Category: Family
Mesothelioma Widow Adjusts to New Routine
Day-to-day life has changed greatly for my whole family since Dad passed away, but no one’s more so than Mom’s. She and Dad spent all of their time together and she has had to adjust to not having him always there.
Every morning, my parents sat and had coffee. Now, Mom has a cup without him. They would go and run errands together – everything from going out to eat to going to the post office. Now, these are things that Mom has to do by herself.
Little things that Dad always took care of now fall to Mom. Dad always cut the grass, took out the garbage, fixed anything and everything that might need fixing. Thankfully, other people have been filling in to help out with a lot of these kinds of things, but it was still different when Dad would do them.
Mom has been spending a lot of time visiting us at our home, spending time with family and friends, and doing her best to enjoy her new retirement. But it’s still not the same. There will always be a void there that only Dad could fill.
I have mentioned many times how much I admire my Mom and how strong she is. She inspires me every day to do my best to handle every situation and challenge with grace. Please pray for her and for all who have lost a loved one. Every one of us needs your prayers.
Father/Daughter Forge Strong Bond Over Mesothelioma Care
When Amanda headed off to college she knew she wanted to dedicate her career to helping children learn to read. Since completing her Master’s in Education, she has gotten satisfaction from watching the children in her classes slowly begin to enjoy reading and to gain confidence in themselves.
It is with this same nurturing and caring spirit that led Amanda to stay by her father’s side as he fights pleural mesothelioma. Although helping him battle cancer was not new, her father successfully fought melanoma nearly eight years ago, Amanda knew that fighting mesothelioma would be particularly challenging.
Her father chose to have his treatment under the care of mesothelioma specialists at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. The choice was not easy – he would have to leave his wife and sons behind. But with Amanda living in the Philadelphia area, there was no question that he would receive the love and care from her that would help him overcome even the most difficult treatments.
Amanda’s father had to remain in the hospital for six weeks, and she took the time to see him every day. During this time Amanda learned as much as she could about mesothelioma and worked closely with the medical team to ensure her father received the appropriate mesothelioma care. Her father learned that it is okay to lean on Amanda and to trust in her decisions. And through it all they created a bond that brought them closer than they had ever been.
Amanda will tell the story of how her father successfully battled one cancer to only be stricken with mesothelioma years later. She will provide readers information about how the diagnosis, treatment and management of mesothelioma affects an entire family, but through love and strength fighting the disease is a little easier.
Please join us in welcoming Amanda to MesotheliomaHelp.org as she offers articles about helping a family member battle and cope with mesothelioma, and how the disease can help bring a family together.
Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation Announces Annual Symposium
The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation has announced plans for its 11th annual International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma. The Symposium, scheduled March 5-7 in Alexandria, VA, is an opportunity for the entire mesothelioma community, including patients, their families, caregivers and advocates, to come together to network and to learn the latest mesothelioma news.
For the first time, the Meso Foundation will sponsor a concurrent seminar for scientists and medical professionals only. The Mesothelioma Scientific Seminar is designed to “facilitate high level sharing of information, collaboration and learning” among mesothelioma specialists. These sessions will be for the scientific community only; however, many of these world-renowned mesothelioma physicians and researchers will be accessible to Symposium attendees.
The Symposium gives face-to-face time for people from so many backgrounds to discuss the reality of dealing with mesothelioma. Rare diseases, such as mesothelioma, are very isolating, and the symposium is an opportunity to get people together to let them know they are not alone in their journey. Attendees have the chance to network, meet with their government representatives, honor their loved ones and learn about what is going on in the field.
The list of speakers at the two-day event is the Who’s Who of mesothelioma experts from throughout the United States and Europe. Keynote speakers include Dean Fennell, PhD, University of Liecester; Michele Carbone, MD, PhD, University of Hawaii and Ira Pastan, MD, National Cancer Institute. Other speakers are Dr. Lee Krug, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Dr. Robert Taub, Columbia Presbytarian, Anne Tsao, MD, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Hedy Lee Kindler, MD, University of Chicago. All of these speakers have dedicated their careers to improving the lives of mesothelioma patients.
During the event, the Meso Foundation will also present various awards to leaders in the field. Michele Carbone, MD, PhD, University of Hawaii, will be presented with the 2014 Pioneer Award which honors individuals “pioneering” scientific advances in the field of mesothelioma, with the goal of eradicating the life-ending and vicious effects of mesothelioma. Carbone, one of the world’s leading authority on mesothelioma, is credited with significant breakthroughs including determining that the BAP1 gene, which is involved in tumor suppression, might underlie mesothelioma in people with a strong family history of the disease.
“He [Carbone] has been a leader in the field of mesothelioma research, and every one of his many contributions brings us that many steps closer to life-saving treatments for mesothelioma patients,” said Mary Hesdorffer, NP, Meso Foundation’s executive director upon announcing the award.
http://blog.curemeso.org/meso-foundation-congratulates-representative-betty-mccollums-efforts-advance-mesothelioma-research/
The Meso Foundation will also present the winner of the June Breit and Jocelyn Farrar Outstanding Nurse Award.
Mesothelioma is a rare, incurable form of cancer primarily caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers that is diagnosed in close to 3,000 Americans each year. Although mesothelioma can be treated with varying degrees of success with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, there is still no known cure for the disease. The prognosis for mesothelioma patients is an average survival time varying from 4 – 18 months after diagnosis.
The Meso Foundation is one of the leading organizations “dedicated to eradicating the life-ending and vicious effects of mesothelioma.” The Meso Foundation’s activities include funding mesothelioma research, providing education and support for patients and their families, and advocating for federal funding of mesothelioma research.
See the Meso Foundation’s website for more information and to register for the conference.
http://www.curemeso.org/site/c.duIWJfNQKiL8G/b.8578185/k.6D0E/Meso_Foundation_Symposium.htm
The Serenity Prayer Offers Comfort to Family of Patients
Prayer has gotten me through a lot. This prayer, in particular, has helped me throughout my entire journey. It’s commonly known as The Serenity Prayer. Take a second to pray it and really let the words sink in. It’s truly beautiful.
God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change… Courage to change the things I can and Widsom to know the difference.
Prayer and a Listening Ear are Priceless Ways to Support Those Battling Mesothelioma
When someone you care for is diagnosed with mesothelioma, you might wonder what you can do to help. The first answer is, of course, PRAY and ask others to pray as well. Never, ever underestimate the power of prayer. Our family and our story is proof of that. You might feel as though there is nothing else you can do, but the truth is that you can.
The family that is going through a mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment is scared, tired, and exhausted in every capacity. Any help that you can offer is important. If you know that the person with the diagnosis usually does a certain task, ask if you could take that job over for a while. For example, Dad always spends a lot of time cutting grass, so family members took care of that for him. If you always see someone at the grocery store, ask if they will give you their list and pick up the items for them.
One thing that was extremely helpful was people helping to take care of my two grandmothers who my parents looked after. In this case, if you are a family member, or are close to the family, offer to help take on some, or more of, the responsibility in that regard.
Take a healthy meal over to the family. Trust me, they are too tired to cook and might forget to eat all together. Nutrition is so important for any cancer patient, and helping them eat, and eat right, is a great help.
Lastly, a shoulder to cry on and a listening ear are priceless. Spending time with the people impacted by a mesothelioma diagnosis is so meaningful and kind. Let them know that you are praying for them, that you support them, and that you are there for them whatever they may need at any time. The visits we received throughout our journey were so precious to us. Knowing that you are not going through it alone is a priceless thing.
Keep in mind that any kind of help you can give or offer is appreciated whether those involved are able to express it or not. Remember that they are going through a very difficult time. When offering your help, try hard not to overwhelm them, as they are already feeling devastated, so be sensitive to their situation. Friends and family members are an important factor in helping someone recovering from mesothelioma, so you are a cherished member of the team!
Finding Comfort in Stories After Losing a Loved One
Words are powerful things. They can lift spirits, they can bring comfort, they have the ability to calm us. When you are talking with someone who has lost a loved one to mesothelioma, or any reason for that matter, words need to be chosen with care.
For me, I found a lot of comfort in stories that people shared with me about Dad. I love hearing how he did something nice for someone, how he played a joke on someone, or how he fell for a joke that someone played on him. A relative even brought 50 cents to the viewing. It was from someone who owed it to Dad for a bicycle he sold to him 50 years ago. These things brought a smile to my face and joy to my heart.
Seeing how many people cared about Dad was overwhelming to me. Each person had something to share and just wanted to show our family that they support us and are here for us. Sometimes, just the presence of friends and loved ones says more than you could ever articulate with words.
A lot of people aren’t really sure what to say in this type of situation. Some said nothing, which is fine. Others simply told us that they didn’t know what to say! I appreciated these people who assured us of their prayers. After all, it’s what we needed (and still need) the most.
When you talk with a person who has lost someone dear to them, be genuine. It will be appreciated and treasured more than you can know!
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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