How to respond to a mesothelioma diagnosis
A mesothelioma diagnosis is devastating for patients and their loved ones. It raises many questions. Among the most important is, “How am I going to live my life?”
A courageous woman in Bowling Green, Kentucky, named Linda is an example of how to respond to mesothelioma. Early in 2018, doctors gave Linda a diagnosis of Stage 3 pleural mesothelioma. Linda passed away in February 2020 age 71. What Linda did during those two years is instructive.
Lessons to learn from Linda’s story
Her story is told in a recent article at Mesotheliomaguide.com, an advocacy website that provides resources to mesothelioma victims and their loved ones.
Throughout her life, Linda was a person who cared for other people. That didn’t change in the last two years of her life. The article says Linda:
- Leaned on her strong faith to help her stay positive and strong
- Accepted emotional support from family and friends
- Sought help from medical and legal professionals who understood her situation
Louisville attorney Paul Kelley says Linda’s perseverance was remarkable. “Linda was the sweetest, nicest person. Despite her circumstances, she was always upbeat.”
What caused her mesothelioma?
Linda’s mesothelioma stemmed from employment at a factory in the 1980s. After her diagnosis, she took legal action and received compensation for her mesothelioma injuries. Linda used some of those proceeds to get the best medical treatment she could find, traveling to health facilities in Texas and Maryland. Her family members believe the medical treatment extended the length and quality of her life.
Linda did not fear death, the article says. She feared not being available for her family and friends, and she did her best to remain connected to them until the very end.