Mesothelioma Survivor Shares Pride in Son’s Air Force Service

November is National Veterans and Military Families Month, a time to recognize the service members who protect our country and the families who support them. For mesothelioma survivor and advocate Tamron Little, this observance has taken on new meaning as her oldest son, Caleb, begins his own military career in the U.S. Air Force.

Tamron’s husband is an Army veteran, and her experience as a peritoneal mesothelioma survivor has given her another personal connection to the military community. She was diagnosed in 2007 at just 21 years old, when Caleb was only a few months old.

“Nearly 20 years later, I am grateful to still be here, watching that same little boy grow into a young man who has chosen to serve his country,” Tamron shares. “Recently, I had the opportunity to attend his Air Force basic military training graduation, and I tapped him out! As I watched him accomplish something he had worked so hard for, I could not help but think about everything it took for our family to reach that moment.”

Her family’s military connections have also strengthened her commitment to raising awareness about asbestos exposure and the risks veterans can face. We talked with Tamron about Caleb’s graduation, her perspective as a military mom and why asbestos awareness remains important to her.

What did watching Caleb graduate from Air Force basic training mean to you as his mom? What made you most proud? 

Watching Caleb graduate from Air Force Basic Training meant so much to me. I honestly cannot even put into words all the emotions I felt when I saw him for the first time in 7 weeks during the Airman’s Run. I did not know whether I should cry, scream, call his name or thank God. I did all of the above. My heart was just so full. Seeing my son out there and knowing what he had accomplished was a moment I will never forget.

What made me most proud was knowing that he did not give up. I know it was not easy, and I know there were some hard days, but he kept pushing and made it through. As his mother, you always want to see your children do well, but seeing Caleb do something like this was different. I am so proud of the young man he is becoming, his strength, his determination, and his faith. It was one of those moments where I just thanked God for allowing me to be there to see it. I will forever cherish that moment and could not be prouder to be his mama.

Has your experience with mesothelioma shaped the way you see his accomplishments or his decision to serve?

Oh yes! Going through mesothelioma has changed the way I look at life and the things that really matter. When I was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, I was given just 18 months to live, and Caleb was only about 5 or 6 months old at the time. 

Based on what the doctors were telling me, there was a good chance I would not even be around to see him take his first steps, let alone grow up and graduate from Air Force Basic Training. So, to be standing there almost 20 years later watching my baby boy become an Air Force Airman was a moment I cannot even put into words. I could not help but think about how far we have come and how good God has been to our family.

When Caleb first told us he wanted to join the Air Force, I was surprised and a little nervous. He had already spent a semester in college and running track, so I was not expecting him to take this route. My husband is an Army veteran, and he is the one who took Caleb to the recruiting center. Having served himself, he understands what Caleb is stepping into, and that makes this experience even more meaningful for our family.

Of course, the mama in me had some concerns, but I have always told my children that whatever “productive” things they decide to do in life, their dad and I will support them 100%.

My experience with peritoneal mesothelioma has taught me that life is precious and tomorrow is not promised. There was a time when I did not know if I would get to experience any of these milestones with Caleb. So, being able to watch him grow up, make his own decisions, and now serve his country means so much to me. I am just thankful God has allowed me to be here to see it all.

Have you and Caleb ever talked about the history of asbestos exposure in the military? If so, what has that conversation meant to you?

Caleb has heard me share my story his entire life. We have talked several times over the years about asbestos exposure, the several ways people can be exposed without even knowing it, and how the military has historically been one of the biggest connections to asbestos exposure. With my husband being an Army veteran, this is something that hits close to home for our family. And now that Caleb is serving in the Air Force, those conversations mean even more to me.

As a mom and someone who has lived through a mesothelioma diagnosis, I want Caleb to understand just how serious asbestos exposure can be. I have always believed that awareness is so important because you cannot protect yourself from something you do not know about.

Knowing what I have been through and the history of asbestos exposure in the military, I naturally have concerns as a mom. I want Caleb to have a successful military career, but more importantly, I want him to be healthy and safe. That is why these conversations are so important to me. I have seen firsthand how a disease like mesothelioma can change someone’s life, and I want my son to have the knowledge to make informed decisions about his own health and safety.

Has your experience with mesothelioma influenced how your family talks about health and safety?

Absolutely! After going through mesothelioma, health and safety became something we take very seriously in our family. We have learned firsthand how quickly life can change and how important it is to pay attention to our bodies and not ignore things when something does not feel right.

I am big on making sure my family stays on top of their health, asks questions and speaks up when they have concerns. One thing my experience taught me is the importance of advocating for yourself, especially when it comes to your health. I know what it is like to have symptoms overlooked and not get the answers you need.

I think going through what we did as a family has made us all more aware of how precious our health really is. We cannot prevent everything, but we can educate ourselves, take precautions and make our health a priority. That is something I hope my children will carry with them throughout their lives.

What would you want today’s service members and their families to know about asbestos awareness?

I would want service members and their families to understand that asbestos exposure is something we should still be aware of today. Although there are more regulations and safety measures in place now, asbestos has not completely disappeared, and the health risks associated with exposure are still very real.

I think one of the biggest things is educating yourself and knowing where potential exposure can happen. Many veterans were exposed to asbestos during their service without even knowing it, and unfortunately, some did not find out until decades later when they were diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma.

As a mesothelioma survivor and now the mom of an Air Force Airman, this is something that hits even closer to home for me. I want our service members and their families to ask questions, be aware of potential risks and take their health seriously. And if you believe you have been exposed, make sure you share that information with your healthcare provider.

My hope is that by continuing to have these conversations and raising awareness, we can help protect those who have made the decision to serve our country and support the families who love them.

What do Veterans Day and National Veterans and Military Families Month mean to you as the mom of someone who serves and as a mesothelioma advocate? 

To me, Veterans Day and National Veterans and Military Families Month are about showing appreciation for the men and women who have served our country and the families who support them. I think sometimes people do not realize just how much military families sacrifice too. It is not just the person wearing the uniform. Their loved ones are making sacrifices right along with them.

As a military mom, I am now getting to experience some of those feelings firsthand. There is so much pride, lots of prayers, and trusting God to watch over your loved ones when you cannot be there. It definitely gives you a unique perspective and a greater appreciation for military families.

As a peritoneal mesothelioma survivor and advocate, these days also remind me that we cannot forget about our veterans once their service is over. So many veterans were exposed to asbestos while serving our country, and some are still dealing with the health effects years later. That is why it is so important to continue raising awareness and making sure our veterans and their families know there are resources and support available.

I think honoring our veterans should be about more than just saying thank you for your service one day out of the year. It is about remembering their sacrifices, supporting them when they need it, and making sure they are not forgotten. Being the wife of an Army veteran and now the proud mom of an Air Force Airman makes it all that much more personal for me.

When you reflect on your own journey, your advocacy work and Caleb’s accomplishments, what stands out most?

What stands out most to me is just how faithful God has been throughout my life. When I look back at everything I have been through, from being diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma as a young mom to now watching my son graduate from Air Force Basic Training, I cannot help but be grateful.

There were so many unknowns when I was initially diagnosed, and I had no idea what life would look like for me or my family. But here I am, almost 20 years later, four kids later, still here, still sharing my story and getting to experience moments I once did not know would be possible.

I am also grateful that my experience has allowed me to connect with so many people through my mesothelioma awareness and advocacy work. Being able to use what I have been through to raise awareness, encourage others and help families facing a mesothelioma diagnosis has been such a meaningful part of my journey.

And then there’s Caleb. Watching him grow into the young man he is today and accomplish something he has worked so hard for makes my heart full. I think about all the prayers I have prayed over him throughout the years and how blessed I am to see him stepping into this new chapter of his life. And I have three more children who have so many wonderful things ahead of them, and Lord willing, I will be right there cheering them on every step of the way. That is something I look forward to as a mom.

When I reflect on it all, I am reminded that there is still so much life to live, so many memories to make and so much more work to be done. I am thankful for where God has brought me, and I am looking forward to everything that is still ahead.

Have you had opportunities to share your advocacy work with Caleb? How has he responded to that part of your life? 

Caleb has grown up watching me do advocacy work and hearing me share my story. From speaking engagements and interviews to drafting articles and working with organizations to raise awareness about mesothelioma, it has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember.

I think because he has grown up around it, he understands why this work is so important to me. He has seen the time and effort I have put into helping others and how passionate I am about making sure people living with  mesothelioma have access to information and support.

One thing about Caleb, he will let people know that he is here for a reason! He shares my story with his friends and even his former teachers. And when they have a tough time believing what he is telling them, he will pull up Google and show them! That always makes me laugh because he is proud to share what our family has been through and how far we have come.

Caleb has always been supportive of what I do, and I hope that watching my journey has shown him the importance of using your experiences and your voice to make a difference. As his mom, that means a lot to me because I want all my children to understand that no matter what life brings their way, they have something valuable to contribute to the world and that they can thrive in any situation.