Note: Names have been changed to retain the anonymity of the entities/individual.
Patrick Richardson, a 58 years old real estate developer and consultant in Santana Barbara, California, was a hard-working and active man. The news that he had developed mesothelioma came as a big shock for him and changes his whole world.
Patrick spent most of his work life selling, managing and marketing real estates in California and was often regarded among the best and elite real estate brokers. Even his personal life was full of challenges with 4 young daughters to take care of at home and as a single parent, life wasn’t easy for him. Unfortunately, it was during refurbishing of one of his client’s real estate that Patrick was exposed to asbestos, which led to mesothelioma cancer.
Exhausted with the daily hectic routine at work and home, Patrick often took morning jogs for relaxation and to remain fit for the challenges he had to face. During one of his routine 5 kilometer jog, Patrick started to feel an unusual shortness of breath and tiredness. He first neglected his condition thinking it to be viral illness, yet when the situation prevailed for sometime; Patrick went to see a doctor on his daughters’ requests.
In October 1996, Patrick went to see his physician who took his chest x-rays. His chest films showed pleural thickening on his left lung with lower lobe pneumonia. The doctor prescribed some antibiotics that slightly improved his situation. But a few weeks later, the symptoms returned and with greater intensity. Patrick started to feel weaker and spent more time sleeping than possible. He experienced dry colds with severe pain in shoulders and back with blood appearing in stool.
In December 1996, Patrick was taken to a physician, Dr. Huffington, who recommended him to see a cardiologist. Upon taking a MRI exam and consulting with the cardiologist, Dr. James Barnyard, Patrick was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma and was suggested immediate surgery.
On December 20, 1996, Patrick went through a surgery in which his left lung was removed. The surgery went very well, but there was substantial damage to Patrick’s heart, and he was very weak. When Patrick awoke from the surgery, he was unable to speak as he was still on the ventilator and had a tube going down his throat. Early next morning, on December 21, 1996, Patrick passed away.
|
