20th February; 2000
I finally talked to my brother and father today.
It is asbestosis. We are so relieved. I know that Dad is not out of the woods and that this can progress further, however ,

There Is Hope!!!!
Dad was pretty happy. He went to a steak house to celebrate afterwards.
He let me know that they worked on and off in an area where they replaced gas lines requiring that they knocked all the asbestos off the pipes to do the work. He also spent several years working in an old ex-mining building for the gas company until they moved into more modern buildings.

We know that both lungs have scar tissue and the left is about 1/3 scarred. The right is fine with slight scarring. We will continue to monitor the situation and he sees another specialist next week. In the meantime he told me to get a series B chest xray because the normal ones don't show the asbestos.

I didn't tell you about this, but during the 70's ,in Junior High School I did some work on asbestos and it's effects on fish for a science project. This was around 1973 before a lot of the information about asbestos was out.
I did extensive work with asbestos, feeding and working with both infected and control fish. This included disection and cutting cross sections to show the effect asbestos had in fish.
The research lasted several months when I was measuring the asbestos and placing it in the water. I don't think there will be any problems but I will take his advice to heart and have the work done.
I received second place at the state science fair. I realized through my research that the asbestos not only went into the gills/lungs but also through the whole body. When I saw this, I understood the great uproar in my State over the dumping of taconite (refined ore) tailings into Lake Superior because it put asbestos into the water we drank.
They have since stopped ....however .... I need to get a physical now anyways, so I will have them check my lungs as recommended by Dad.

Dad is seeing a lawyer soon, and getting in touch with workman's compensation to see what can/will be done.
My prayers will never cease for him. I remain optimistic, and pray for all those who have been subjected to these terrible diseases until we can find a way to relieve the suffering and hopefully a cure.
Sandy

21st February; 2000 Thank you, I will pass on the blessings to my father and ask him about the story. Knowing Dad, he is probably planning an ice fishing trip or a vacation down here to visit us already. Mortality brings us to grips with that which we have not accomplished and may never accomplish. He may never put off his dreams again, because he has been given a reprieve to dream and live them. I am so sorry about Thom and the lack of knowledge of the doctors and technicians. If we only knew then.....thank goodness we are learning. Your site is a great way to get the word out to others, and like spring time it will blossom. Just give it time Deidre. I will ask Dad, and I know he is pushing each one of us to get a chest xray. Thanks again. Sandy 22nd February; 2000 Hi Deidre, Haven't spoken to Dad yet but did get the low-down on his results. The Cat scan says that he has abnormalities in the lungs with honey-combing, and the tissues show thickening with "Ground Glass" areas, mainly in the left lung. There are also several areas showing changes occurring within his lungs, which I believe means it is spreading. In Wanda's story I see a direct relation in her husband's occupation and the types of buildings in which my father worked.. It is amazing! I pray for her, her family, you and each of the families that have been torn by asbestos. It amazes me how oblivious we as humans can be. Through asbestos, people saw only the safety of lives it would bring through it's flame retardants. The purpose of asbestos was to keep us safe. Although through the years the installation of asbestos may have saved countless lives, it has also taken them. But taken them in a long and agonizing death. How many more things are out there that we thought would save lives, that will probably harm us just as much as asbestos. Sandy and Greg Desert Storm Saudi Arabia/Iraq, I guess I question this more now since my husband and I served in the Desert Storm and there are people that have had problems and died from exposure that the government and physicians just can't pin point. We have had three healthy children since then......what will it be next?. It's frightening. It makes me want to find some where to hide and continue raising my children .....but where? I have to continue my beliefs that mankind as a whole is kind , and that greed will not surpass the humanity in us for saving this world for those who will come after us. For as you know, there must be hope. Without hope there appears no reason to continue. By the way, the weather here is lovely for winter. Today my husband played softball with the boys in the backyard, and we celebrated my daughter's 8th birthday by eating chinese in town with his parents who are visiting this week from Illinois. SANDY. 26th February; 2000. I haven't spoken with my father. Every time I call he is out doing something or visiting friends. Mom is certainly relieved as are my brothers and sisters. I hope to reach him this weekend and ask him about putting the information on line. I don't think he'll mind but, I want his approval and I am dad's little girl no matter how old I am. I haven't heard from Wanda but I surely don't mind you sharing any of the mail from me with her. Till I talk with dad and get an Xray I probably won't have much to say. This experience is making me hug the kids just a little tighter and enjoying life just a little bit more. Kisses! Sandy 26th February; 2000. Dad said it was alright to print the messages. He also said that another guy he worked with has the same condition. He also says his lungs inhale fine but he is not exhaling all of the carbon monoxide out of his lungs, since they don't collapse completely; so he is doing breathing exercises to prevent the c.m. from remaining in his lungs. Also, he talked to a lawyer but apparently there are about 60 companies that made asbestos products and now they have to find out which ones placed their products in the buildings. He was in (circa 1920) and he found out there is also a one year statute of limitations on filing a claim and he may be beyond that. Overall he is feeling well unless he exerts himself. Then he has trouble catching his breath. He should have his final findings next week, but it appears his lung capacity and usage is down quite a bit. Sandy 3rd March; 2000 I've been looking at the site. It is great. I cried looking at it, all of the emotions that I went through came back as if it was happening again. I still haven't had time to get a chest X-ray. I have been working my brain, preparing to go to a job fair for three days in Dallas, Texas. I hope I will receive a few job offers so I can ensure that the family has more than my meager retirement pay to depend on. Dad was pretty jovial when I called on Sunday. However he told me that there was another guy that he worked with who is having the same problems. Apparently, the person who initially read his xrays noted the spot on both dad and his friend's xrays. However when a new person came in as the Xray tech, this one said there was nothing wrong with either of them. Smells fishy to me. Dad said when he heard there was nothing wrong, he was so relieved. It appears the first xray reader was more accurate. Thanks for sharing your story and website with me...again. Sandy 22nd April, 2000; I had my physical. Everything looks fine. I will retire from the military 31 July and have a job already! We are looking to move the end of May, and take a small vacation on the way to visit our parents. Actually, I can't wait to hug mom and dad and then do some camping and fishing with the kids before things get hectic again. I'll write periodically to see what's going on with you. Have a blessed Easter and hug your family for me, Sandy Updated on the 1st May 2011, In the fall of 2005, we took our last vacation with dad and my younger brother and our families. We all knew it would be the last vacation because my father was becoming so weak. We ensured that he had enough oxygen and travelled up near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area near Grand Marais Minnesota, close to the Canadian Border. Dad and Nathan on their last fishing trip   This was always one of our favourite areas. We camped and dad whittled sticks with the date and a reminder to each of the kids that they would never forget our last outing. We had to help dad quite a bit, but we got him into the boat and he was able to spend a few hours fishing, something I will always remember when I think of dad - his great love for the outdoors.   Amy, Chris, Greg, Nate, Carl and Dad with his grandchildren on their last camping trip. My father died on 31 July 2006 , at home with my brother James, his wife Cindy and my sister Suzi holding his hand. It was so heartbreaking, to see my father weak and bedridden. But dad still had his values and encouraged us each to continue to learn until the day we died, as he did. Dad and Nicolette at her graduation. He was an inspiration to each of us. I drove up from Texas to spend a few weeks with him when we began hospice care. I slept in a cot or on the couch in the living room near where we had moved an adjustable bed and chair for him. Deanna, Nathan and Christopher Sandy and Gary's three children "Big Bertha" as this tree is fondly called, where Sandy used to climb as a child The tree is just as big now and is still being climbed His final days consisted of morphine which he dipped in his 'chew' (Copenhagen) which he had given as a young man and very little food, since his appetite was so small and his weight loss so great. It's amazing that a man who didn't smoke, could be dying of this horrific disease. It tore me apart watching my father gasp for the air that couldn't fill his lungs and being denied that retirement that he so dreamed of for so many years. The family gathered for a last farewell before selling the family homestead last year. The family grew up here, raised their children and visited this house for over fifty years. Do You Know What Hope Is Stories Back to Richard On to Sherry Message For Navy Personnel Poems And Verses E.Mail