You are not alone in your fight: these are the personal stories of people who suffered from asbestos exposure

“I woke up and I saw my sister…and I had this tube down my throat and then that’s when they told me I had an ileostomy…to prepare me for that..because it would involve a bag on your side. And I went ugh! That’s not good. But I couldn’t talk so I just started crying. And [my doctor] said not to cry, not to cry, it’ll only be temporary.”

• Brenda Ward, battling mesothelioma since 2004 (MesoVideoLibrary)

Brenda Ward’s memory of waking up after one of her many surgeries is a detail that often goes unheard. Weitz & Luxenberg believes that people battling mesothelioma need to hear and exchange their own personal stories in regards to their experience. Brenda’s memory is but one in a long history of memories about the trials and tribulations of having mesothelioma (an asbestos-related cancer). In this section of WeitzLux.com, we will relay the personal stories of individuals like Brenda Ward – individuals whose remarkable experiences may inspire people like you or your family members to continue to fight these insidious diseases.

Many of the people we will talk about in this section have sought out legal action against the asbestos companies responsible for making them sick. You can do the same. Compensation for your medical expenses, travel costs, and family’s financial stability is available. For information on a mesothelioma or asbestos lawsuit, contact Weitz & Luxenberg via the form on this page.

The story of your father’s first-hand asbestos exposure

The story of your father, an employee of a company that exposed him to asbestos, is unfortunately a common one. Perhaps he worked in construction, maintenance, a factory, or home installation (these are places/professions of high risk of asbestos exposure) (Open-site.org). In this section you will learn about the lives of hard-working employees, like your father, who dedicated a lifetime to a business not knowing that it was their very employers who caused their eventual illness.

Companies that worked with asbestos knew that by exposing their employees to the substance, they would eventually become sick. An internal study from the Johns-Manville Corporation revealed that 534 out of 780 of its asbestos workers had lung changes (which was later known as the condition: asbestosis). This study was conducted in the 1930’s and was never meant to be revealed to the public (multinationalmonitor.org).

The story of your aunt’s second-hand asbestos exposure

When your uncle was done working all day with asbestos, he would come home dusty from work. What he did not know was that the dust covering his clothes was comprised of highly toxic asbestos fibers.

In these stories, you will hear about how your uncle brought asbestos dust into his home exposing your aunt as well. Maybe your aunt was exposed with a hug? Maybe it was when she did the laundry? These tragic stories explore the true tales of second-hand exposure.

The story of your grandparents’ first-hand asbestos exposure

Millions of World War II veterans were exposed to asbestos (va.gov). It lined pipes and insulated walls in hundreds of ships, submarines, and aircrafts used in the military. Here you can read about the brave men and women, like your grandparents, who, years after fighting a great war, are now fighting a different war – the war against cancer.

The story of your sister’s second-hand asbestos exposure

Much in the way a spouse is exposed to asbestos fibers, a child can be exposed, as well. Brenda Ward, who gave us that moving quote about her experience with mesothelioma above, was exposed to asbestos when she was just a child by her father.

The story of your asbestos exposure

Now, it is time to hear your story. Weitz & Luxenberg cares about how you developed an asbestos-related disease, and if you are not sure how we can help you find out. Weitz & Luxenberg has been helping sufferers of asbestos-related diseases for over twenty years. We know where to look in your personal history to find out where you may have first been exposed to asbestos. With this information, we can help you pursue legal action against the company responsible for your illness.

For more information and a free legal consultation on your personal asbestos case, contact Weitz & Luxenberg via phone or the form on this page.

Sources

Open-site.org: http://open-site.org/Home/Issues/Asbestos/Exposure

Multinationalmonitor.org : http://multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/issues/1987/04/asbestos.html

Va.gov: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/occupational_environmental/asbestos.asp