Posted on August 31, 2014
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) mourns the loss of beloved United Kingdom Mesothelioma Warrior, Tess, who passed away on August 28, 2014.
Since 2010, Tess courageously battled mesothelioma and was an inspiration to many around the world.
Tess was wonderfully talented and a gifted writer. In 2011, she began a blog, called Targets. As she wrote, “It was a year ago in September 2010 I was given the devastating news that I had terminal cancer. Mesothelioma. Never heard of it! It is assumed that I was in contact with asbestos during my 32 years of science teaching in several schools during the 70s and 80s. My world stopped turning. The prognosis was poor – weeks, months, possibly a year or two. But then things happened to keep me moving on – the unending support of my wonderful, truly amazing husband Alan, the arrival of my first grandson Ethan in October 2010 and then the arrival of my first granddaughter Lilah in June 2011 in Toronto.”
“The love shown to me by my two amazing sons and their wives keeps me thinking positively. Even in the darkest days when the chemotherapy was so difficult to cope with somehow we made it. Sometimes things get so overwhelming and tears are never far away but I have just returned from holiday in Canada with all my family – meeting my new granddaughter Lilah was so special – this really has been my holiday of a lifetime. I have called this blog ‘Targets’ because I have got through this first year by setting myself a series of short- and longer-term targets to strive for. So far I have been able to meet them all. … I have been inspired to start this blog by reading the blogs of other Meso Warriors – Mavis, Debbie, Ronny and others. I hope my friends and family will look in from time to time to see how I am doing. I appreciate how hard it is for them too – not knowing if I am OK or not. They have been a tremendous support. Thanks for popping by today. Tess x”
On behalf of Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, we send our sincere condolence to Alan, Tess’s husband, her family and friends during this difficult time. Tess, you will be remembered in our hearts forever.
With great sadness,
Linda Reinstein