The late Bearl and Gail CoulterWomen of Distinction
Women of Distinction honors the area’s outstanding women, benefits the American Lung Association in Tennessee and its mission to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Proceeds help fund medical research, advocacy and education efforts in Tennessee.This year’s special honoree is University of Tennessee women’s basketball head coach Holly Warlick, who will be in attendance.The luncheon is May 2. Regular cost (after April 6) is $75.
Radon warning
According to the EPA, radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer — and, after smoking, is the second leading cause.Of three zones within the EPA’s map of the continental U.S., Hamilton County sits in Zone 2: counties with predicted average indoor radon. But, the agency’s site goes on to say, “this map is not intended to be used to determine if a home in a given zone should be tested for radon. Homes with elevated levels of radon have been found in all three zones. All homes should be tested regardless of geographic location.”Test kits are available from many retail stores, though 90-days kits are generally recommended.
Name: Kim Coulter
Hometown: Hixson
Occupation: Realtor with Keller Williams; owner of Style Makers
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While watching a movie with her father in 2007, Kim Coulter heard the words no child, even grown ones like her, ever wants to hear their parents utter: I think I'm having a heart attack. An ER visit and chest X-ray led to a simple diagnosis: pneumonia. But the antibiotics did nothing. A week later she got a call from her dad. He was headed back to the hospital. This time he got a PET scan - and a different diagnosis: lung cancer.
At the American Lung Association's 32nd annual Chattanooga Women of Distinction Awards luncheon, Coulter will share her story in an effort to save other children, fathers and mothers from the tragedy that struck her family. It could've been easily avoided. And it's not the story you think.
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My father was athletic - he was more healthy than me. He worked out every single day; he was very much an A-type personality. He said, "I hope I don't have 'the big C.'" It turned out he had cancer basically everywhere.
He died within 10 weeks after he was diagnosed.
I always want to know how and why - how in the world could he have gotten this? The doctors said it could've been asbestos or it could've been radon. All of a sudden it was like a light bulb went off: I knew the neighbors had radon at one point.
We borrowed one of their kits. [My parents' house] tested almost 20 [for radon]. It's not supposed to be above 4 1/2 or 5.
The average radon victim lives 28-29 years. I think it was 28 1/2 years my parents had been in that home.
What breaks my heart, here he thought he was being so healthy. He was on the treadmill every single morning, not realizing he was working out in an environment that wasn't healthy.
That was the first time I really heard about radon.
Every home should be tested for radon. Do your own research when buying a home; don't just take someone's word for it. Hire a home inspector. Double and triple check. It's an easy situation to solve. It can save your life.
My mother wound up speaking at Women of Distinction in 2009 about my father who had passed away from this. Then, in October, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. She was a breast cancer survivor. It was 38 years she'd been cancer-free, so the doctors didn't feel like it was from breast cancer. But the doctors could never figure out the source of her cancer.
She died 3 1/2 months later.
I guess the silver lining is just to make people aware of the situation. I've told a lot of people about it - "Make sure you do the test" - but I've never done it publicly. I wasn't ready. It was just too emotional for me.
When Women of Distinction approached me, I thought, "It's time." And I know that [Mom] would say, "Kim, it's time."
Both my parents very much leaders in the community. They helped a lot of people; my mother, especially. Being a breast cancer survivor, she worked with the MaryEllen Locher Foundation. So I guess this is my way to help with the cancer community, because I definitely was directly affected, unfortunately.
I will be praying that I get through it without big tears.