Posted on March 31 , 2015

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 Patricia, as shared by her step-daughter, Vida, who is a part of our ADAO family.

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.


ba“Oblivious to the Exposure” – Patricia’s Story

Name: Patricia

Location: Flordia

Date of Birth: FEB 1960

Date of Diagnosis: OCT 2012

Diagnosis: Mesothelioma

How has asbestos changed your life?

As a teacher for 25 years, my mother in law never suspected that educating students in the public school system could expose her to a toxin that would one day threaten her life. And that is not the only avenue that she was potentially exposed. Her husband of 44 years, Coolidge “Jerry” Hargrett, served in the Air Force and my mother in law accompanied him when he was stationed in Germany. They had a child in Germany, oblivious to the fact that asbestos products were commonly used on Air Force bases and in military housing. Although they caught her cancer in the early stages, while the tumor was just beginning to form, my mother in law’s story stresses the importance of annual checkups as a form of preventative medicine, especially for anyone who may have worked around asbestos.

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