Inspirational Stories of Those Whose Lives Have Been Touched by Mesothelioma
“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just give up.” – Stephen Hawking
One of the most important parts of living with mesothelioma is knowing that you’re not alone. You have friends, family members and coworkers who care about you, not to mention other mesothelioma survivors out there who understand exactly what you’re going through.
If you could use a little uplift in your day, there are hundreds of inspirational stories out there written by people who are living with mesothelioma and not letting the disease stand in their way.
15 Year Mesothelioma Survivor
One of the most unique is the story of Paul Kraus. Born in an Austrian concentration camp in 1944, Kraus emigrated to Australia with his family. In the 1960s, he worked close to a factory that processed asbestos sheets. Then, in 1997, at the age of 53, Kraus was diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Even in the face of such a terrible disease, he has not let his illness get him down. Kraus was given less than a year to live, yet he continues to thrive even now! He has written countless books on living with mesothelioma, in which he recommends some basic dietary and lifestyle changes. Today, he lives with his wife and their two miniature schnauzers in a little town north of Sydney.
6 Year Mesothelioma Survivor
Another inspiring story is that of Debbie Brewer, a 52-year-old mother and patient activist in the UK. Though diagnosed with mesothelioma six years ago, she is still as energetic as ever.
Her secret? It’s all in the mindset. “Mesothelioma isn’t always about dying. It’s about living as well, ” she told This Is Plymouth. “I want to be around to see my first grandchild, to see my children move in to their first homes. I don’t want to leave them behind not coping.”
If you’re looking for more inspirational stories about those whose lives have been touched by mesothelioma, there are a number of places to try.
At Kazan, McClain, Lyons, Greenwood and Harley, we recommend a number of books written by survivors, including Kraus’s Surviving Mesothelioma and Other Cancers, J.R. O’Connor’s They Said Months, I Chose Years!, and the handy guidebook 100 Questions and Answers about Mesothelioma by Harvey Pass, Amy Metula and Susan Vento.
If you’d like to tell your own story to help others, you can do so here at the website of the American Cancer Society.