Updated on April 26, 2024
Remembering … with tears and gratitude for the time we shared.
April 28th marks a deeply personal day for me. Thirty-nine years ago, my husband Alan and I exchanged vows and promised to love each other forever. However, forever came to an end too soon. I still hold “Endless Love” close to my heart and remember walking down the aisle and locking eyes with Alan as we were lovingly reading to exchange our wedding vows.
It has been 22 years since I heard the dreaded word – me·so·the·li·o·ma – which changed our lives forever. This preventable asbestos-caused cancer not only claimed Alan’s life, but shattered our family. It not only took his life but also shattered our family. As I reflect on our anniversary today, I’m reminded of the heartbreaking loss of my best friend, the loving husband who brought so much joy to my life, but … I am also reminded of the memories we made and blessings we shared.
Our memories together will forever be etched in my heart, but now, all I can hear is silence. It’s ironic that our anniversary coincides with International Workers’ Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for all those who have lost their lives to occupational diseases and workplace accidents. Alan’s exposure to asbestos at work ultimately cost him his life.
As I continue to fight for justice and awareness of the dangers of asbestos, I find solace in the hope that the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2023 will one day put an end to the use and importation of this lethal substance. Asbestos is still legal and lethal in the United States, as our infographic shows, and it’s crucial that we learn from our family’s tragedy and the hundreds of thousands of others affected by this preventable disease.
For those who have also lost loved ones to asbestos-related diseases, today is a time for remembrance and reflection. Let us join together in collective activism to ensure that no other families have to experience the pain and suffering that we have endured.
Alan, my heart still aches for you, and I long for the chance to make more sweet memories together. I wish you were here with me to see our daughter Emily grow into an amazing young woman who reminds me so much of us. Your love and legacy live on through her. Nothing has changed; “You will always be my endless love.”
Linda