Posted on January 6, 2015
I am pleased to share an interview with an extraordinary ADAO volunteer. After experiencing mesothelioma through her father’s diagnosis, Julie Burns turned her personal tragedy into an act of remembrance and honor not just for father, but also for others. In 2009, Julie and I began working together upon Jill Vaughn’s request. With team effort, the Mesothelioma Warrior Candle Lighting list has tripled and now has nearly 900 names. Please join me in thanking Julie for working tirelessly to continue this important tradition. Jill, we love and miss each day. ~Linda
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Interview with Julie Burns
Julie Burns
Linda: Please tell me a about you.
Julie: I became part of the MESO family in September 2005. My Dad was diagnosed with MESO in September 2005. In October while meeting with his doctor University of Michigan. medical center we learned about the American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR) Mesothelioma Listserv. I joined to try to learn what I could.
Linda: When did you first meet Jill Vaughn?
Julie: I met Jill Vaughn through the ACOR Listserv. She was a wealth of knowledge and helped encourage us that we were receiving the right treatment that was available at the time.
Linda: How did Jill impact your life?
Julie: Jill gave us hope that we might have more than 6 months. In our case, we didn’t. Even though I only had a reason to be on the list for 6 months, I stayed because of Jill. She still provided me personal inspiration to keep going when the world throws you a curve and you are not sure how to respond. Her response was to hang on and do the best you can with what you are given.
Linda: Why is the annual Mesothelioma Warrior Candle Lighting Tradition important to you?
Julie: The Candle Lighting Tradition is important to me because of how important it was to Jill. Two things stick in my mind when I light my candles: My dad’s smile, it could light up a room. and Jill’s saying ”Another songbird falls silent on Earth, and in the heavens another star blinks into existence in the evening skies to help light the way for the rest of us.” also had special meaning for me as my dad’s favorite pastime was watching the sunset. We have hundreds of pictures of sunsets that he took and I look at them with a new eye toward the stars and those they represent.
Linda: How has the tradition changed since you lit your first candles?
Julie: When Jill got ill in 2008 every time she came on the list, she talked about her disappointment at not being able to keep up with the list. I took over where she left off. At the time it was distributed to the Listserv by email and because of the document limits it had to be broken up into smaller chunks. At the time it was sent out as 4 separate emails and just to the Listserv. In 2009, Jill asked Linda to coordinate the list and we began working together. Once Linda took over, the list was opened up to a larger audience and Jan 4 Warriors where added. It was sad to see the numbers of Warriors and their families that were and are affected by this disease, that we now know can be prevented. But it was encouraging to see names of warriors who were still fighting the fight.
Linda: What do you want to share with the Warriors and their families?
Julie: No one knows the path that is before them, but you have to take it one step at a time with hope and determination to make the best of the path you are given. And sometimes you have to cut your own path through the weeds, only you know the right way for you to go.
Julie, on behalf of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, we thank you for your ensuring the Mesothelioma Warrior Candle Lighting tradition continues.
In unity,
Linda