Metro Mother Shares Rare Story of Mesothelioma and Survival

Though law firms often advertise about the dangers of asbestos and mesothelioma, a Roseville mom wants the public to know there is much more to the story.

Heather Von St. James was diagnosed with mesothelioma when she was 36 years old. She had a three-month-old daughter at home. Though it was supposed to be the happiest time in her life, her future changed suddenly because of the asbestos found deep in her past.

Von St. James grew up in a small town in South Dakota. She always considered herself a "daddy's girl."

"Wearing my dad's coat felt good to me and it was something I loved to do," Von St. James said.

As a construction worker, her dad often worked on demolition or clean up jobs. His coat, car and shoes were covered daily in a dangerous dust.

"It would be crusty, like gray crusty dust on it," Von St. James said.

It was not until her mid 30's that she realized that crust had given her cancer.

"A truck parked on my chest is what it felt like. Just this weight, and I couldn't breathe, and I couldn't take a deep breath," Von St. James said.

Doctors diagnosed her with mesothelioma. She had her left lung removed and now wishes asbestos would have the same fate.

"It's still around and that's what's so frustrating. It's not banned in the United States," Von St. James said.

This month, the Minnesota Department of Health is warning against asbestos. It is found in more than 3,600 older building products like plaster, tiles and roofing.

About 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year.

"It's somewhat of a rare condition that would happen but it's a really high risk and so it's the sort of risk that you don't want to take," said Scott Smith, Public Information Officer with the Minnesota Department of Health.

Despite the high risk, Von St. James is now celebrating eight years as a mother and survivor.

"I'm not going to have the victim's mentality. No matter what happens I'm always triumphant and I'm always happy with the road that I'm on," Von St. James said.

If you are demolishing or remodeling, the Minnesota Department of Health recommends getting an inspection. If asbestos is found, they advise getting it removed by a certified contractor.

To learn more about asbestos, contamination and contractors click here.

Von St. James now blogs about her experience. You can read her posts here.





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Asbestos timebomb: Deaths set to peak over next two years, says family who ...

Asbestos timebomb: Deaths set to peak over next two years, says family who lost grandad

8:50am Saturday 19th April 2014 in News

By Katriona Ormiston, Reporter covering West Oxford, Botley and the Vale of White Horse. Call me on (01865) 425426



Buy this photo " aughters and grandchildren of Larrie Lewington, clockwise from front left, Callum Lewington, 13, Summer Clapperton, two, Rebecca Lewington, 31, Louis Clapperton, six, Charlie Unwin, seven, Evie Unwin, 11, Jessica Lewington, 30, Jake Cross, 11

THE family of a man who died after years of exposure to asbestos have warned of a "ticking timebomb" as deaths from the disease are expected to peak over the next two years.

Grandfather Larrie Lewington, 65, of Wytham View, Eynsham, died in October last year from an incurable cancer called mesothelioma - after breathing in asbestos during his working life.

An inquest at Oxfordshire Coroner's Court on Wednesday found Mr Lewington, died from the industrial disease.

His children Rebecca, 31, Jessica, 30, and Benjamin, 21, sister Delia Russell, 68, and brother Richard, 77, described him as a funny family man who kept his humour and dignity until death.

And they say more needs to be done to educate people about the dangers of being exposed to asbestos to prevent more unnecessary deaths. Rebecca said: "There are so many people who don't realise how dangerous asbestos is but such a small amount can cause the disease. "It is important that if you think you have been exposed to it you should contact your doctors because by the time it is diagnosed it is too late, but if you go to your doctors in time they can detect it and there are things they can do to help. "All the people my dad worked with have now passed away bar one." Between 2006 until 2010 across Oxfordshire there were 106 deaths due to mesothelioma - according to the Government's Office for National Statistics. And across 24 years in the county - from 1981 to 2005 - 893 people died from the asbestos-related cancer. A report from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) shows that the expected number of mesothelioma cases amongst males is expected to increase to a peak of 2,038 in 2016. Mr Lewington's daughter Rebecca said: "We are very angry that my dad lost his life at such a young age due to asbestos exposure which the Government was well aware was dangerous. "He wanted to see his grandchildren grow up, it is not fair on them - they adored him. "He was as fit as a fiddle otherwise and lost his life working hard for his family unaware of the dangers of the materials he was handling." Mr Lewington, grandfather to Rebecca's children Callum, 13, Jake, 11, Louis, six, and Summer, two, and Jessica's children Charlie, seven, and Evie, three, worked for Witney-based Kidlington Insulation from 1973 to 1978. As a thermal insulation engineer he poured bags of the deadly dust-like particle asbestos into a bucket and mixed it with water using his hands. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma at the Churchill Hospital in Headington - which is where 30 years previously his family say he had been handling asbestos to insulate boiler room pipes. His children raised £35,000 for alternative treatment in Frankfurt Hospital in Germany after chemotherapy sessions in Oxford did not stop the cancer spreading. His sister Mrs Russell said: "Those kids fought like mad to keep him alive." But an inquest heard he died in October from the cancer. Assistant coroner Peter Clark said: "A person's life is not defined by their death and what shines through all the paperwork is clearly a family man who was supported and loved."

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that most often starts in the covering of the lungs but can also start in the abdomen. Most cases of it are caused by exposure to asbestos - Cancer Research UK says that nine in 10 men with mesothelioma have been in contact with the mineral. In its early stages, mesothelioma does not have many symptoms but later they include pain in the lower back or chest, a persistent cough, shortness of breath, a hoarse or husky voice, weight loss, difficulty swallowing, sweating and high temperatures.

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Asbestos timebomb: Deaths set to peak over next two years, says family who ...

Asbestos timebomb: Deaths set to peak over next two years, says family who lost grandad

8:50am Saturday 19th April 2014 in News

By Katriona Ormiston, Reporter covering West Oxford, Botley and the Vale of White Horse. Call me on (01865) 425426



Buy this photo " aughters and grandchildren of Larrie Lewington, clockwise from front left, Callum Lewington, 13, Summer Clapperton, two, Rebecca Lewington, 31, Louis Clapperton, six, Charlie Unwin, seven, Evie Unwin, 11, Jessica Lewington, 30, Jake Cross, 11

THE family of a man who died after years of exposure to asbestos have warned of a "ticking timebomb" as deaths from the disease are expected to peak over the next two years.

Grandfather Larrie Lewington, 65, of Wytham View, Eynsham, died in October last year from an incurable cancer called mesothelioma - after breathing in asbestos during his working life.

An inquest at Oxfordshire Coroner's Court on Wednesday found Mr Lewington, died from the industrial disease.

His children Rebecca, 31, Jessica, 30, and Benjamin, 21, sister Delia Russell, 68, and brother Richard, 77, described him as a funny family man who kept his humour and dignity until death.

And they say more needs to be done to educate people about the dangers of being exposed to asbestos to prevent more unnecessary deaths. Rebecca said: "There are so many people who don't realise how dangerous asbestos is but such a small amount can cause the disease. "It is important that if you think you have been exposed to it you should contact your doctors because by the time it is diagnosed it is too late, but if you go to your doctors in time they can detect it and there are things they can do to help. "All the people my dad worked with have now passed away bar one." Between 2006 until 2010 across Oxfordshire there were 106 deaths due to mesothelioma - according to the Government's Office for National Statistics. And across 24 years in the county - from 1981 to 2005 - 893 people died from the asbestos-related cancer. A report from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) shows that the expected number of mesothelioma cases amongst males is expected to increase to a peak of 2,038 in 2016. Mr Lewington's daughter Rebecca said: "We are very angry that my dad lost his life at such a young age due to asbestos exposure which the Government was well aware was dangerous. "He wanted to see his grandchildren grow up, it is not fair on them - they adored him. "He was as fit as a fiddle otherwise and lost his life working hard for his family unaware of the dangers of the materials he was handling." Mr Lewington, grandfather to Rebecca's children Callum, 13, Jake, 11, Louis, six, and Summer, two, and Jessica's children Charlie, seven, and Evie, three, worked for Witney-based Kidlington Insulation from 1973 to 1978. As a thermal insulation engineer he poured bags of the deadly dust-like particle asbestos into a bucket and mixed it with water using his hands. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma at the Churchill Hospital in Headington - which is where 30 years previously his family say he had been handling asbestos to insulate boiler room pipes. His children raised £35,000 for alternative treatment in Frankfurt Hospital in Germany after chemotherapy sessions in Oxford did not stop the cancer spreading. His sister Mrs Russell said: "Those kids fought like mad to keep him alive." But an inquest heard he died in October from the cancer. Assistant coroner Peter Clark said: "A person's life is not defined by their death and what shines through all the paperwork is clearly a family man who was supported and loved."

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that most often starts in the covering of the lungs but can also start in the abdomen. Most cases of it are caused by exposure to asbestos - Cancer Research UK says that nine in 10 men with mesothelioma have been in contact with the mineral. In its early stages, mesothelioma does not have many symptoms but later they include pain in the lower back or chest, a persistent cough, shortness of breath, a hoarse or husky voice, weight loss, difficulty swallowing, sweating and high temperatures.

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