Reflections on the Plight of a Widow -
The Story Behind the Mesothelioma Helpline^tm
 

Written by Michael P. Delaney, Esq.

In October 1998, I was sitting on an airplane on a flight to Las Vegas to conduct the deposition of Peggy. Peggy had married Harry in 1949 and they were the proud parents of two children. Harry had been exposed to asbestos in the mid-1940's while working as an electrician at the New York Navy Shipyard. In February 1989, Peggy and Harry moved from New York to retire in Las Vegas. Everything was going great for them until the fall of 1997 when Harry began to experience shortness of breath. By January of 1998, he was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. By July of that same year, Harry was deceased. Peggy was now a widow. So in October of 1998, I found myself on an airplane on my way to conduct a video deposition of Peggy for a trial which was scheduled in New York City for November of that year. Peggy's trial testimony was being taken by video because she had developed emphysema (unrelated to asbestos) and would be unable to make the trip to New York.

 

This would be the second time that I would be flying to Las Vegas in connection with this case. The first time was in February of 1998. The purpose of the first trip was to take Harry's deposition. In addition to the two visits to Las Vegas, I had also corresponded with Harry and Peggy on numerous occasions in connection with the lawsuit. After a while you get to know your clients pretty well. To me these people were the very embodiment of the American dream. They had married in their early twenties. Peggy worked at home raising the two children while Harry began his electrical apprenticeship at the Brooklyn Navy Shipyard. While he was there, Harry attended college in New York and eventually earned his bachelors degree in engineering and thereafter worked as an engineer. After obtaining his engineering degree, Harry left the shipyard and pursued his career as an electrical engineer. These people worked hard and raised two fine children. When they retired to Las Vegas in 1989, they were looking forward to many years of active retirement. As Peggy told me, Las Vegas is not just about gambling, there are all kinds of things to do. There are museums, flower gardens, and the weather is just great. The many years of retirement that they envisioned were cut short when Harry was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

I will never forget Peggy's deposition. It was truly a somber experience. She described her life with Harry before he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. These people lived for each other. Then she described the devastating effects of mesothelioma. It simply destroyed their lives. The most moving testimony she gave concerned Harry's last days in the hospital. He was so overcome with the effects of mesothelioma that he could not speak . He communicated only in writing. Towards the very end he wrote her a short note, "be strong". When Peggy produced that note during the deposition, even a room full of lawyers got quiet.

 

We all have experiences that change our lives. Peggy's deposition and her own personal plight as a widow has never left me and I doubt it ever will.

 

I believe that all things happen for a reason, and I believe it is up to each one of us to take an experience like this and use it positively; a person should ask themselves - what can I do to make things better? The Mesothelioma Helpline™ is the best way I know of as a lawyer to help victims of mesothelioma. It was borne and inspired by the story of Harry and Peggy. My goal was to make it simple and free. The Mesothelioma Helpline™ gives victims of mesothelioma easy access to the most often asked medical and legal questions surrounding mesothelioma. The toll free number allows people to call our office so we can provide additional information, as well as help in pursing their legal options. 

And now, with the addition of the  Mesothelioma Chat Room™, persons affected with this disease have a national support group.

Help is only a phone call away.