Canadian Waitress with Secondhand Lung Cancer Fights for Life

"I want to be the last worker to die from secondhand smoke."-- Healther Crowe

Parts excerpted from the Ottawa Citizen, 2/23/06

In 1972, Heather Crowe came to Ottawa as a single mother with little money. Over the years, she worked in half a dozen restaurants, sometimes pulling three shifts a day to support herself and her daughter. She has never smoked a cigarette, but after 40 years of serving up eggs and coffee in the blue air of pre-smokefree restaurants, she was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer in 2002.

Looking pale, but relieved to have her speech and short-term memory back, Ms. Crowe, 60, said yesterday that she is "struggling" to keep her pain under control. "It's just amazing how hard it is to pull through each day," she said.

Despite the pain, Ms. Crowe made time yesterday to watch the Olympics on TV and welcome visitors. "At least I'm able to think today." Ms. Crowe fought successfully for full worker's compensation benefits, and then became the public face of secondhand smoke risks when she appeared in Health Canada posters and television campaigns.

Over the last few years, Ms. Crowe has taken her crusade across the country, telling community groups, politicians and bar and restaurant owners that she wanted to be the last person to die of secondhand smoke in the workplace.

Yesterday, she didn't falter in her message. "I just want legislation to protect all workers (from secondhand smoke)," she said, struggling to find words at times. "I wish this on nobody -- smokers or non-smokers."

Doctors gave Ms. Crowe just 10 months to live after her initial diagnosis, but after undergoing aggressive chemotherapy and radiation, she rallied in 2004 and found herself living -- and crusading -- on borrowed time.

Last month, her health began to falter again and she began having difficulty speaking and concentrating, so she checked herself in to hospital. "I waited too long to see a doctor," she said.

Doctors found that the cancer had spread to her brain and right arm. Along with pain medication, Ms. Crowe is receiving acupuncture to soothe painful tumors throughout her body. She said doctors have given her no firm prognosis, but she hopes to "recover somewhat." She is expected to speak more about her condition to the news media tomorrow.

Ms. Crowe has received many accolades for her health campaign, including a Meritorious Service Award from then-governor general Adrienne Clarkson in 2004. In December, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty introduced an award in Ms. Crowe's name, which will recognize individuals and organizations working toward a smoke-free province.

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which takes effect on May 31, will make all workplaces and places open to the public in the province -- including bars, restaurants and casinos -- smoke-free.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the
world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead

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