Posted on February 2, 2016 

Emma SYSWe 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 Emma, 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.

“Sleepless Nights and Tearful Days” – Emma’s Story

Name: Emma

Location: UK

Date of Birth: 28-NOV-1973

Date of Diagnosis:  26-NOV-2012

Diagnosis: Mesothelioma

Treatment: Surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemo

How has asbestos changed your life? Shared by herself (unedited)

Asbestos has turned my life upside down. After having a cough for nearly a year and repeatedly being told by my GP that I was fine, I got referred for a X-ray. I’d never smoked and always been fit and well but this cough never seemed to go and started to get worse.

After the X-ray came back, we were on a roller coaster of emotion, I couldn’t take in what I was diagnosed with, the questions of how? When? And why? Made for sleepless nights and tearful days…I have days where I feel brave and think to myself I won’t let this beat me, followed by days where I think that I may not be around to ever be called granny.

One thing that I have learnt over the past few months is about the damage and pain asbestos causes and how scary the big picture is, that its everywhere and that a lot of people are unaware of how dangerous it can be.

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