Mesothelioma Help Cancer News
Starting Your Fundraising Efforts for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
Working with the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation has given me so much. My family and I have received invaluable advice and direction, made new friends, and have gotten the opportunity to give back in so many ways. I was put in touch with them by a friend who had also directed us to New York City for Dad’s treatment.
When I first contacted the Meso Foundation, I had no idea what to expect. What would I ask? Who would I talk to? Could they really help me? To be honest, I don’t remember a lot of the details of what I said, but I do remember feeling hopeful after my initial conversation. I realized that the staff there were knowledgeable, compassionate people who are experts in the field of mesothelioma.
Once Dad arrived home from the hospital after his pleurectomy, we knew that we wanted to give back somehow and try to help the Meso Foundation continue to make a profound difference in mesothelioma research, advocacy, and support. We began planning our first fundraiser shortly after.
The Meso Foundation has an amazing fundraising coordinator and a great team who can help you get on your way. They can provide you with ideas, or help you turn your idea into a reality. Once your event is complete, it’s a great idea to ask corporations and local businesses to match your contribution, doubling the amount you are able to donate.
I am proud to be a member of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation’s Rising Leaders Council, a group of young advocates dedicated to working toward the goal of finding a cure for this awful disease. If you would like more information on the Meso Foundation and their life changing work, please visit curemeso.org.
Mesothelioma Advocacy Requires Patience and Persistence
When people around you who are aware of what mesothelioma is and what causes it, but still don’t take it seriously, it can be absolutely heartbreaking. People live busy lives nowadays, but it’s still important to be sensitive to the issues and dangers of asbestos. Ignorance has gotten us nowhere, and it’s important to stand up for yourself and your loved ones.
It’s amazing how close to home that comment hits me now, about 11 months since my Dad passed away. Every comment takes me back to the day we got the call that he had stopped breathing, and makes the grief that I always feel totally fresh. I have said it before, but unless you go through it, you can never really understand the way that mesothelioma tears people apart.
When someone hurts you with their words, it is important to try to keep your composure and let them know that you are upset. Tell them what you’ve gone through and help them understand that mesothelioma and asbestos are not an easy topic for you, nor should they be for anyone.
Education is the only way that people will comprehend what you’ve experienced, and it is a wonderful way to advocate for the entire mesothelioma community. Try to turn your negative experience into a positive and enlighten someone about asbestos related diseases. This could be your opportunity to truly make a difference in someone’s life.
The Promise of Heaven is Comforting
Twice a year, a local community in the mountains near my parents’ home hosts a wonderful event. There are craft vendors, activities, and perhaps the highlight (for us, anyway) is an all you can eat pancake dinner. It goes from morning to night… need I say more! We always enjoy taking the trip there, catching up with friends, and of course, eating until we are stuffed!
Last April, about a month before Dad’s radiation treatments were to begin in New York City, we sent Mom off to work and Dad, my husband Mike, and I were pancake bound! We took our time enjoying the beautiful early spring weather and each other’s company. On the way home, we stopped at several scenic overlooks and admired the natural beauty. It was at that point when Dad said something I would never forget.
Looking out at the mountains, Dad said, “I can’t wait to get to Heaven so I can fly around over all this.” I didn’t for one second get upset by his statement. He wasn’t talking about anything he felt was imminent. He was talking about the promise of Heaven that is given to each and every one of us. This promise will get you through every struggle, it will be with you through every moment of laughter, and will follow you through every turn, good or bad.
We stopped to take some pictures at that spot, laughing together the whole time. It was a very special day for the three of us. Just being together and having that time is a memory that I will always hold close to my heart. Earlier that day, Dad had baked some bread. When we got home that night, we even made pumpkin pies, something that Dad had been wanting to try for some time. It was just one of those days that you know will stick with you.
Losing Dad was heartbreaking and I miss him every single day. Even when I’m feeling at my loneliest without him, I remember the promise of Heaven. Dad, I hope that you’re up there flying over the mountains, watching all of us from up above.
Mesothelioma Nurse Suggests Reading Book That Addresses Mortality
When diagnosed with mesothelioma, or any life-threatening illness, it compels the patient, family and contemporaries to face our own mortality. The fact that we are all going to die is something we all know, but no one wants to deal with it. How many of us do not have a will or have not done any estate planning? What will death look like for us? Will we be in pain? Alone? Broke? What matters?
On October 7, “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End,” by Dr. Atul Gawande, will be released. Dr. Gawande is a New York Times best-selling author and a talented, practicing surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.
Below is an excerpt of the overview of the book:
“Medicine has triumphed in a modern time, transforming birth, injury and infectious disease from harrowing to manageable. But in the inevitable condition of aging and death the goals of medicine seem too frequently to run counter to the interest of the human spirit. Nursing homes, preoccupied with safety, pin patients into railed beds and wheelchairs. Hospitals isolate the dying; checking for vital signs long after the goals of care have become moot. Doctors committed to extending life, continue to carry out devastating procedures that in the end extend suffering.”
Hopefully, this book will open up conversations and actions that will lead to exploring our fears about death and continuing life after there is quality that we do not want.
For mesothelioma victims, the importance of palliative care experts on your team is again emphasized. From the time of diagnosis through the journey of mesothelioma treatments, quality of life issues, and being pain free, palliative care specialists strive to meet the patients’ needs.
Being aggressive with mesothelioma medical treatment is what is encouraged. However, a good quality of life is the goal.
Being Mortal:Medicine and What Matters in the End is available through Amazon.
If you have questions about your mesothelioma treatment, palliative care, or any aspect of your mesothelioma care, please email me at [email protected].
Don’t Stop Your Mesothelioma Fundraising Goals
When you are fundraising, you always get some people who say “no.” It might be a donor, someone you ask to volunteer, or even a business you ask to sponsor an event. It’s important to remember that sometimes people are overwhelmed with financial obligations, personal commitments, or donation requests. That being said, there is definitely something to be said about patient persistence.
Don’t get discouraged when someone tells you that they are unable to participate in any way to assist you with your efforts. Thank them for considering and ask them to pass the word along to others who may be interested in helping out.
Let a “no” make you even more committed to reaching your goals and helping others. It can motivate you to try harder, do more, and come up with new and innovative ideas to encourage people to get involved.
Trust me, I have been told “no” many, many times while I have been involved in the mesothelioma community. It may seem frustrating at times, but don’t dwell on that. Look at all the support that you do have and gain strength from that. Most importantly, remember who you are advocating for and why you are passionate about it. Let these thoughts be the driving force behind your work and turn the negative into a positive.
Free Mesothelioma Patient & Treatment Guide
We’d like to offer you our in-depth guide, “A Patient’s Guide to Mesothelioma,” absolutely free of charge.
It contains a wealth of information and resources to help you better understand the condition, choose (and afford) appropriate treatment, and exercise your legal right to compensation.
Download Now