RememberingAlanPosted on March 8, 2013

On International Women’s Day, I am reminded by Eleanor Roosevelt’s wise words, “A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water.”

Despite the fact that we have known for decades that asbestos causes disease, exposure to asbestos continues. Americans are led to believe that asbestos was banned, but this is far from the truth.  I know – my husband Alan lost his life to mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos.

In 2003, when Alan was diagnosed with mesothelioma, our daughter was only ten years old. At that time, I had never heard of Mes•o•the•li•o•ma, couldn’t pronounce it, and then learned that there was no cure.  I felt alone, isolated, and paralyzed. Fueled by my intense grief about the diagnosis and the realization that asbestos had not been banned in the U.S., I knew I had to turn my anger into action, so I co-founded the non-profit Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO). Shortly thereafter, in 2006, Alan lost his battle with mesothelioma.

Since co-founding ADAO nine years ago, I have personally witnessed the power that the asbestos industry has among never our Congress.  Although a number of Senate and House bills calling for an asbestos ban have been introduced in the last decade, none have passed. More than 50 other countries have banned asbestos, but the United States has fallen prey to political wrangling. We have seen the collateral damage that asbestos causes in our homes, schools, workplaces, and environment, but profits are being prioritized over public health. It is unacceptable to allow asbestos imports to continue while tolerating inaction from our government. The inconvenient truth is – asbestos kills. When I testify and speak on Capitol Hill, I often repeat this hard, but truthful line: “For every life lost to asbestos, a shattered family is left behind.”

As the digital revolution continues, asbestos victims, workers, and the scientific communities around the world are uniting. ADAO has become the largest asbestos victims’ organization in the United States dedicated to education, advocacy, and community to prevent asbestos-caused diseases. Using social networks like Facebook, we instantaneously connect, share, and comfort each other.  No one is alone like my husband and I were. As Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”