My father was diagnosed with MDS in 2005 after a long career at Exxon, where he was consistently exposed to Benzene. The disease progressed to AML and he passed away in 2008, just as I began college. He visited his doctor early on and ran into an old coworker from Exxon who was there for MDS as well. I mourn for all of those unsuspecting people who were unknowingly being poisoned before the industry was well regulated.
My father was a healthy, active person all throughout his life and it was very difficult seeing him not be able to do the things he used to do, but he always remained mentally strong during this time. I am honored to have had 19 years with him and I’ll miss him everyday. I am a recent father and I hope to be half the man and dad he was.