Patient Advocate Gabi Lebron<\/a> speaks with families affected by mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases every day. As she listens to their stories, she thinks about her grandfather, who passed away from lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure.<\/p>\n Raphael Lebron spent decades in the U.S. Navy<\/a> as a boiler tender while he and his wife raised a close-knit family of 6 children and 15 grandchildren.<\/p>\n Tragically, his service also exposed him to a hidden danger: asbestos. His experience now fuels Gabi\u2019s passion to advocate for families affected by mesothelioma<\/a> and other asbestos-related diseases.<\/p>\n In 2014, Raphael was diagnosed with lung cancer<\/a>. Painful symptoms and side effects kept him from playing soccer with Gabi, working on his car, and enjoying many of his other favorite pastimes.<\/p>\n Gabi recalls her grandmother taking it especially hard. \u201cShe was so scared of losing him and being alone,\u201d she said. The family banded together to support each other through this difficult time.<\/p>\n What the Lebrons weren\u2019t aware of was Raphael’s service on U.S. Navy ships<\/a> exposed him to asbestos, a dangerous mineral that can cause cancer decades later. None of them were able to make the connection until after he passed away in 2015.<\/p>\n \u201cHis doctor didn\u2019t mention asbestos<\/a> until the end because they always attributed the lung cancer to his smoking. We didn\u2019t think asbestos could be responsible for this.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n To learn about how asbestos was used in the military and other settings, download our Free Asbestos Products Guide.<\/strong><\/p>\n Manufacturers of asbestos products knew of the dangers but hid the truth to protect their profits.<\/strong> People diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness can hold these greedy corporations accountable by seeking compensation from mesothelioma lawsuits<\/a> and asbestos trust fund claims.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, by the time Gabi and her family discovered the resources available for victims of asbestos exposure, the deadline to take legal action had already passed.<\/strong> As a result, Gabi\u2019s grandmother had to rely on her children for financial support after Raphael\u2019s death.<\/p>\n \u201cFor my grandma, it was too late to file,\u201d Gabi explained. \u201cWe weren’t able to get that justice, which is why I’m so passionate about what I do now. I don’t want it to be too late for anyone else.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\nThe Heartbreak of a Lung Cancer Diagnosis<\/h2>\n
Her Family\u2019s Search for Justice<\/h2>\n