Changes to the Meso Foundation Symposium

I’m well behind the updates to this year’s Meso Foundation Symposium. I ran into a huge road block in my personal life trying to make sense of a Meso related death and all that has happened since and I have clearly not been strong enough to keep up like I did when I was up keeping this site for my father.

A lot has changed, even in the last year, and things are changing within the Foundation and with the Symposium. But rest assured the most important things will absolutely be the same.

There will be an incredible outpouring of support and caring. People like Mary Hesdorffer will be there with amazing insight and availability (don’t get me wrong, she’ll be super busy, but somehow she defies the space-time continuum with personal conversations and help). The Meso Foundation team will put on another outstanding conference and the attendees will all have experiences to share. If you haven’t made plans and can, definitely go. You will find a support group who will help you every step of the way. And as I read earlier, ‘give yourself permission’ to miss something or cry or express yourself. I didn’t and it only hurts me now.

A few things to note this year … there are 2 events happening. 1st the International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma and 2nd the Mesothelioma Scientific Seminar. You will be able to see much of the event via their LIVE STREAM . It has moved from Vegas last year back to the DC area. The host hotel is the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center. Also as you may have seen it is much earlier in the year from the 2012 Symposium.

For more info check out the Meso Foundation website http://www.curemeso.org  and Like their Facebook page & find communities.

Another Connecticut Man Diagnosed with Meso

Many of my piers are helping to spread the word of a Connecticut man who has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma. 33 year old Christian Olsen, his wife & two young children have been given news any family should fear.

Recently News 12 Connecticut ran a story and you can hear the sweet young wife’s voice tremble has she speaks of the pain in learning what the family now faces.

In the video the reporter mentions the cause is not asbestos. I don’t believe they mention what they think it is. I watched it again, but still missed it if they did.

I don’t know the family, but being a daughter who lived with her father for many years in Connecticut, and to watch him suffer from this horrible disease before dying in the summer of 2012, it strikes a familiar chord. My heart goes out to him & his family .If you would like to help him please donate to his GoFundMe account.

The Lives He Touched …

To say he touched a number of lives would be a huge injustice. Some days I don’t know how he did it. The names my dad remembered, the politicians he scolded, the victims, the advocates the family he loved. Beneath the gruff exterior, was the heart of a warrior and I’m proud to share with you the stories being told:

The Sun-Sentinel/Chicago Tribune staff writer Craig Davis (relation now by friendship)  Larry Davis Waged A Relentless Race For A Mesothelioma Cure

Our friends at Simmons Law wrote Keep Running: Remembering Larry Davis Mesothelioma Advocate

The wonderful woman who traveled to be with us at his funeral and leader at the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, Linda Reinstein’s heartfelt Saying Goodbye to Larry.

Longtime supporters at the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation reached out just before their amazing annual symposium, I have no idea how they even had time, by saying We Will Miss You Larry and by creating a Tribute page for donations in his honor.

Our friends at Sokolove Law in Massachusetts Remember Larry Davis; A Pioneer, Friend and Fellow Activist in the Fight Against Mesothelioma.

And of course his many, many friends in Florida who he ran with, drank with and told the best of stories with. The Runner’s Edge Foundation has named a scholarship in his honor and this will create yet another lasting legacy.

His obituary listings are here, here and here.

Please feel free to let me know of any other stories you may see out there. It helps me get through these difficult times and hopefully it will help you with the loss of this outstanding man as well.

My love,

Courtney A Davis