Posted on September 19, 2013 

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 Dave, as shared by his widow Linda, 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.

“Strength and Honor” – Dave’s Story

Name: Dave

Location: United Kingdom

Date of Diagnosis: 32-OCT-2009

Treatment: Cisplatin alimta

1949 – 2010

How has asbestos changed your life?

Dave and I had gone to Australia in March 2009 to see our new grandson after our son and daughter-in-law had emigrated only a few months before. We had our house on the market, as we wanted to buy a smaller property near our daughter and free up some money to buy a property in Australia. Dave had developed a slight cough. After constant nagging from me, he went to the doctors twice, but they just dismissed it. In August, the cough had gotten so bad that he couldn’t sleep in a bed and he started to lose weight. In my heart, I had a bad feeling, but you try and block it out.

We went to the doctors together this time. She sent Dave to have an X-ray, and they found his lung was full of fluid, and within 6 weeks, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. To sit there and be told by a doctor that it is terminal in front of your two children –  well, you try and hold it together for them. The emotions you go through – well, I don’t think I will ever get it out of my head. Dave was devastated.

He had six chemos and he was so ill with the chemo that we lived and died in A/E. He would be so emotional all the time. I’d never seen Dave cry. It tore me apart. He would stand at the window and watch all the builders go by and just sob. He was such a strong man. Meso tore him apart. He knew we were not going to grow old together, and he knew he was not going to see all our grandchildren grow up, which devastated us both. I tried so hard to be strong for all the family, not breaking down in front of them, but meso took my man, the love of my life. How I hate mesothelioma.

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