#LungLeavingDay 2015

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 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

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

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

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