M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas has a well-deserved reputation for diagnosing and treating patients with rare and aggressive cancers such as malignant mesothelioma.  People frequently travel from across the country to M. D. Anderson for mesothelioma treatment.

Fortunately for these out-of-state patients, there is a full-service hotel which is dedicated to M. D. Anderson patients and their families.  This is the Jessie H. Jones Rotary House International.  While this hotel is managed by Marriott International, it is actually owned by M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Many rooms at the Rotary House

The Rotary House has 322 rooms, all of which have wheelchair access. Seven new executive suites offer 10-foot high ceilings with a private floor and lounge as well as other amenities.  Most of the 322 rooms offer kitchenettes for those who do not wish to dine out for every meal.   Cancer support groups meet regularly at the Rotary House and are conducted both informally and formally.

The Rotary House provides many benefits for mesothelioma patients and their families.  First, because the Rotary House is dedicated to M. D. Anderson patients, the cancer center itself can help with a patient’s bookings.  Second, there is a spirit of camaraderie among the many patients and their family members, who all can understand and relate to each others’ medical situations.  Third, the Rotary House actually provides entertainment for the patients and their caregivers, whether it’s salsa dancers, musicians, or St. Patrick’s Day parties.

A Walk Away in the Best Place to Stay

The Rotary House is merely a walkway away from the M. D. Anderson Clinics and Hospital.  Thus, there is no more convenient place in which to stay if you are an outpatient at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.  There is no extra charge for parking and there are a variety of restaurants and shops within the Rotary House.  Most importantly, however, cancer patients are almost guaranteed to have an instant support system with the other “house guests”.  A number of clients of the law firm of Galiher DeRobertis Ono have gone to  M. D. Anderson for mesothelioma treatment and therapy.  As Gary Galiher said,

“When a person has been diagnosed with any cancer, but especially a cancer with a difficult prognosis such as malignant mesothelioma, quality of life is crucial.  Even with this diagnosis, you still have many options, including the choice of your medical team and where you will live during your medical treatment.  Finding accommodations that provide an instant support mechanism have been crucial to our clients.  As the treatment options become greater and more widely available, patients with mesothelioma can take back control of their lives from this disease.”

The formal grand reopening ceremonies for the historic battleship, USS Missouri BB-63, were held at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard on January 30, 2010.  Attendees included Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle, as well as Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Commander, Captain Greg Thomas.  This grand reopening capped a month of activities for the historic Mighty Mo.

On January 7, 2010, the Mighty Mo was returned to her home pier near the USS Arizona Memorial on Pearl Harbor’s famous Battleship Row.  The Mighty Mo had spent 12 weeks in dry dock for maintenance and preservation work at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.  The Mighty Mo entered dry dock on October 14, 2009.  The repairs included a fresh repainting, and modern humidity detection equipment was installed as well as such practical improvements as restroom facilities.

Once these repairs were complete, the battleship was towed back to her permanent dock.  During the tow from Pearl Harbor dry dock to Battleship Row, a ceremony was held for personnel from all branches of the armed forces, including the U.S. Air Force.  On January 15, 2010, the Mighty Mo opened to visitors again.

Her Legacies Carry Forward

The Mighty Mo was engraved in history as the site of the Japanese surrender, ending World War II.  Her return to Battleship Row near the USS Arizona Memorial marks the appropriate bookend to the Pacific War.  The Mighty Mo now stands as a museum ship, where visitors can see firsthand the interior of a World War II battleship.

A lesser-known legacy of the USS Missouri was the asbestos exposure by crew members and shipyard workers, which was typical of Navy vessels constructed and overhauled in the 1940s through the 1970s.  For the past 30 years, the Galiher DeRobertis Ono law firm has been proud to have represented not only veterans who served on battleships like the USS Missouri, but also Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard workers who overhauled these ships over the past half century.  Tragically, these former sailors and shipyard workers are now at an elevated risk for various asbestos-related diseases, such as malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.