Posted on September 26, 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 Pam, as shared by her daughter Jennifer, 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.

“The Wind Beneath My Wings” – Pam’s Story
Pam

Name: Pam

Location: Minnesota

Date of Birth: 31-DEC-1952

Date of Diagnosis: 30-JUNE- 2012

Diagnosis: Mesothelioma

Date of Death: 29-JAN-2013

How has asbestos changed your life? 

Asbestos has stolen my parents. My very young, very dedicated, and very much in love, parents. First, it gave my beautiful, loving, and peacefully kind best friend and mother, pleural mesothelioma. She was the wind beneath my wings. She was my strength. Myself, my brother, and our children were the apples of her eye, and she made she we knew it every chance she had. She was barely 60 years old.

She and our Dad were high school sweethearts and married nearly 40 years. She missed their 40th anniversary by five and a half months. She was stolen from us seven short months after diagnosis. The grief of losing our Mom, and his beloved wife, is what we ultimately believe, stole our Dad from us. He was shattered. His heart gave out eighteen months after we lost our Mom. This, we believe, is also a direct result of asbestos.

Asbestos has devastated our family. It has stolen our parents. Our children no longer have their grandparents. Some won’t even remember them. My brother and I, our children, our Grandma, our Aunt, and all of our family and their friends (and ours) will have to forever miss their presence in our lives. That is how asbestos has forever changed my life, the life of my brother, and everyone else who knew and loved them.

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