Man With Mesothelioma Beats The Odds By Betting On His Own Life
In 2006, Jon Matthews was diagnosed with mesothelioma and doctors told him he had only 12 months to live
. He found his own unique way of coping with the tragic news: betting on his own life. He started by betting that the doctors were wrong, declaring that he would live beyond June 1, 2009.
Matthews, at 55-years-old, laughed all the way to the bank as he collected 5000 pounds, or about $8000 US dollars, when he lived past the day.
Graham Sharp, who took the bet, said it gave Matthews an incentive to fight the disease. I'm just delighted that it gave him so much fun and enjoyment, Sharp said after paying Matthews the money. He proved that what is often dispiriting news from a doctor doesn't necessarily mean you can't make the most of the time you've got left.
Sharp further described Matthews as a very positive man who had given most of his winnings to charity.
Jon Matthews had lived with his cancer for an unprecedented 38 months when he died on May 12, 2010, just weeks before he was due to collect another 10,000 pounds, or approximately $16,000 US dollars.
Jon Matthews story is an inspiration for others trying to cope with mesothelioma. His story shows that one of the most important aspects of treatment is setting personal goals for survival. Mr. Matthews went so far as to attach a monetary incentive to attaining his goals. His incentive was fairly basic and quanitifiable, however any incentive to live is an invaluable tool in a patients fight against mesothelioma.
With a diagnosis of cancer comes uncertainty, and when the future is uncertain, you may have feelings of sadness or hopelessness. But, by maintaining the will to live, it is possible to exceed your expectations for the future and even those of your doctors in your battle against mesothelioma. Best of all, a strong incentive to live will provide support, as you go through more difficult times in your treatment.
Mesothelioma is a rare disease, representing only one percent of all cancers, and while treatment options have been developed, none has yet provided a cure for mesothelioma. The currently accepted treatments can be hard on a patient, but reducing stress can help make it more bearable. Exercise, eating healthy and meditation are a few methods that can reduce your stress level.
A New York mesothelioma attorney would tell you, the primary cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure, reported in 70 to 80 percent of diagnosed cases. It can even be hazardous to family members of individuals who are exposed at work, as asbestos fibers can be spread via clothing. Unfortunately for many people, these dangers havent always been well-known.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and suspect that it was caused by exposure to asbestos, then it is critical to contact an experienced, competent New York mesothelioma attorney.
Gregg J. Borri is a New York mesothelioma attorney specializing in asbestos litigation. His law offices provide legal representation to victims of asbestos exposure (the principal cause of mesothelioma), namely those diagnosed with one of the three mesothelioma types pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial mesothelioma. The attorneys here are committed to forcefully and effectively advocating their clients claims to legal compensation from the corporations that caused or contributed to their exposure to asbestos, allowing clients to focus on their medical treatment.
by: Brian Reed
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