Posted on May 23, 2014

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 the story of Troi.  In addition to Troi’s story, you can also read ” Exclusive ADAO Interview with Troi Atkinson, Mesothelioma Patient and Musician, Raising Awareness Through Music.”

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.

“Not Ready Yet” – Troi’s Story 

Name: Troi

Location: Oregon

Year of Birth: 1964

Date of Diagnosis: 15-SEP-2012

Diagnosis: Mesothelioma

How has asbestos changed your life?

 The very first record executive I ever met was in Seattle. I had just had the opportunity to play with some really cool cats who were getting”signed”… I was invited back to an office where upon entrance there was purchased upon a coffee table a science project volcano sized pile of cocaine. I immediately spun on my heels, hightailed to the elevator where my new girlfriend was waiting in her car for me. I said “baby I can’t do that I’ll be dead in 6 months”… Why you may ask… because I was informed, I was 29. I knew what it would do to me. Yet day to day people go about their lives unconsciously touched by something so deadly that it stopped me in my tracks. Years later that girlfriend in the car became my wife. We spent years on the road playing music making our own way without the help of record executives & their bling. But years of shipyard work and a hard living rock & roll life forced a pit stop for me in Key West. After days of complicated diagnosis, a nurse friend suggested that I have further testing done elsewhere and the hidden truth was discovered. Her information may have saved my life. All playing came to a stop; my family prayed. A month later after driving across country to rejoin our children, I had surgery and began treatment in California. That was 1 &1/2 years ago; as of spring 2013 I have 99% oxygen saturation and no new re-growth. My growth thankfully turned out benign and I begin a new journey to change everything about my life from the consumption level to the reflection & reaction level; it has all been vitally important to a solid recovery. The level of support from a group such as ADAO is immeasurable; for the strength of a family member in need of support, to one on one dialog with other patients. The diligence ADAO spends getting current information out to the general public is beyond scope in its importance. There is Hope in the collective and freedom in knowledge. It is my desire to live out my days however many they may be always with a song in my heart, shedding some light on the strong walk to our healthier future.

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CLICK HERE TO READ PREVIOUS SHARE YOUR STORIES

Watch Troy’s exclusive performance of “Not Ready Yet” for ADAO.