I recently came across an incredibly inspirational post on a fellow blogger's site. She shared a story about Heather Von St. James, an asbestos cancer survivor. It was so moving, I wanted to share a little with you and help raise awareness of this horrible disease.
In 2005, at the age of 36 and only three months after giving birth to her daughter, Heather was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. She was given fifteen months to live. Determined to get the best treatment possible, Heather and her husband's search brought them to Boston and Dr. David Sugarbaker. Today she is an eight year survivor and is striving to help raise awareness of mesothelioma around the world.
Heather shares her fears during and after her battle on her blog. (Find out more about her story here.) Her treatment included the removal of her left lung. From that, LungLeavin' Day was born! (February 2nd was the official anniversary, but the celebration is going on for the whole month.)
Each year, Heather and her family gather in the backyard, write their biggest fears down, and throw them into a fire. Check out this fun and interactive page to learn more about LungLeavin' Day.
Learn more about mesothelioma and its treatment.
Heather shares her fears during and after her battle on her blog. (Find out more about her story here.) Her treatment included the removal of her left lung. From that, LungLeavin' Day was born! (February 2nd was the official anniversary, but the celebration is going on for the whole month.)
Each year, Heather and her family gather in the backyard, write their biggest fears down, and throw them into a fire. Check out this fun and interactive page to learn more about LungLeavin' Day.
Learn more about mesothelioma and its treatment.
Heather today!
As part of the celebration, she has asked everyone to share their fears about a health scare you or someone you love had. Any fear will do to throw into the fire!
My fear: When I turned 40, I had my first mammogram. It was not at all the squishy and painful experience I expected. They found a lump in my left breast. My son was two at the time. My first thought was that I didn't want to leave him without a mother. I had gone to the appointment alone, and I was left by myself for almost 30 minutes after they told me while I waited on a doctor to come talk with me. You can imagine the fear and the panic. I had a biopsy done the next week, and thankfully, it turned out to be harmless.
Join in! Share with us a fear that you want to toss into the fire.
In
2005, at the age of 36, and only three months after giving birth to my
beautiful daughter Lily Rose, I was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.
Upon learning of this life-altering diagnosis, my husband Cameron and I
embarked upon a search to find the best mesothelioma treatment care
available. Our search eventually led us to Dr. David Sugarbaker, a
renowned mesothelioma surgeon at the Boston based Brigham and Women's
hospital.
Today, I am a eight-year mesothelioma cancer survivor and have made it my mission to help other mesothelioma victims around the globe. I share my personal story to help spread hope and awareness for others going through this, in hopes that one day no one else will have to.
- See more at: http://www.mesothelioma.com/heather/#.VNOTES6znnF
Today, I am a eight-year mesothelioma cancer survivor and have made it my mission to help other mesothelioma victims around the globe. I share my personal story to help spread hope and awareness for others going through this, in hopes that one day no one else will have to.
- See more at: http://www.mesothelioma.com/heather/#.VNOTES6znnF
In
2005, at the age of 36, and only three months after giving birth to my
beautiful daughter Lily Rose, I was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.
Upon learning of this life-altering diagnosis, my husband Cameron and I
embarked upon a search to find the best mesothelioma treatment care
available. Our search eventually led us to Dr. David Sugarbaker, a
renowned mesothelioma surgeon at the Boston based Brigham and Women's
hospital.
Today, I am a eight-year mesothelioma cancer survivor and have made it my mission to help other mesothelioma victims around the globe. I share my personal story to help spread hope and awareness for others going through this, in hopes that one day no one else will have to.
- See more at: http://www.mesothelioma.com/heather/#.VNOTES6znnF
Today, I am a eight-year mesothelioma cancer survivor and have made it my mission to help other mesothelioma victims around the globe. I share my personal story to help spread hope and awareness for others going through this, in hopes that one day no one else will have to.
- See more at: http://www.mesothelioma.com/heather/#.VNOTES6znnF
In
2005, at the age of 36, and only three months after giving birth to my
beautiful daughter Lily Rose, I was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.
Upon learning of this life-altering diagnosis, my husband Cameron and I
embarked upon a search to find the best mesothelioma treatment care
available. Our search eventually led us to Dr. David Sugarbaker, a
renowned mesothelioma surgeon at the Boston based Brigham and Women's
hospital.
Today, I am a eight-year mesothelioma cancer survivor and have made it my mission to help other mesothelioma victims around the globe. I share my personal story to help spread hope and awareness for others going through this, in hopes that one day no one else will have to.
- See more at: http://www.mesothelioma.com/heather/#.VNOTES6znnF
Today, I am a eight-year mesothelioma cancer survivor and have made it my mission to help other mesothelioma victims around the globe. I share my personal story to help spread hope and awareness for others going through this, in hopes that one day no one else will have to.
- See more at: http://www.mesothelioma.com/heather/#.VNOTES6znnF
In
2005, at the age of 36, and only three months after giving birth to my
beautiful daughter Lily Rose, I was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.
Upon learning of this life-altering diagnosis, my husband Cameron and I
embarked upon a search to find the best mesothelioma treatment care
available. Our search eventually led us to Dr. David Sugarbaker, a
renowned mesothelioma surgeon at the Boston based Brigham and Women's
hospital.
Today, I am a eight-year mesothelioma cancer survivor and have made it my mission to help other mesothelioma victims around the globe. I share my personal story to help spread hope and awareness for others going through this, in hopes that one day no one else will have to.
- See more at: http://www.mesothelioma.com/heather/#.VNOTES6znnF
Today, I am a eight-year mesothelioma cancer survivor and have made it my mission to help other mesothelioma victims around the globe. I share my personal story to help spread hope and awareness for others going through this, in hopes that one day no one else will have to.
- See more at: http://www.mesothelioma.com/heather/#.VNOTES6znnF
I saw that story about Heather. Really amazing.
ReplyDeleteI bet that was scary for you. Thank God it was harmless.
And you do no look that old.
Oh, yikes, mesothelioma sounds so scary. That's fantastic how Heather was able to survive it, though. Love the idea of Lung Leavin' Day!
ReplyDeleteAnd wow, Christine, thank goodness your scare ended up being harmless! How unfortunate that your first mammogram had to be so frightening, though...
Eek. I'm glad your biopsy turned out to be harmless.
ReplyDeleteWow, Heather sounds like a brave woman who took the best approach to a dark situation.
What a scare for you. I'm glad it turned out to be nothing fatal.
ReplyDeleteScary! I love the idea of writing the fears on a paper and throwing it into the fire.
ReplyDeleteVery inspirational. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from Shout with Emaginette
Awesome theme; tossing fears into the fire. I have too many to count right now.
ReplyDeleteSuch an heart wrenching incredible story. I believe people like Heather are here for those of us who lose focus and want to give up far too easily. I don't have a fear of illness. Having lost a son in 1991 and 2006, my greatest fear is losing a grandchild. And it's not that I don't believe in life after death, it's that losing a child would be too great a lost for one of our 3 remaining sons.
ReplyDeleteAlex, you flatterer! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHeather, yes, quite an experience for the first one! I like the idea of LungLeavin' day too. :)
Loni, she's very brave!
Diane, thank you!
Lynda, it is very neat. And to do it with the whole family as support is great.
Anna, thanks.
Dolorah, sometimes I have more than others too.
Joylene, I really like your belief that Heather is here to inspire us. And my sympathies to you.