I received an email a few days ago from Nancy Wagner, in Jacksonville, Florida. She found our site through the Lung Cancer Alliance message and journal sites, over at Inspire.com. She wanted some mesothelioma awareness materials, like our awareness bracelets, to share with people around her, in memory of her father, Bill, who passed away with mesothelioma in 2004. Nancy was kind enough to share her Dad’s story with us:

My Dad, Bill [Hackett], was a master mechanic and boilermaker from the time he was 25 until he retired on disability at age 61. During this time he dismantled and rebuilt or built boilers to run some of the company’s largest factories and businesses. He started out at Maryland Ship Building and Dry Dock and then went on to become an independent contractor.

Over the years he was exposed to asbestos hundreds of times, not knowing back then that it would be what eventually claimed his life.

From the time he was retired due to this disability until his death in 2004, he suffered tremendously with breathing disorders from mesothelioma. He faced several surgeries and had to have fluid removed from his body numerous times. There were days he could hardly breathe at all, but he kept going. How I will never know.

Because he had been self employed, there was no insurance because he could not afford it. And social security did not pay very much on a monthly basis. Being a decorated WW II veteran, he was entitled to some treatment through the Veterans Administration.

My father was a very independent man and refused to give up or give in to anything that stopped him from doing what he wanted and going where he wanted. And he refused to be a burden on any one, especially his daughters. Until the week he died he continued to serve as Chaplain of the American Legion Post and made arrangements for former veterans’ funerals and assisted their families.

But he never told us about the cancer. He went to all of his chemo appointments and never told us anything. It wasn’t until after his death and the Death Certificate was issued did we know this is what took him. He died alone, 2 weeks before Christmas, in the house where we grew up.

My dad was truly a great man. I believe the reason he never told any of us was because we lost our Mom to cancer when she was 34 and he was 36 and he didn’t want us to have to face losing him to cancer, even though it was a different kind.

Almost 2 years after his death, I found out that I have stage IV lung cancer.

Cancer in any form is life threatening. The more people are aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer, the better off they will be. Annual checkups are vital. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Cancer caught early can be cured. The later the stage, the more intense the treatments and the less chance for remission.

I’d just like to thank Nancy for sharing her Dad’s personal story with us, and for helping to raise awareness and urge for early detection and research. God bless you.

Probably the most important mission of myMeso.org is to give you – people affected by mesothelioma, other asbestos-related diseases, and lung cancer – a place to tell your story. Whether you are personally struggling with the disease, or are helping a loved one or friend face this diagnosis, we want to provide a forum where you can share what you are going through.

To help you do this, and to help other visitors to myMeso.org find your story, we’ve added a new Meso Map feature. The Map is interactive, and will have markers showing where different people affected by mesothelioma, asbestos disease or lung cancer are located in the United States or around the world. Click on any marker on the map to read their personal story.

On the Map page, you can also access a form that makes it easy for you to submit your own story. You can share as little or as much personal information as is comfortable for you.

The Map can be easily found on the myMeso.org home page, at the top right – just look for the map with the words “Help Raise Awareness.” Or, visit this page directly by copying the link: http://www.mymeso.org/mesothelioma-stories-share-your-story and pasting it into your web browser.

Personal stories are SO important.

Telling your story may give you the outlet you need, to express the frustrations, joy, fear, successes, and anger – the whole range of emotions you experience.

Your story may provide guidance, comfort and a sense of community for people who are facing similar challenges. You may provide just the information about new clinical trials, about your experience with different treatment options, or an outstanding support group that is just what someone else is looking for.

Most of all, sharing your story will help us to put a human face on mesothelioma, which is critical to sparking action to fund research and find a cure.

Whatever you want to say, we’re ready to listen.

So please, visit our Meso Map page to read stories from mesothelioma and lung cancer survivors, and share your story!