Like many other cancer survivors, I have dates on the calendar that mark specific events throughout my mesothelioma experience. Dates like the day I was diagnosed, the first day of chemo and the last day of radiation. But one day in particular stands out, not only because it was the day my life changed forever, but because of how we choose to commemorate it each year.
Lung Leavin’ Day is the anniversary of the surgery I had to remove my left lung due to malignant pleural mesothelioma. We celebrate by writing our fears on plates and smashing them in a bonfire. Over the years, Lung Leavin’ Day grew into a large celebration, then shrunk back down to an online event after COVID. But regardless of its size, Lung Leavin’ Day is about giving hope to people fighting cancer.
Lung Leavin’ Day 2024
We’ve decided that we’ll wait for the 20th anniversary in 2026 to bring back the party and make a HUGE celebration out of it. I’m talking fireworks and everything! I’ve already started brainstorming on how to make the night more magical than ever.
But one thing has been true from the beginning: Lung Leavin’ Day is about overcoming your fears. It doesn’t matter if it’s just you, writing them on a piece of paper and tearing that paper up. Or going big and firewalking for real. It’s ultimately about overcoming what holds you back, and turning something that could be so terrible into something that’s a beautiful life-changing experience.
How Lung Leavin’ Day Started
My sister coined the name of the day, since it was the day my lung left. Before my surgery, she and my husband were discussing how, a year from then, we would be celebrating this day and the ideas started to flow.
I had my surgery on February 2, 2006, performed by the late Dr. David Sugarbaker. The day before my surgery, my sister sent me a story to read, which was titled, “The Perfect Lung Leavin’ Day Celebration.” She wrote it so I would picture this beautiful celebration while I was in surgery. It’s such an amazing story, and it’s the inspiration behind every Lung Leavin’ Day.
The First Lung Leavin’ Day
Our tradition started on February 2, 2007. My husband went out and bought 2 plates and a Sharpie for us to write down our fears. The fire we built wasn’t very big, but there we were, all bundled up outside in the cold, smashing our plates into the flames.
Lung Leavin’ Day started out as a personal celebration between my husband and I to recognize each year I remained cancer-free. As the years passed, this special day grew bigger. The idea of smashing fears and celebrating life resonated. People felt inspired and empowered by it.
Why We Celebrate Survival
Every Lung Leavin’ Day must have a bonfire, and there should also be some sort of release or physical demonstration as we conquer fear. That’s where the breaking of plates comes into play. The ritual is: write your fears on a plate and hurl it into the fire where it’ll smash into pieces.
Lung Leavin’ Day has become a ritual for not only my family, but for so many others as well. I have encouraged many people facing mesothelioma or any cancer, to have a similar party or tradition in their own right. Balloon releases, cozy dinners, it makes no difference. The important thing is that it’s about you, your battle and how you’ve overcome adversity and your fears.
I hope you too will do something yearly on the first Saturday in February in the spirit of Lung Leavin’ Day. People facing various obstacles in their lives have gained so much strength after coming to our celebrations.
Supporting the Mesothelioma Community
My mission is to use my voice to advocate for the mesothelioma community however and whenever I can. I believe there is great power in our stories and sharing them is so important.
I’ve had the honor of traveling to Washington D.C. to speak to representatives and senators about the desperate need for mesothelioma research and funding. I’ve also worked with Greenpeace, recorded countless podcasts on everything from green cleaning to mental and physical health. I was even asked to be on a nationally syndicated TV show with Soledad O’Brien discussing the dangers of asbestos.
I’m so thankful to have worked with some incredible people and had such great opportunities to share my story and bring awareness to mesothelioma.
Here’s how Lung Leavin’ Day supports the Mesothelioma community:
- Lung Leavin’ Day fundraising goal: To raise money for mesothelioma patients in need of financial assistance for treatment-related travel
- Money raised so far: Over $30,000 raised for mesothelioma research and asbestos education
- Organizations Lung Leavin’ Day supports: The International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation
You can help by using and sharing the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation’s fundraising page. You can also contribute to the Von St. James Travel Fund to help patients who need to travel for treatment.
Smash Fears, Celebrate Life
For the future, I hope to continue growing Lung Leavin’ Day. I dream of a world where asbestos is banned and is no longer a danger. A world where mesothelioma no longer exists. Until then, I’ll continue to use Lung Leavin’ Day to raise money and awareness for mesothelioma research and fight to ban asbestos.
We don’t know what the future holds for Lung Leavin’ Day. But this much I do know: as long as I’m still here, we will break plates on the first Saturday in February.
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