources to help you better understand the condition, choose (and afford) appropriate treatment, and exercise your legal right to compensation.
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