The John McNamara Foundation - Asbestos Information

When my family decided to open the John McNamara Foundation we first had so many good ideas on what we were going to do and how we were going to help everyone and save the world. So with this being said, let me tell you about my John:

John was the most amazing human being, he had the ability to show true compassion, he had a heart bigger than his smile, and the ability to make friends and touch souls, John offered hope in unlimited supply. It was John’s goal to create something that would unite the Mesothelioma support groups and communities, to offer hope, and the latest medical information that we may find, and to show what was going on in the Mesothelioma world.

With that being said we, decided to take the next step, to offer help to patients and their families in as many ways that we could, to work on our “pet” projects to make things a little easier for the mesothelioma community and to extend ourselves in as many areas that we could, to continue John’s dream to make a difference and to achieve my goal of making the world remember my boy, our hero.

My family and I will always be the voice of mesothelioma and its victims.

Well we’ve finally closed our first year, and we’ve done a lot! We have awarded our first 12 scholarships, and assisted 34 families and sent aid and support to many others we, have hosted and been hosted to several benefits and spread the word, to ban asbestos and find a cure. This year we have also lost far too many friends, families like ours have been overwhelmed and now have to face the challenges we struggle with daily. But with the New Year comes new and renewed hope to help unite these communities to help find a cure, and to show support where is needed in education.

As we set off with our new challenges we look forward to getting the ban passed this year with support from all of our meso communities, families and friends, this may be the year we see a secured ban. Which will enable us all to move forward, with education, awareness and a cure? We also look forward to the upcoming ADAO conference in March, I know my family and I will be there in full force and look forward to once again showing our complete support with ADAO and meeting up with old and new friends. It truly is the best experience you could look forward to in this nightmare we call our lives. Of course June will bring us to DC once again to join with Marf at their symposium. One of the best ways we have found, to honor our fallen heroes is with a tribute in the ADAO program, truly Linda and Doug have memorialized our loved ones in such a touching and caring way that the memory is allowed to live on forever, and each of our heroes stories will be used as educational tributes for years to come to a huge amount of people. It allows our families voices to be heard in a truly amazing light. I strongly urge everyone to go to Linda’s website adao.org and view her tribute pages from the past and offer a tribute to your meso victim. It brings much comfort to all, believe me. Again, I wish you a happy new year, with new promises for treatment, and the continued support to unite our voices as one, to educate many. Please visit ADAO website, attend the conference and show support, spread the word on OUR joint venture with BanAsbetos.us,and maybe this year will be the milestone marker for change.

Watch for our news in weeks to come, California hold on to your hats a whirlwind is about to hit the meso community.

As I struggle with my emotions as the one year milestone approaches I took just a moment to look back at this year, we have traveled the globe my family and I from Italy, Germany, Morocco, South Africa, Jamaica, Cayman Island, Canada, Mexico, internationally and domestically we,traveled from California, Washington, Nevada, Hawaii, Florida, Colorado, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, Montana, Idaho, Texas, Oregon, Utah, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Kansas, Tennessee & Kentucky. We’ve spoken to hundreds of people and met new friends, all because of one amazing man, my boy. I wonder daily will my girls remember their dad, will they remember his voice, his gentleness, his passion. Each trip we meet someone to tell our story to and to spread our word to ban asbestos and find a cure. We have been touched by stories of so many others always with the same outcome, that Asbestos does take your breath away, but we have remained true to our fight, that a complete ban is needed. As I approach what seems to be the longest year of my life, I am reminded daily that my boy was something special, his legacy will stay strong that his fight will forever be the fight for the families that are now a part of our family this nightmare, although it robbed us of memories we have his voice in our hearts, minds and ears to take each step closer to our goal. The lessons that my family has learned this year will last a lifetime and we will pass to future generations, even though we have struggled with our emotions, and our enormous loss, we have rallied on to fight, and will not give up. I started this journey more than 30 years ago with this special man and each day although alone now in thoughts I am reminded I am never alone my special boy surrounded me with many blessing, our children, our grandchildren and our extended family and our friends. I salute all of you, and from my heart thank each of you, it has been a rough year, we will not forget John, together we will fight for his memory to stay alive and active in our hearts and to hear his voice and laugh if just for a day remember he wanted all of us to never say "John McNamara, who?" So just for today, take a minute to remember my amazing friend, your friend, smile laugh, and remember. We all have a memory that will bring a smile to our hearts, enjoy one of his favorite things laughter, and join me in raising a glass to toast the most amazing human being I had the pleasure of loving and still do. I miss you my boy, thanks for the memories.

As you all remember we are fighting to ban asbestos in the U.S. I know y’all
Remember this right?? So why haven’t you signed in to our latest and greatest efforts??? How about right now you pause and take 60 seconds from your life AND FILL IN THE BLANKS??? Just go to www.BanAsbestos.us , we did all the hard work for you, just follow the clicks and you’ll be done in just about 60 seconds.

Ok, your back (thanks) and we are back for a brief time, last update had us traveling back to DC to meet with some old friends and meet new friends at the MARF Symposium, which was very nice. As usual Marf puts on a good, show. The meetings that Linda (the goddess of dust), had set up for us were amazing and the enthusiasm we received brought new and renewed spirit in our endless battle to Ban Asbestos is the U.S. Finally I honestly believe from my personally take we are moving fast and forward, I believe they are listening and doing what is needed to bring the strongest ban bill we can have. There is still more work to be done, and all our voices are needed, to make a difference.

One more trip to DC two weeks later bring us back for the Public Hearing with EPA. While sitting amongst some of the brightest stars for our asbestos community, surrounded by all their brilliance, I couldn’t help but be dumbfounded by the ignorance of the EPA. The Dr.’s, Lawyers, Public all spoke clearly that we have united and a complete ban is required and overdue, but are they listening? My take is yes…as I sat there and listened to each speaker it was impossible not to hear, the voices of so few represent, far to many and more to come. Of course, each day a new voice is entwined with ours when will it end? We need to get the money so badly needed, for research for a cure, but lets not mix words, money for research for adequate treatment would be a great start. Education is in a short supply, and I have to full heartedly agree it’s time for common sense to make it’s come back in the United States. Two full days of running on high octane, with the asbestos kings, was overwhelming. Dr.’s Lemen and Castleman are truly an inspiration to why their voices should ring loud and clear in the ears of every American who has the power to improve the conditions they have allowed us to live, in with this nightmare of a magical mineral. How is it possible that this country still doesn’t get it??

During our week in DC, we need to thank one more time the Vietnam vets again for the beautiful service at the wall, and the words they spoke to my kids “ John’s name should be here with so many others from the time who were contaminated, by poison during this war. He was a Veteran and we will never forget. We will honor him here each time we come.”

With this they said a prayer and we all sat overwhelmed again, in silence and it reminded me, my boy is GONE from something that was 100% avoidable. My girls carried his ribbon and picture to the wall where it will become part of history, for future generations, wouldn’t it be great to be around when someone wants to know what asbestos was?

We left DC for Washington to the scene of the crime, BREMERTON along the way taking our message BAN ASBESTOS NOW! We did manage to make some fun stops, see our “On the road with Meso” for pictures. Once again, the sailors in Bremerton, made our trip outstanding. We had a great time enjoying stories, and telling stories of my boy and his time there. We had a great tour and fantastic lunch, who said sailors couldn’t Bar B Que?

Back on the road, meeting new vets along the way. Helping new patients and bringing more light on this nightmare, we won’t stop until the job is done, stay tuned for future updates or should I say “Stay the Course”.