1 Year Anniversary & The Fight for Air Stair Climb
March 24th, 2012Today marks the one year anniversary since my Dad’s premature death from lung cancer. It has been a trying year to say the least with so many ups and downs. I miss my dad terribly and wish more than anything that he could be here to meet his newest grandbaby this July. He was never happier than when he was holding a baby… especially a grandchild.
This morning my family and friends did The Fight for Air Climb at 3 Logan Square in Philadelphia. They climbed 50 stories to the top of the building to raise money and awareness for lung disease. I am so extremely proud of all of them!! Because of my “condition” (aka pregnancy!), I was unable to do the climb…. though I very much wanted to. Next year I plan to do it… perhaps with a baby on my back! 
My mom was asked to give a speech today prior to the climb. It was emotional, powerful and had a great message about the need for lung disease awareness and research/ treatment advancement. She did an amazing job and I am so proud of her. My dad would have been extremely honored.
Thank you to everyone that climbed today and also to all of you that donated to this very important cause! Team “Truckin’ for Harry” raised an amazing $4,065.00!! My family and I are beyond amazed by this. I am so grateful to have so many wonderful and giving people in my life. THANK YOU!!
Below is a video of my mom’s speech. I, very unfortunately, missed capturing the very beginning which was emotional. I included her full speech in text below the video as well. Standing next to her is Ray Koob from radio station 102.9 MGK. He did a great job announcing for the climb as well as comforting my mom during the speech.
“My name is Paulette Hassey. When my friend told me she was going to do a 50-story stair climb I told her she was crazy, out of her mind and would probably kill herself. Then she told me that the climb would take place on March 24 and it was to benefit the American Lung Association. My heart sank because I knew this was an omen and so I formed the team “Truckin’ for Harry,” in honor of my husband, Harry, a retired truck driver, who died from lung cancer exactly one year ago today on March 24th at the age of 59.
Harry and I were high school sweethearts. We were married just shy of 38 years. We had 4 children and 3 grandchildren. We now have another grandchild on the way who will never get to know the world’s best Pop-Pop. We have been through everything together – good and bad. Harry was hot-headed and opinionated, he loved to argue about anything, especially politics and he let you know how he felt about everything whether you wanted to know or not. But, he was also a big, kind-hearted, strong, lovable and unforgettable character, who would do anything to help you and he always knew the right thing to do or say. To watch him deteriorate before my eyes in 6 short months was devastating. I miss him terribly every minute of every day. He was the love of my life.
Harry was initially diagnosed with bladder cancer 5 months before his lung cancer and had surgery to remove 2 tumors. Harry had been a smoker most of his life and his father died from lung cancer in 1980 at the age of 50. And even though I told the urologist that I thought Harry’s breathing was not normal, he never did any further tests, not even a simple chest x-ray. Then suddenly less than 2 months after the urologist assured us that Harry was “cancer free,” he started to spit up blood and was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer which had already spread to his adrenal glands and his brain. After seeing what his father went through, Harry always said that if he ever got lung cancer he would never do treatments for it. But, I was able to convince him to go to Fox Chase and at least talk to someone because after all, it was 31 years later and things must have changed. The treatments have got to be better than they were back then. Well, we soon learned that things have not changed in 31 years – the treatments are not better and the outcome was still the same. Harry and his father had the exact same diagnosis—his Dad lived 7 months and Harry lived only 6 months.
Although Harry and I knew he was eventually going to die from his disease, his death came very unexpectedly and we were so not prepared for it. Unlike today, it was a cold, snowy morning last March 24th when we went to Fox Chase for Harry’s routine office visit prior to his chemo treatment scheduled for the following day. While sitting in the doctor’s waiting room, Harry started to choke and cough up blood. He had a look of terror on his face that I will never forget and as the blood poured out of his body, he was unable to breathe. He ultimately bled to death on the floor of the doctor’s exam room at 9:45 a.m.
I am doing the climb today so that Harry will not be forgotten. I hope that by hearing his story, someone may try to stop smoking, or someone may insist that their doctor do more tests if they are not feeling well, and that someday soon there will be routine screening tests done to detect lung disease. Harry always told us not to make a big deal out of his illness, because everyone gets a turn to die and this was his turn. But, I know in my heart that he would be so honored and grateful for the outpouring of love and support here today.
So get ready to climb and if you feel like you just can’t go any further, be assured that you will get a boost of energy, because I know that Harry is here today and anyone here who knew him will tell you that he will kick your butt up the stairs if he has to.”
