Girl honors grandpa at Mesothelioma symposium
30 Jun 2008 by Wendi Lewis under Events, Organizations, PeopleAs part of the International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma, held last week in Washington, D.C., 13-year-old Lexi Miletto presented a keynote address to more than 200 top-level cancer researchers, scientists and physicians, as well as mesothelioma survivors, caregivers and their families. The Symposium is an annual event presented by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation). Lexi’s grandfather, Joe Miletto, died from mesothelioma three years ago.
When her grandfather passed away, 9-year-old Lexi, who lives just outside Allentown, Pennsylvania, channeled her grief into a letter-writing campaign, hoping to raise awareness of mesothelioma. According to an article in The Morning Call, a publication that serves Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, Lexi wrote medical research organizations, political leaders including President George Bush, and even television celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, hoping to spread the word about asbestos danger and mesothelioma.
This year, the Meso Foundation invited Lexi to give the keynote address Friday, June 27, at its International Symposium. The Morning Call quotes Chris Hahn, the foundation’s executive director, as saying, ”We wanted to show the full spectrum of the disease’s effect on families. How inspiring it is that this young gal going into eighth grade has this concern for a much bigger national problem.”
View Comments to “Girl honors grandpa at Mesothelioma symposium”
Great post. This is a very uplifting story. I wish Lexi the best of luck as she pushes forward.
Thank you, asbestosnews! What a remarkable girl to speak out on behalf of her grandpa at such a young age! It just goes to show that anyone can be an advocate – it just takes a willingness to speak up.
I couldn’t agree more Wendi. I hope that Lexi becomes an example to others and more people rally behind a great cause.
wow, not many people stand out at such a young age, but the ones that do may change the world. Great post.
Let me see how this works: In 1966 My family moves to Libby,Mt from Ohio.There is six kids and ma and pa. Ma and Pa are in their30s. I am 12 and the oldest. Us six kids get married and we have kids. My kids are 27 and 24 right now.They too were born and raised in Libby.And then our kids, have children.You know, the generation thing. So , I am talking 4 generations created since 1966 to 2008. That is a bunch of Family. Then in 1999, we all were told why we are sick and dying.We were told that a latency period comes with this death sentence and that it takes anywhere from 10 to 40 years befor you begin to slowly die. And since that day in 1999, the truth is taking all of us to our grave.Ma and Pa are gone now, I and my sises and bro are next and then our children will follow me. And this is how LIFE is till death for all of us.This is what we all wake up to everyday of our lives.The knowing of how each of us will/are dying…no cure,no life where the only thing to look forward to is death.Because you suffer for years befor you die from suffication/Meso.So ma and pa were close to 70 when they passed.I am 54 and on my way out and by kids are old enough to see and understand what they have to look forward to when their kids will be faced with the same truth and reality that is and has and continues to kill all of us and millions today.My grand child to be born in April of 2009, a boy and my only grand child, never ever will my grandchild breathe Libby Mt air and I will go to my grave knowing that they may have killed/murdered 3 generations of my family tree…They won't get my forth generation.This is why I ,since 1999 continue to save all who will listen by telling all who will listen to stay away from Libby Mt. What a holocaust…….that was done to us…..
I want to say thank you for the work taht is being done to find a cure and to help families and individuals that are fighting to find a cure and to those that are having to say good bye to their families….
I am from Alberta Canada, my husband Ken Cardinal Sr lost his battle to mesothelioma on Dec 31st, 2008. His dream was that he could meet others who were going througth the difficulties like him and his family were and to help in some way to find a cure…He was 42 years old, he does not know how or when he came in contact with the asbestos? Although it has only been almost 5 months of his passing I am struggling to find out how to bring the awareness to people? I want to honor his battle and his strength but keeping his promise to do this. Any information that can be passed on to me would be greatly appreciated.Thank you.
Pam Cardinal-Desjarlais (May 2009)
Hello Pam,
Thank you so much for your comment. I am so sad to hear of your
It is so frustrating that asbestos is still a
husband's passing.
threat and, as you said, so many times people don't even know it's
there, so they do not even know to protect themselves.
I admire your willingness to carry out your husband Ken's desire to
raise awareness and connect with others who are battling mesothelioma. I
would be happy to send you some mesothelioma awareness bracelets – they
are bright green – hard to miss, and a great way to get people to ask
you about mesothelioma so that you can help spread the word about meso
and the dangers of asbestos. You can email me directly at
wendi.lewis@beasleyallen.com to let me know where to mail them if you
don't want to post your address in the comments. (they are free) I'd
love to hear from you!
Thank you, again, so much, for sharing a little of Ken's story here, and
for your desire to continue his efforts to raise awareness and help find
a cure. God bless you and your family!
Sincerely,
Wendi Lewis
http://www.myMeso.org
I want to say thank you for the work taht is being done to find a cure and to help families and individuals that are fighting to find a cure and to those that are having to say good bye to their families….
I am from Alberta Canada, my husband Ken Cardinal Sr lost his battle to mesothelioma on Dec 31st, 2008. His dream was that he could meet others who were going througth the difficulties like him and his family were and to help in some way to find a cure…He was 42 years old, he does not know how or when he came in contact with the asbestos? Although it has only been almost 5 months of his passing I am struggling to find out how to bring the awareness to people? I want to honor his battle and his strength but keeping his promise to do this. Any information that can be passed on to me would be greatly appreciated.Thank you.
Pam Cardinal-Desjarlais (May 2009)
Hello Pam,
Thank you so much for your comment. I am so sad to hear of your
It is so frustrating that asbestos is still a
husband's passing.
threat and, as you said, so many times people don't even know it's
there, so they do not even know to protect themselves.
I admire your willingness to carry out your husband Ken's desire to
raise awareness and connect with others who are battling mesothelioma. I
would be happy to send you some mesothelioma awareness bracelets – they
are bright green – hard to miss, and a great way to get people to ask
you about mesothelioma so that you can help spread the word about meso
and the dangers of asbestos. You can email me directly at
wendi.lewis@beasleyallen.com to let me know where to mail them if you
don't want to post your address in the comments. (they are free) I'd
love to hear from you!
Thank you, again, so much, for sharing a little of Ken's story here, and
for your desire to continue his efforts to raise awareness and help find
a cure. God bless you and your family!
Sincerely,
Wendi Lewis
http://www.myMeso.org
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