One of ADAO’s main goals is to foster a supportive community for asbestos victims, and the community we have set up has become an incredible asset for people struggling with asbestos-caused disease. Having someone to talk to, to tell you that they are there for you, is invaluable, and we are proud to be here for so many people through our private “Voice on the Wall” group and closed “Turn Anger into Action” Facebook groups. As ADAO grows, our support becomes greater and our collective voice becomes louder.

This weekend, a patient and community-member, Janelle, was taken to the hospital due to health complications. Our Facebook community came together with wonderful messages for Janelle and her family. It is heart-warming to see such wonderful community support.  Diagnosed in 2007, Janelle is only 36 and has a child of her own. Like many mesothelioma patients, Janelle was told she would not survive the disease, and that surgery might not be an effective treatment for her cancer. Fortunately, that surgery was a success, and today Janelle is still courageously fighting mesothelioma. She is an inspiration to all of us. The ADAO community is so happy that Janelle is out of the ICU, and we are glad to have been a part of a support group that brought a bit of cheer to her in tough times.

Recently, Barbi McQueen, widow of the late Steve McQueen, joined the ADAO team, and she was shocked by the power of our community. “You’ve got somebody there for you. Steve and I never had a place to go, never had anyone to talk to, and could not find a person to relate to. We didn’t know anyone who had mesothelioma, and the conference showed me that ADAO has such a beautiful family of people. Everyone is there for each other. I was amazed.”

For those of you who want to send a message for Janelle, please post a message on my Facebook page.

 In Unity,

Linda

Linda Reinstein’s Social Networks

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