When Mike Hackler, eminent surgeon of the cardiovascular system in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, diagnosis, two of his patients — have long been good friends, goes back to high school with mesothelioma in 2001, he assumed he would be the next privacy.
Unfortunately he was right.
"I was already grown up, ready to move to California, and I remember my father sat me, told me there is a likelihood that he will soon with this cancer. His son, Mike Hackler, I couldn't even pronounce "mesothelioma" then, "said recently. "He just had that feeling. And I thought, ' no way. Are you a doctor in your Prime. You feel great. You have nothing to worry about. " “’
But he did.
Five years later, Dr. Hackler was diagnosed, too, dramatically changing the face of this terrible disease that are usually associated with the trades and military service, where exposure to asbestos is commonplace.
Dr. Hackler and his buddies high schools worked summer jobs together during their college years at the nearby ports of Baton Rouge, unloading of the 140-pound bags of asbestos that were brought from Africa. Part of this work closely inspecting every 100th bag, breaking it open and sifting through the asbestos, which means that inhaling deadly fibers.
Hackler died nearly four years ago, in 60 years, almost 40 years after tossing the bags of asbestos, a long time after he touched the lives — to save the lives of so many in Baton Rouge.
"You just don't think the disease striking someone like my dad. When it came to medicine, he had all the answers, ' Mike Asbestos.com said in a recent interview. "But this thing can strike anyone at any time after they think they're in the clear." "
Mesothelioma is almost exclusively due to exposure to asbestos, but it can be 30-40 years before any symptoms. His son Mike, now financial consultant in Baton Rouge, was particularly active in raising awareness, mobilizing funds for research, which is no surprise to those who knew his father.
A religious person, Dr. Hackler prayed with his patients before surgery. He traveled the world doing volunteer work, helping to create medical institutions and churches in the less developed countries.
He has a huge garden of roses, usually in their own backyard, and then distributed these roses for women in the Church, smiling at them every Sunday. He often gave their time and medical examination for the less fortunate. He considered himself a happy man. Even towards the end he made sure his son Mike brought roses for nurses in the hospital.
"He came from nothing and really give the shirt off his back to anyone," said Mike. "To see your mentor, best friend, father get hit with something like this, it's hard. This is how God takes the best of the first. His life was just torn apart. It's not something you ever wanted your own worst enemy ".
Mike now plans to use the memory of his father to help others and help find a cure. He was a guest several times on national public radio show, telling their story, reminding all how deadly asbestos can be.
Goes to Washington, district of Colombia each year in June to international symposium on malignant mesothelioma, lobbying congressmen and their assistants and anyone else who will listen on Capitol Hill.
It creates an annual golf tournament in Baton Rouge to raise money and awareness. He wants a mile for meso road race, similar to other cropping up around the country.
He works closely with MARF (Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation). It ensures that people know about national awareness day Mestothelioma (September 26).
Because the military has been a source of so many cases of mesothelioma is approximately 30 per cent, it is part of a growing effort to seek the United States Department of Defense to its annual contribution for research up to $ 5 million.
"It's sort of like an orphan disease because he receives no impact, research money, others do. There is a cure out there. We just have to find it, "he said. "I will work on it."
In the last weeks of his father in the life of a young Mike spent many days and nights in the hospital, get acquainted personally oncologists and medical professionals who took special care of a doctor.
"In many ways, he was lucky. With his background, he understood and knew where to turn, "said Mike. "He didn't give up and he did not. But I remember it: "all is well with my soul". ”
At least 2 000 people per year in the United States have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. For more information about the disease, mesothelioma Center offers free package, full details of the illness, treatment, recent clinical tests, doctors and more. Packages are delivered overnight.
This entry was posted on Friday, July 22, 2011 at 3: 25 pm and is filed under asbestos-mesothelioma, research veterans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed.
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