Posted on February 1, 2018

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 David, who is 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.

“I was given 3-6 months to live” – David’s Story

Name: David 

Location: Texas

Date of Birth: 03/10/1962

Diagnosis: Pleural Mesothelioma

Date of Diagnosis: 12/15/95

Treatment: 4 Aggressive Surgeries and Onconase Chemo for 2 years

How has asbestos changed your life? (Shared by David– unedited)

23 YEAR SURVIVOR: That diagnosis made us live each day to the fullest but with eye wide open. Our family trips because more precious. I work full time, we enjoy hunting and fishing on Lake Travis and usually with my son. We don’t take one day for granted, we know each day is precious.

I’m so thankful to see both of our kids graduate from high school – I thought I would never see it because I was given 3-6 months to live. Now, I will see our daughter graduating from college in 2018, 23 years later and I’m sure there is a wedding in the future for our son.

Our lives were impacted, but we kept fighting, together, as a family. We are so thankful for each day since my diagnosis in 1995. I have guilt and pain everyday that I’m here because I know how hard this fight is. I keep fighting and I’m fighting for each of us, our care givers, our families, our friends and for all of our Warriors that watch over us.

I will NEVER GIVE UP, my family needs me and I’ve got too much living yet to do!

 

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