No Regrets for Family Who Lost Loved One to Mesothelioma

• Joseph Belluck
• Faces of Mesothelioma, Uncategorized

The natural human reaction to losing a loved one is to start asking “what if?” You start to have regrets.  You wonder why you didn’t stay five more minutes during a visit, why you hung up that phone call, or what you could have done to protect the one you lost. Living with regret is something that can have a negative effect on every aspect of your life. Try to remember that someone that loved you would never want you to live with that awful feeling.

Life has a funny way about it. It keeps going on for some when it ends on earth for others. Dad had been diagnosed for one year and eight and a half months when he passed. One year and eight months to the day after his surgery. Looking back, I know that we did everything that we could to help him fight mesothelioma.

My parents traveled constantly for surgery, doctor appointments, a clinical trial, and radiation. They were so hopeful with every good result. We researched and read as much as we could about new treatment options, side effects, and others who were also battling this horrific disease.

Losing Dad was the most heartbreaking event of my life, but we can take comfort in knowing that we literally did everything that we could to give him the best quality of life possible while he was sick. Dad promised me that he would never give up, and he didn’t. He is an inspiration to me and I am so proud to have the opportunity to share his story with so many. His faith is what carried him through, and has allowed us to carry on knowing that we gave it our best.  My prayer is that we may all find comfort in our journeys, no matter what they may be.