ADAO Announces 6th Annual Asbestos Awareness Day Conference

Next spring our friends at the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization will host their sixth annual conference in Chicago. I spoke with Linda Reinstein, Executive Director for ADAO, and she told me this year's program promises to be the strongest conference to date. The speaker list will feature renowned asbestos and mesothelioma experts such as Dr. Hedy Kindler. No doubt members of the Simmons firm will be in attendance to show support. Details on how you can register are included below. 

Register for the 6th Annual Asbestos Awareness Day Conference

April 9 - 11, 2010

Marriott Renaissance Hotel, Chicago, Illinois

Global Mission: Prevent, Detect and Treat Asbestos-Related Diseases

"Science and Technology Proves Asbestos is a Carcinogen"

This conference is made possible with the support and collaborative efforts of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS).

Registration Fee:   

Professionals: $300

Students/Patients/Caregivers: $150

Sunday Remembrance Brunch: $25 with conference registration/$50 without conference registration

Agenda Session Topics Include

• Preventing Asbestos Exposure
• Detecting and Treating Asbestos-Related Diseases
• Asbestos Victim and Family Resources and Support
• Global Advocacy

Conference Speakers

Brad Black, MD

Barry Castleman, ScD

Jeff Camplin, CSP, CPEA

Sean Fitzgerald, PG

Arthur Frank, MD, PhD

Patrick Gerkin, PhD

Fernanda Giannasi, ABREA

Michael Harbut, MD, MPH, FCCP

Tanis Hernandez, LCSW

Laurie Kazan-Allen, IBAS

Hedy Lee Kindler, MD

Richard Lemen, PhD, MSPH

Terry Lynch, Int'l Vice President, Insulators Union

Pat Martin, Canadian Parliament Member

Linda Reinstein, ADAO

Kimberly Rowse, RN

Jordan Summers, Musician

James Webber, PhD

Jordan Zevon, ADAO National Spokesperson and Musician 

ADAO Asbestos Awareness Day Honorees

U.S. Senator Richard Durbin will be presented with the Tribute of Hope Award for his steadfast commitment and determination to ban asbestos.

The Center for Asbestos Related Disease Center (CARD) will receive the Tribute of Unity Award for their work to unite, educate and empower asbestos victims and medical community.

Dr. Hedy Kindler will be recognized with Dr. Irving Selikoff Lifetime Acheivement Award in honor of Dr. Selikoff's dedicated research into the social and medical impact asbestos has had on humankind.

Fernanda Giannasai will be presented with teh Tribute of Inspiration Award for being a bridge of hope and strength to victims of asbestos exposure in India and worldwide.

Warren Zevon "Keep me in Your Heart" Memorial Award - TBA

June Breit, honored posthumously, The Alan Reinstein Memorial Award for her commitment to advocacy to eradicate mesothelioma and offer support to patients and their families. 

Conference Schedule

Friday, April 9th

NEW! Private Gathering for Family, Patients, & Caregivers Only

5-6 p.m.

Meet and Greet  with Jordan Zevon

7-9pm

Saturday, April 10th

Conference

8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 11th

Remembrance Brunch

9:30-11:30am

On Sunday ADAO will light five candles at 10:30 a.m. CST for victims throughout and around the world.

Facing the Holidays With Mesothelioma...A Few Tips for Patients, Caregivers and Family Members

In my role as VP of Medical and Patient Relations, I’ve had the opportunity to learn firsthand about the experiences of patients battling mesothelioma and the family members, friends, and medical professionals who support them. The past few months have been particularly eye-opening for me. Traveling all over the country to visit the nation’s leading mesothelioma treatment specialists and researchers, I’ve learned about promising new efforts currently in development. In the coming months, I look forward to sharing the latest news about these efforts.

I’ve also had a chance to witness the impact this disease has on the lives of patients and their families. They’ve told me about their struggles to maintain a sense of hope while undergoing painful treatments and struggling with all the complicated logistics of living with a serious illness. They’ve also told me how the holidays can be particularly difficult as families face what could be the last holiday together.

So as the holidays approach, I wanted to turn my attention to this very personal issue. To help me examine what patients and their families face at the holidays, I spoke with fellow nurse Amy Fair. Amy leads Simmons’ medical department, and works closely with patients and families throughout the country. She and I discussed what those facing mesothelioma can do during this time of year to reduce stress and find ways to celebrate that draw on the sense of hope and meaning that are so much a part of the holiday season.

"The main thing is to keep things as normal as possible," Amy told me. "While you can’t ignore the illness, try to keep your celebration from being just about the person who is sick. Pick some favorite traditions and stick to them, and share some memories that involve all family members, not just the person who is ill."

That said, families do have to make adjustments in their celebrations. The goal should be to focus on the things about the holiday that are the most important. You won’t be able do everything. Accept help where you can get it, and focus in on the things that really matter.

You may find that what you enjoy most are very simple activities that allow you to spend time together without requiring elaborate preparations. Set aside time to go through photo albums, watch family videos, or share your favorite memories.

Amy says patients she has worked with have kept a journal to write about their experience of the holiday. It’s hard to ignore the fact that it could be the last holiday together, so commemorating it in this way helps to create a sense of continuity.

Don’t feel obliged to attend parties or accept all visits. Schedule holiday visits around the patient’s rest periods to avoid fatigue. If you’re a caregiver, remember that you can’t care for your loved one if you don’t care for yourself as well. If you can, ask for assistance from your family or your church. Getting away to do some shopping or simply to recharge your batteries can be incredibly helpful.

Be sure to consult with your doctor about what to serve for your holiday dinner. This doesn’t need to mean completely revamping your menu. Small changes can make a big difference for patients who are taking medications that may interfere with digestion.

Remember that pharmacies may have limited hours during the holidays. Make sure you have access to the supplies you need, including refills of pain medications and full oxygen tanks.

Also, patients should plan to take pain medication 30 minutes before receiving company or traveling. The medication needs time to work, and it’s more effective to stop pain before it starts than to try to calm it once it hits.

A few precautions can help take the stress out of travel and ensure that you have everything you need when you land. At the top of your list should be how you plan to pack your pain medication. Take your medication in your carry-on bag rather than packing it in checked bags to avoid the risk of medication becoming damaged by exposure to extreme heat or cold or being lost in transit.

When traveling, always keep your medication in its original bottle marked with the patient’s name. Unidentified medications may be confiscated by airport security. If you have liquid medications that exceed current restrictions for carry-on luggage, contact the airport in advance to learn what arrangements you can make.

If you’ve recently lost a loved one, facing the holidays can be particularly challenging. Often, it can be very comforting to share your memories of your loved one during this season. Amy suggests creating paper ornaments and writing your favorite memories on them. To commemorate your loved one, you can read each memory aloud as you decorate your Christmas tree. Or you may choose to view videos of your last holiday with your loved one as a way to celebrate their memory.

Bear in mind that whether you’re grieving a loss or fighting disease, you’re bound to feel some sadness during the holidays. Honor those feelings, and focus on the comfort you feel surrounded by your community of friends and family.

Remembering Ernie Conry

We lost one hell of a fighter and good man this week. Ernest Conry, a husband, father and friend to many, lost his battle with mesothelioma on September 18, 2009. He passed away at his home in St. Louis, Missouri.

Ernie lived with pleural mesothelioma for over 7 years. His resilience against the disease is truly a testament to the power of a positive attitude. He was always quick with a joke and happy to spread the cheer. For years he attended the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation's annual symposium, where he took it as his mission to bring a bit of laughter to the many families and patients in pain.

Ernie once said, "The thing to do is get up and do something. Don’t let the cancer bog you down. Wait until someday it might bog you down, but my God, if you are still moving, keep moving. Go on about like you don’t have a disease. So the thing to do is get up and do something. Keep moving and enjoy it. You know, take the life that you have going for yourself and make use of it."

Born in 1933 in Tennessee, Ernie moved to St. Louis as a child. He entered the automotive field at age 17, becoming an apprentice auto mechanic at a Ford dealership. He was drafted into the army in 1953, and arrived in Inchon, Korea, six months after the armistice had been signed. From 1950 to 1998, when he retired on a union pension, Ernie worked consistently as a mechanic at a series of Ford dealerships.

Once diagnosed with mesothelioma, he took it upon himself to visit St. Louis area union halls and mechanic shops, distributing literature about the dangers of asbestos. He gave numerous seminars to our staff here at the firm. He taught us a lot - not just about asbestos in the auto industry, but about strength, character and resilience.

Ernie gave freely of himself, and all he ever expected in return was the pleasure of good company. He was a wonderful man. And he will be dearly missed.

ADAO Issues Urgent Message Encouraging Others to Spread the Word About the Dangers of Asbestos Exposure

Miles for Meso on KSDK NewsChannel 5 St. Louis with Jennifer Blome

Earlier today Jennifer Blome of NewsChannel 5, KSDK, the St. Louis NBC affiliate, spoke with Julie Gundlach about mesothelioma awareness and the Miles for Meso 5K runs/walks this weekend in Alton, Illinois, and in St. Louis in October.  Julie is a St. Louis resident who has been living with peritoneal mesothelioma since she was diagnosed at age 35 three years ago and has been supporting the Alton event and spearheading the St. Louis effort. You can see the conversation here.

Julie did an excellent job articulating the critical need for mesothelioma research, the dangers of asbestos exposure, and how events like Miles for Meso can help bring the necessary awareness.

It's exciting to see Miles for Meso come to life. But it's even more exciting to see the event help generate the attention mesothelioma deserves. The Simmons firm has represented thousands of families across the country affected by mesothelioma. We've seen the devestation it causes firsthand. This is why we've committed ourselves to leading the fight for the legal rights of victims. It's why we support mesothelioma research throughout the country. 

If you haven't registered for Miles for Meso yet, there's still time. I'd encourage you to participate in both the Alton race and the St. Louis race (we've had over 400 register for Alton alone!). One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit mesothelioma research.

See you on race day.

Fighting Mesothelioma One Step at a Time

I’m pleased to announce that the Simmons law firm will sponsor the inaugural Miles for Meso, a 5K run/walk, in historic Alton, Ill., on September 26, 2009, beginning at 9 a.m. Money raised benefits the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to funding critical research for better treatment options and, hopefully, to find a cure.

The need for mesothelioma education, awareness, and research has never been more urgent. Mesothelioma is a rare but devastating cancer linked to asbestos exposure. Our firm is committed to funding research and building awareness about the disease so that we can assist in providing the needed critical help for families throughout Illinois, Missouri, and the entire country.

We hope you can join us, whether you’re competing for cash prizes, simply enjoying the outdoors, or showing your support for mesothelioma awareness. Participants will receive a hi-tech, long sleeve running shirt. The top three finishers in the men’s and women’s categories will receive cash prized of $500 (first place), $200 (second place), and $100 (third place). There will also be five $100 cash prize drawings.

Along with generating awareness of mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, the Simmons firm’s sponsorship includes matching and donating all entry fees to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to funding critical research for better treatment options and, ultimately, to find a cure for mesothelioma.

Miles for Meso participants will also have the opportunity to sign a petition to support a movement at the federal level to declare September 26 as Mesothelioma Awareness Day. Earning national recognition of September 26 as Mesothelioma Awareness Day is an important step in the ongoing battle against the cancer. We look forward to the support of our Metro area runners, walkers, and friends to help make a difference as they participate in a great event.

A second Miles for Meso event will be held October 11 in University City and spearheaded by mesothelioma awareness advocate Julie Gundlach.

Going forward, we hope that we can continue this race in our community and expand it to others. As we generate awareness of mesothelioma, we gain momentum in raising funds, developing better treatments, and working even harder to find a cure.

Click here to register for the event.

Thousands Rally on Facebook for Four Year-Old Girl With Mesothelioma

Three weeks ago our firm became involved in a campaign on Facebook to help fund cancer research on behalf of a 4 year-old little girl named Zaida and thousands of other mesothelioma patients across the country. I'm pleased to announce that in that short time the campaign has inspired over 9,000 people to join the cause to fight mesothelioma and has raised over over $13,000!

All money goes to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation to fund cancer research. It's free to join and when you do the Simmons firm will donate $1 to the foundation. Plus, if you donate on your own, the Simmons firm will then match your donation. It's simple and a great way to generate awareness and raise needed funds for research. Here's what it looks like on Facebook:

Why Facebook? As a social networking tool, Facebook has over 100 million people that log on every day, and the average user has 120 friends. Facebook has quickly become a means of creating interest and dialogue about issues that directly affect the well-being of our country, including the election of President Obama. You can join Facebook here.

Giving back to the people we serve and represent has always been a priority to our firm, and if you've ever sat in the living room of a family that just found out a loved one has mesothelioma, you know why. I'm pleased to announce that even before the Zaida Facebook campaign was officially up and running, the 200-plus employees at the Simmons firm opened their hearts and wallets and collectively raised over $22,000.

Obvisously, when we heard about Zaida, we knew we had to get involved. If you haven't read Zaida's story, I'd encourage you to click here and learn more. She may not be the typical face of this cancer, but she's a face that can inspire more involvement, more engagement, and more resources – which can lead to better treatment options and, someday, a cure. She certainly inspired us –  as have the thousands of steelworkers, carpenters, and military veterans that we've seen struggle against this disease.

I hope you're inspired too, because there's much more work that can be done.  Let's see if we can raise another $10,000 on Facebook - and when we're successful, let's do it again! Let's give this long overdue conversation the broader public attention is deserves.