Today's guest post is a very special one,
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. Read Heather's story of survival and hope below.
Carrying a child is one of the most joyous times in a woman's life. My pregnancy was very normal and on August 4th, 2005, I gave birth to a baby girl via C-section, who I named Lily. As I counted her fingers and toes, I looked around at my family, or "village" as I liked to call them. My husband, his family, my parents, and close friends were all there to meet Lily. I was excited, it all seemed so wonderful, and there was so much to look forward to.
I didn't want to, but I had to go back to work when Lily was a month old. I just didn't feel right; I was constantly tired and often having trouble breathing. I was concerned and schedule a doctor's appointment. When at the doctor's, several tests were done; the results would forever change my life.
I was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma. It was like a punch in the stomach. If I didn't start treatment immediately, I would only have 15 months to live. I had a three-and-a-half month child and my husband; I couldn't stand the thought of them having to live without me. I didn't understand how something like cancer could happen to me. It turns out that 30 years ago when I was just a kid, I had been exposed to asbestos and it had disturbed the lining of my lungs and was now starting to really set in.
We knew that I couldn't wait to start treatment. My parents in South Dakota took Lily while my husband and I traveled to Boston for treatments from the best mesothelioma doctor we could find. On February 2nd, 2006, I underwent a procedure called an extrapleural pneumonectomy in which my affected lung and surrounding tissue was removed. My recovery took 18 days. After I recovered, I had to continue radiation and chemotherapy a few months.
When I was going through treatment and then recovery, it amazed me at how much my village grew. While my husband and I were in Boston, we met so many families that were also dealing with mesothelioma. In South Dakota, there were so many family members and friends that helped my parents take care of Lily. I was grateful and astonished at how much my village had grown.
Today, being a mother is a 24-hour job. While it's stressful, it's also wonderful. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world and I'm so grateful that I have the opportunity to raise my daughter. Today, I'm cancer-free. My family and daughter were the driving force behind me when I was fighting for my life against cancer.
I will forever be grateful for the support of so many people. My fight with mesothelioma was a tough one, but I'm fortunate to be alive and well. My life wouldn't be the same without my family members and village.
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