Posted in November 2011

We have been touched by asbestos in individual ways, yet we are joined together by a common bond of community. As a testament to the strength of our global family, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO)is highlighting the courageous stories of our members with the new “Share Your Story” feature on our website.

This week, we would like to share the courageous story of Rudy.

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.

Rudy’s Story

(Shared by his daughter, Shelley)

Name: Rudolph “Rudy”

Country: Canada

Date of 1st Symptoms: MAY-2004

Date of Diagnosis: 25-SEP-2004

Diagnosis: Mesothelioma

Treatment: None

1931 – 2004

How has Asbestos changed your life? (unedited):

Rudy or \’Rooster\’ as his nickname was… He was delivered by his grandmother Deliah, the local midwife, in Nesterville and grew up in Northern Ontario in a French Canadian family of 9. In his childhood he was called ‘Petou’. As a man, he became a pipe-fitter and steam-fitter by trade.  He married my mother Carol July 4 1959 and in January 1962, I was born. I loved my Daddy. He took me hunting and fishing and ski-dooing. He also always said how he loved he was Canadian and loved Canada. He taught me to swim at age 3. I was always his ‘Pumpkin.’ Many times when I needed help or advice, he was there. I still hear his words echo in my mind. He loved our family with his whole heart. He was a great helper of others too. He was a member of AA for over 40 years. At his funeral, many came to me and said, “If it wasn’t for your Dad, I’d be dead”…pathetic isn’t it? Anyways, after what appeared to be a very bad lingering chest cold in 2004, he managed to get to his doctor to refer him to a specialist. I came down for his appointment in September and there it was – Pleural Mesothelioma. Never heard of it. I asked what were the treatment options?  Bluntly, I was told there was none – life expectancy 3-6 months. 3 weeks later, this once vibrant, strong man, now shrivelled, succumbed to death. I have never seen anything like it. You slowly suffocate to death. You can breath in (a little) but not out. Those last few moments with our family surrounding him were bittersweet. Extreme anguish that you are losing your loved one but grateful that this torture chamber of existence was ending. Unimaginable pain…unimaginable pain…

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