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Kati Maloney LoPresti
Kathleen Marie Maloney was born on
the Westside of Cleveland, Ohio on September 4, 1952 to
Joseph and Theresa Maloney. She was the second of 8
children. She was a loving and adoring daughter who
looked forward to greeting her father when he returned
from working as an asbestos worker in Cleveland. Her
father, Joe, enjoyed being with his children---laughing,
joking, entertaining his brood---this always included
lots of love and hugs. Since greeting his children was
an important part of his after-work life---this happened
before he changed his work clothes---which were always
covered in asbestos dust.
As in many large families, the
older children helped with the chores. And Kati chose
to help out by doing the laundry. This included shaking
off the dust from her father’s clothes before putting
them into the washing machine with the rest of the
families clothing.
She spent her elementary years as a
student at Ascension of Our Lord Grade School on Puritas
Avenue. She was a good student so her parents sent her
to Magnificat High School from which she graduated in
1970. She then entered the work world where she began
her career in retail sales and through hard work and
dedication was promoted into retail management.
In September, 2002, Kati thought
she had asthma and presented herself to the ER---but it
wasn’t asthma that would cause Kati such hardship.
After having all the fluid drained from her chest, a
surgeon told her that she had a mass in her chest and
that it was lymphoma----treatable---in fact, curable
with chemotherapy. Kati questioned him asking if it
could possibly be Mesothelioma based on her experience
watching her father succumb to it in 1980. He was 55.
In the previous year, 1979, Kati watched her Uncle
George die. He was 46. Both brothers were asbestos
workers and both men died of Mesothelioma. The doctor
said that he had ruled out any chance that this could be
Mesothelioma. One week later, a biopsy confirmed what
Kati had known all along. Kati was diagnosed with
Malignant Mesothelioma. This surgeon counseled that
there was nothing he could do for Kati. Kati then spoke
to an oncologist and he told her that, “Anything I could
do for you would only be a band-aid.”
After some investigation, Kati made
the choice to seek help from Dr. David Sugarbaker in
Boston at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Kati had hoped
that Dr. Sugarbaker could do a Extrapleural
pneumonectomy. While attempting to perform this
surgery, Dr. Sugarbaker found that the cancer had
spread to Kati’s aorta and her Mesothelioma was
inoperable. There were complications after Kati’s
initial surgery which would require Kati to endure three
more surgeries. Kati never gave up hope. During her
stay in the hospital, Kati realized that she must do
something about this dreadful disease. Kati recognized
a need to increase people’s awareness of Mesothelioma
and to help those patients who were told to ‘go home.’
Four surgeries and 6 weeks later, Kati returned home to
her loving family and her huge support system.
February, 2003 through July, 2003
Kati participated in a clinical trial of Alimta and
Gemzar at the Ireland Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
At the end of the trial, Kati’s cancer was immeasurable.
August, 2004 her CT scan showed a small amount of
growth. In October 2004, Kati traveled to Boston every three weeks
to participate in a clinical trial of the drugs Avastin
and Terceva. Kati realized how fortunate she was to be
able to seek treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Center
in Boston. She also realized that everyone should have
the opportunity to receive the drugs they need to keep
them alive. She hoped she could make this
happen for all Malignant Mesothelioma patients.
That is why in May, 2005, while
sitting around her kitchen table with family and friends
KATI’S HOPE FOUNDATION FOR MESOTHELIOMA RESEARCH,
EDUCATION AND SUPPORT was born.
On Tuesday, October 23, 2007, Kati
died from mesothelioma cancer at the age of 55. She will
be remembered for having such a positive attitude while
fighting this dreadful disease, and for wanting to help
others through her foundation. She was an inspiration to
all!
Outstanding
Citizen and Community Leader (pdf) - Recognized by
the Ohio House of Representatives
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