Flight Attendants' History
The Flight Attendant Members of the Board of Trustees share their experiences and perspective on the science for diseases caused to non-smoking flight attendants and humankind.
PATRICIA (Patty) L. YOUNG—retired from American Airlines after 37 years
I started my fight against tobacco in the summer of 1966 when the other non-smoking flight attendants were telling me that they were told by their doctors that they had the lungs of smokers. Our flight attendants suffer, are disabled and die from the same diseases and sicknesses that smokers do. I continue to be extremely disappointed and saddened that the health care professionals world wide, despite mounting evidence coming out every day regarding the dangers to non-smokers of exposure to SHS, still are not asking the most basic questions of their patients regarding this exposure. The addition of this issue to the FAMRI mission statement and the projects FAMRI is funding will result in an immense change in awareness and medical protocol, including the impact of exposure to pets that live with smokers.
Our research is breathtakingly comprehensive in finding cures for conditions, diseases and disabilities we, as non-smoking flight attendants, have suffered and continue to suffer from as a result of exposure to cigarette smoke in our work place.
These findings will help all humankind. It is extremely important for all of medical personnel world wide who treat smokers for their diseases or help them to quit their addiction to smoking, to educate them regarding the fact that they have a “profound responsibility”—first to the non-smoker who shares any airspace with them and then to themselves. It is only then that the smokers will finally take the first true step to understanding and accepting what damage they can do to the non-smokers and their pets.
LANI BLISSARD—retired from American Airlines after 36 years
For those non-smoking Flight Attendants who flew before the smoking ban, the cabin conditions were horrific. Indelibly stamped in our minds are images of this intolerable situation…smoke so thick after the no-smoking sign went off that you could not see from the aft jump seat to the front of the cabin, fires started by dropped cigarettes, teeth and light hair discolored by the smoke—and the pungent smell of your uniform after every flight. Beyond the images, there were burning eyes, bloody noses and frequent respiratory infections which impacted down line.
These consequences were denied for decades by airline and medical personnel, misled in part by the faulty tobacco-funded studies. Now the truth is painfully clear — non-smoking Flight Attendants who flew in this toxic environment are paying a very heavy price with cancers, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases and a myriad of other tobacco generated illnesses. One of our recent studies, for example, indicated that about half of these Flight Attendants are developing COPD/emphysema.
When FAMRI incorporated in 2000, we were dedicated to funding research which would provide the earliest detection and treatment of these diseases and to pursue cure wherever possible. This has been our guiding principle, and we are constantly asking “how can we best serve our F/A Class?”
Today we are excited and proud of the excellent science and programs we have funded or established, and we still continue every day striving to serve our F/A Class, and in so doing, helping others similarly damaged throughout the world.
LEISA SUDDERETH—25-year veteran currently flying with American Airlines
I remember the complete dread of waiting for the “No Smoking” sign to go off after takeoff. It was extremely difficult to get a 200 pound beverage cart ready for service with stinging eyes as the entire cabin quickly filled with toxic cigarette smoke. After my trips I would leave my uniform in the garage in order to not pollute my home. Thinking of it now makes the scenario seem ridiculous but the danger of that second hand smoke exposure was all too real. FAMRI has been devoted for the past ten years towards our mission. It isn’t simply a statement for us; it is a code of honor for FAMRI to strive for early detection, prevention, treatment and cure of diseases caused from this deadly exposure. We are extremely proud of how far we’ve come and we look forward to make even more of an impact in the future.
BLAND LANE, (1929-2007)—retired from Pan American World Airways and United Airlines after 48 years of service
Included are remarks from Bland in previous years.
Bland Lane was impressed with the grant proposal of Mardi Crane-Godreau, PhD, FAMRI Grantee and member of the Flight Attendant Class Action:
“Dr. Crane-Godreau and I have similarities in our backgrounds in that we both flew as Flight Attendants for Pan American World Airways and we both suffer from diseases caused by second hand tobacco smoke exposure in airline cabins. Dr. Crane-Godreau left the U.S. flag carrier and changed from world traveler to a career in business and then, to scientific research to find answers for the injuries she sustained due to her exposure of second hand tobacco smoke in our work place. I applaud her hard work, determination, and tenacity in accomplishing her goals. I wish her much success toward a positive outcome in her research toward understanding the genetic changes in cells which when exposed to second hand tobacco smoke cause certain infections. My hope is she will provide a major contribution to the world’s health.”
FAMRI’s wish and goal for the future is for the success of each of our researchers in eradicating some of the diseases suffered by mankind today from exposure to tobacco smoke
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