Posted on May 2, 2014
ADAO Welcomes Guest Blogger Rachel Shaneyfelt
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is very fortunate that our community is so active and outspoken. It is our pleasure to feature blogs from some of our members. Today we feature Rachel Shaneyfelt’s unedited story and beautiful photographs. She has also Shared Her Story on our website. Thank you, Rachel, for being part of our ADAO community!
Rachel Shaneyfelt: “My name is Rachel Shaneyfelt, I’m 46 years old and on April 1, 2014, I will have survived Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma by 3 years. Pretty impressive? I tend to think so! God has shown great mercy over my life. This journey has been an emotional rollercoaster with ups-downs, clear scans – recurrence, and scan after scan after scan after scan. I used to live my life around work, family, home and now scheduling life around the next available appointment for a PET scan. I’m amazed at times that I still have my right mind (which could be easily argued) and haven’t wisped off the deep end of insanity from it all. Cancer really throws a curve ball where you just have to take your stance, and figure out the hardest way to knock it out of the park to take you safely home.
One thing that I have grown fond of is a tall Pine that I pass on the way to my Sweet God Love It’s (aka my mom) house. I have passed that tree a million times, as I grew up just a mile from where it stands. In many ways it metaphorically reflects the journey of cancer. Standing sturdy and alone. In an ugly place behind a gas station and yards in front of a set of apartments in a community that has fallen in reputation. Crime has risen and home values have rapidly declined. Just last year mom was robbed on her 77th birthday IN HER OWN BACK YARD! Life goes on. You find beauty where you are planted where sometimes life may not feel good, and then sometimes you realize you have the greatest seat.
These photos are literally drive by shootings – approximately 20mph with the windows down, and a smart phone.”