Philadelphia Mesothelioma Victim Speaks Out on Good Morning America

There is a segment of American television viewers whose only knowledge of malignant mesothelioma comes from advertisements that appear during cable TV talk shows. But this morning more than 3.5 million people heard directly from a victim of the rare, asbestos-related disease as Philadelphia teacher Lea DiRusso speaks about how she believes that was sickened, and the action she plans to take against those responsible.

51-Year-Old Philadelphia Teacher Diagnosed with Mesothelioma

Mrs. DiRusso was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in August, and within days the news had spread throughout the Philadelphia School District and beyond. She has taught in Philadelphia for more than 30 years, spending her time at two different schools that have both tested positive for asbestos. Most recently she taught at the Meredith School, a highly-rated elementary school located in the city’s Queen Village neighborhood.

When Good Morning America’s T. J. Holmes asked the mesothelioma victim whether she would return to the building where she’d previously worked, Mrs. DiRusso said, “I don’t know, I don’t know if I would feel comfortable knowing that I’m going to a place where someone didn’t tell me that there was a toxic substance and that it was in my midst, two feet from my head, every day, all day.”

Philadelphia Schools Closed Due to Presence of Asbestos

While Mrs. DiRusso plans to file a mesothelioma lawsuit against the Philadelphia School District, accusing them of negligence in exposing her, her colleagues and her students to asbestos, the district is trying to deal with asbestos problems in many of its buildings. Many students have needed to be relocated to different locations, and district superintendent Dr. William Hite has announced that he has ordered a visual inspection of every building to be completed by December 20^th. “Everything we’ve done hasn’t been enough. We have made some mistakes,” Hite said.

Good Morning America is the top-rated morning show in the country, and their interview with Mrs. DiRusso’s will raise national awareness of mesothelioma. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease and you need information about the resources available to you, the Patient Advocats at Mesothelioma.net can help. Call us today at  1-800-692-8608.

Written by Terri Oppenheimer

Terri Heimann Oppenheimer is the head writer of our Mesothelioma.net news blog. She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in English. Terri believes that knowledge is power and she is committed to sharing news about the impact of mesothelioma, the latest research and medical breakthroughs, and victims’ stories.

Learn more about and contact Terri