Mesothelioma Hope Center

Welcome to the SimmonsCooper Mesothelioma Hope Center, a free resource for patients and families dealing with a mesothelioma diagnosis.

 

We have partnered with client and current mesothelioma survivor, Craig Kozicki and his wife Shelly, to create the SimmonsCooper Mesothelioma Hope Center.

Under Craig and Shelly's guidance, the Hope Center provides much-needed support for individuals like you whose lives have been turned upside down by a mesothelioma diagnosis.  We provide information, understanding, emotional support and, above all, hope.

If you are currently battling mesothelioma, or you know someone who is, the most important thing to remember is you are not alone.  The SimmonsCooper Mesothelioma Hope Center can help you get the answers to your most important, most personal questions.

While we cannot offer direct legal or medical advice, Shelly can offer you her personal knowledge and insight into Craig's battle with Mesothelioma.  She has first-hand experience with many of the emotions and challenges you are facing.  And she can point you in the right direction to get the care, advice and answers you need.

Contact the SimmonsCooper Mesothelioma Hope Center today.

You can email the Hope Center at hope@simmonscooper.com.

Please be assured that this service is free and in no way obligates you to select SimmonsCooper to represent you. 

About Craig and Shelly Kozicki

Click here to go to Craig and Shelly Kozicki's Web site.

The Kozicki Family Story - Our Battle with Mesothelioma

By Craig Kozicki
_{October 12,  2007} 

My name is Craig Kozicki, and until 1998, I was healthy and active. It was in July of that year that I was diagnosed with Peritoneal Mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer related to asbestos.

I wasn’t even aware I had been exposed to asbestos, much less that it was making me sick.

My initial symptoms included weight loss and a buildup of fluid in my abdomen called ascites. After several tests, my doctor performed an exploratory laparoscopy, which confirmed the diagnosis.

I was told there was no effective treatment for this rare disease, and to get my affairs in order. I was encouraged to do whatever I could to enjoy whatever little time I had left.

It goes without saying that this devastated my wife, Shelly. And telling my 12 year-old daughter, Emily, that her Dad has cancer was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life.

Getting ready for the fight

Despite the grim prognosis, Shelly and I sprung into action not long after the initial diagnosis. We sent my medical file to several doctors who specialize in treating mesothelioma. We spent many, many hours on the Internet researching the disease and the treatment options.

I was rejected for one clinical trial in Chicago because I didn’t meet their protocol, but I did have a pending consultation with Dr. Sugarbaker in Washington, D.C.

Then my wife and I found an article written by a patient’s wife praising the work of Dr. Robert Taub and Dr. John Chabot at New York Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. We scheduled a consultation, and it went very well, to say the least. My wife and I felt comfortable there and believed it was the best place I could be.

I cancelled my consultation with Dr. Sugarbaker, and scheduled my initial surgery in New York.

The distance between our home in St. Louis and treatment in New York caused a lot of stress for Shelly and me. I was concerned about being so far away from Emily for an extended period of time. However, thanks to the help of family and friends, we were able to manage. My in-laws moved from Florida to take care of our daughter as we traveled to and from New York City.

The battle begins

I started the clinical trial in late August, 1998, just a little more than a month – although it seemed like a lifetime – after my diagnosis. The treatment protocol called for two surgeries, which called for debulking (removing most of the tumor), omentectomy (removing some of the fatty tissue in my abdomen), spleenectomy and a hot chemotherapy wash. The doctors also inserted a portacath so they could administer further treatments.

I had 12 inter-peritoneal chemotherapy transfusions, six intravenous chemotherapy transfusions and 28 radiation treatments. The entire process took about 10 months, requiring about 20 trips to New York.

In early 2002, I had a recurrence of the disease in my stomach muscle, specifically, the rectus. This resulted in a third surgery, where doctors removed a section of the muscle and replaced it with a Mylex patch. This recurrence also led to another 25 radiation treatments.

For a while, this seemed to do the trick. Over the next four years I led an active and fulfilling life. I worked full-time and enjoyed softball, golf and family vacations. One of my greatest joys was watching Emily play sports.

In April, 2006, scans showed the disease was back. So I started chemotherapy treatments again. I received three treatments of Doxil and Avastin. Unfortunately, I began to have skin irritation in the abdominal wall. By mid-June, I had developed a fistula, or hole at the site of the irritation and was hospitalized in St. Louis for three weeks.

Due to my history, we scheduled surgery with Dr. Chabot in New York City. I went in on July 18^th for what I thought was a relatively routine four-hour surgery to repair the fistula. It turned out to be a life-threatening nine-hour ordeal, as Dr. Chabot had to reconstruct my intestines.

These complications led to three more surgeries and a three-month stay at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. The final surgery lasted nine hours as Dr. Chabot repaired the fistula and Dr. Robert Grant removed the Mylex patch and rebuilt my abdominal wall.

Throughout most of 2007, I have been managing drainage and the after-effects of surgery. I have been slow to heal this time. However, I am still relatively active, am working and have traveled to three family weddings.

In September, I had a follow-up surgery to address the lingering issues and will go back in November for the second stage of this procedure.

A salute to family and friends

Over the years, I have had a tremendous amount of support in my battle with this deadly disease. It starts with Shelly and Emily. Shelly has been my caretaker, my nurse, a mother, wife and best friend all rolled into one. She has been an integral part of the treatment, engaging in discussions with the doctors regarding treatment. She has been the one to take care of me at home, treating my surgical wounds to ensure they healed properly. I simply couldn’t have gotten through this without her.

Emily was only 12 when I was diagnosed. She is now a senior at the University of Missouri. An ordeal like this is traumatic of anyone of any age, but even through her teen years she never relented. She was always confident and strong, maintaining her high standards throughout high school, all while helping care for me.

I am one who does not like to help, but this is not a battle anyone can win alone. So I can’t say enough for the other family members and friends who provided everything from cards, prayers, meals, rides, comfort or even a quick phone call. It seems like people have come out of the woodwork to help us. Even people who we have never met have pitched in, and for that, I am grateful.

Despite some of the difficulties I have had in the last year, I am know I am in the best of medical hands. I have the strongest support system one can possibly have. And with those two things on my side, I know I can get through this.

Learn More

»  Mesothelioma Medical Information
»  Mesothelioma Legal Information
»  Mesothelioma Video Library

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