Another Hardship for Edward Davis in Chicago, Illinois; Due to Asbestos Exposure

Note: Names have been changed to retain the anonymity of the entities/individual.

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Edward Davis was a busy and hardworking man. He opened a small consulting firm after retiring from the US Navy and earning a degree in Psychology by attending a night school at the age of 41. From his teenage years, Edward experienced hardships and tough times. His father died when he was only 10, leaving his mother to raise him all alone. Three years later, his mother also left him and married a lawyer in San Francisco, leaving Edward to be brought up in foster care. Despite all these adversities, Edward did not give up hope and courageously faced the challenges ahead.

In 1965, 18 year old Edward joined the Navy and served till 1988. In the Navy, Edward’s job was to maintain and overhaul carriers, cruisers and destroyers. After leaving the Navy, Edward moved to Chicago, Illinois, and established his consultation business while simultaneously attending a night college to get a degree. Two months later, Edward met his wife Susan and soon afterwards they decided to have a family together.

In October of 1998, 51 year old Edward began to feel unusual tiredness and developed persistent dry cough. His family doctor prescribed him antibiotics and advised him to slow down. But for Edward, ‘slowing down’ was not an option. He had a business to look after and a family of 4 children (two boys and two girls) to take care of. Thus, Edward continued his antibiotics treatment and remained active in his work.

By New Year, Edward’s condition began to get worse. He experienced severe chest pains with nausea and vomiting. His doctor ran a CT scan that showed enlarged lymph nodes and recommended Edward to a pulmonary doctor. Edward, along with his wife Susan, met with Dr. J. B. White who gave the couple a possibility of cancer. Upon hearing the shocking diagnosis of cancer, Edward rushed to seek help from a thoracic surgeon.

An appointment was made with Dr. Sheldon of University of Chicago Hospitals, who performed a diagnostic thoracoscopy to find any tumor(s) inside Edward’s body. When the test results came positive for tumor, Dr. Sheldon planned to perform a thoracotomy to remove the cancer from Edward’s right lung. Prior to the surgery, Dr. Sheldon inquired Edward about his ever being in contact with asbestos as it was the only cause of his cancer. Unfortunately, Edward could not recall ever being exposed to asbestos in his life. But his wife, Susan put light on his naval career.

It was during his post in the Navy that Edward was exposed to large amount of asbestos. On 23rd January 1999, Edward went to have the thoracoscopy. After the procedure, Dr. Sheldon sent Edward’s tissue samples and lymph nodes from his chest cavity to the laboratory. The pathology report confirmed the diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma, biphasic type. Moreover, a new CT scan confirmed the presence of fluid in his right lung.

Dr. Sheldon advised Edward to have another surgery in which he would try to scrap off as much cancer as possible without doing a usual extra-pleural pneumonectomy (EPP), where they had to take his affected lung out. Though they had spared his lungs, the surgery was equally painful and did not guarantee a full recovery. Upon opening his chest, Dr. Sheldon and his team found the disease more extensive than what they had anticipated. The tumor had spread to the heart and diaphragm. Dr. Sheldon, carefully scraped, burned and cut the tumor growing inside Edward’s body and managed to get rid off the entire visible tumor. Edward remained hospitalized for about two weeks during which he suffered immense pain and post-operative depression.

Now that the tumor had been eliminated, Dr. Sheldon decided to put Edward through radiation treatments. Every month, Edward has to go through at least two radiation treatments to control the growth of the tumor.

Presently, Edward is doing well. He is enjoying his life with boundless energy, enthusiasm and love of his family members. Though, he has suffered many hardships in life, he has sure emerged as a true fighter, defeating mesothelioma.