Posted on July 11, 2104
We have been touched by asbestos in individual ways, yet we are joined together by a bond of community. As a testament to the strength of our global family, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is highlighting the courageous stories of our members with the “Share Your Story” feature on our website.
This week, we would like to honor the story of Todd, as shared by Paul and Yvonne, his parents, who are a part of our ADAO family.
We encourage you to submit your personal stories by clicking here and following the simple instructions on the page. In sharing, comes healing. Remember, you are not alone.
“Our Unending Grief ” – Todd’s Story
(as shared by Paul and Yvonne, his parents)
Name: Todd
State: Kentucky
Date of Diagnosis: 28-FEB-2005
Diagnosis: Mesothelioma
Treatment: Extrapleural Pneumonectomy with intra-operative heated chemo, plus Alimta/Cisplatin and radiation
1967 – 2006
How has asbestos changed your life?
Asbestos has shaken our lives and changed it forever. It has caused us to have the unending grief that all parents experience with the loss of a child. The sense of loss is always present.
Todd speculated that his asbestos exposure was from the brake linings of his first old car when he was a teenager. He put 5 sets of brakes on that 1978 Volkswagen Sirocco and was diagnosed with mesothelioma 20 years later. He could also have been exposed in an old school building. His elementary school was renovated while he attended. He recalled sitting in an old gymnasium and absentmindedly picking insulation off an old pipe near the bleachers. That was asbestos.
We advocate for the ban of asbestos and mesothelioma awareness in our son’s memory. In Todd’s memory, we urge Congress to ban asbestos.
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