Winning the Fight Against Cancer
“It takes a village” is a saying that I heard frequently when I was pregnant with my daughter who was born on August 4th, 2005. After her delivery, by emergency C-section, a “village” of people, parents, family members, and friends surrounded us. They were there to meet our daughter, Lily, and wish us well. Life was good, however I was not prepared for the storm that was about to come.
After a month off, I returned to work full-time. I began to have symptoms that I attributed to my being a new mom. I had no energy; felt tired, and was breathless all of the time. The symptoms did not let up, so I went to the doctor. After undergoing a myriad of tests, on November 21, 2005, 3-1/2 months after the birth of Lily, I was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos and affects the lining of the lungs. As a child, I was unknowingly exposed to asbestos and 30 years later, I developed cancer. When informed of my diagnosis, my first thoughts were about Lily and my husband. I was told that if I did not have any treatments for mesothelioma, I would have 15 months to live. I knew that I had to do whatever it took to save my life.
I undertook the most drastic treatment that I was offered. My husband and I flew to Boston, where I underwent a procedure called extrapleural pneumonectomy, which involved the removal of my left lung. I spent 18 days in the hospital, another two months recovering at home before starting chemotherapy, and then I began radiation treatments.
My “village” of people came forth to support me, as a new mom, and as a victim of mesothelioma. These people surrounded me with love, support, and prayer. People from all areas of my life came to support me. Through this experience, I found out who really cares about me.
My daughter, Lily, lived with my parents while we were in Boston. When they needed help, they also found a “village” of people to help them. Married women, with whom I babysat as children, showed up to help my parents. People from my church surrounded my parents with help, love, and support. While in Boston, my husband and I made new friends who were going through the same ordeal as I was, and we bonded. These friends helped us through each day.
Back home, in South Dakota, mom sent me grainy, black and white email pictures, and I witnessed my daughter’s progress; she went from using a bottle to eating food. I tried not to cry when the nurses would come by to admire the pictures. Lily was the reason I was there, fighting for my life.
Having cancer taught me to live each day as if it might be my last. My favorite quote: “Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.”
Heather Von St James is a 43-year-old wife and mother. Upon her diagnosis of mesothelioma, she vowed to be a source of hope for other patients who found themselves with the same diagnosis. Now, over 6 years later, her story has been helping people all over the globe. She continues her advocacy and awareness work by blogging, speaking and sharing her message of hope and healing with others. Check out her story at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog.
“It takes a village” is a saying that I heard frequently when I was pregnant with my daughter who was born on August 4th, 2005. After her delivery, by emergency C-section, a “village” of people, parents, family members, and friends surrounded us. They were there to meet our daughter, Lily, and wish us well. Life was good, however I was not prepared for the storm that was about to come.
After a month off, I returned to work full-time. I began to have symptoms that I attributed to my being a new mom. I had no energy; felt tired, and was breathless all of the time. The symptoms did not let up, so I went to the doctor. After undergoing a myriad of tests, on November 21, 2005, 3-1/2 months after the birth of Lily, I was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos and affects the lining of the lungs. As a child, I was unknowingly exposed to asbestos and 30 years later, I developed cancer. When informed of my diagnosis, my first thoughts were about Lily and my husband. I was told that if I did not have any treatments for mesothelioma, I would have 15 months to live. I knew that I had to do whatever it took to save my life.
I undertook the most drastic treatment that I was offered. My husband and I flew to Boston, where I underwent a procedure called extrapleural pneumonectomy, which involved the removal of my left lung. I spent 18 days in the hospital, another two months recovering at home before starting chemotherapy, and then I began radiation treatments.
My “village” of people came forth to support me, as a new mom, and as a victim of mesothelioma. These people surrounded me with love, support, and prayer. People from all areas of my life came to support me. Through this experience, I found out who really cares about me.
My daughter, Lily, lived with my parents while we were in Boston. When they needed help, they also found a “village” of people to help them. Married women, with whom I babysat as children, showed up to help my parents. People from my church surrounded my parents with help, love, and support. While in Boston, my husband and I made new friends who were going through the same ordeal as I was, and we bonded. These friends helped us through each day.
Back home, in South Dakota, mom sent me grainy, black and white email pictures, and I witnessed my daughter’s progress; she went from using a bottle to eating food. I tried not to cry when the nurses would come by to admire the pictures. Lily was the reason I was there, fighting for my life.
Having cancer taught me to live each day as if it might be my last. My favorite quote: “Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.”
Heather Von St James is a 43-year-old wife and mother. Upon her diagnosis of mesothelioma, she vowed to be a source of hope for other patients who found themselves with the same diagnosis. Now, over 6 years later, her story has been helping people all over the globe. She continues her advocacy and awareness work by blogging, speaking and sharing her message of hope and healing with others. Check out her story at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog.
