I am present today to voice my support of the proposed amendments to the RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT OF 1990. My husband’s name was Stanley Arthur Staheli, Stan and I were married June 29, 1957. We had four sons. Stan died of advanced Bladder Cancer in 1986. He was only 49 years old. One day he noticed blood in his urine and eight months later after painful bladder removal surgery, extensive chemotherapy and much suffering he was dead.

To quote from a letter our third son, Kole has written; “It was during an annual training period at Fort Blanding, Florida that my father was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer. Because of my membership and full time position with the Utah Army National Guard, I was with him at the time of his diagnosis. It was a very difficult time for both of us. We walked along the shores of a Florida river and he confided in me several personal feelings. He spoke of the fallout and debris that covered southern Utah during his teenage years.”

Stan spent his entire life in the St. George, Utah area. He spent his youth working on the family farm and in the fields where they raised many acres of vegetables. The vegetables were pulled, bunched, washed, packed in ice, loaded on trucks and shipped to the northern Utah markets. Stan spoke often, especially after he became ill, of how he would have to push fallout away from the top of the water in the cement ditch in order to splash clearer water on his face and head to get relief from the intense summer heat. He had no idea the debris on the vegetables and in the water was harmful. Stan said, “ As children in school, teachers kept us in from recess until the white fallout cloud passed. Then we could go to recess and play in the dust.” When he turned 16 and was allowed to drive, Stan often cleaned white ash-like debris from the car windows so he could see to drive to football practice. Residents were instructed to wash their cars, but no instruction was given regarding the importance of protecting themselves.

Stan worked outside every day, trying to make a living from the earth. After a full day’s work, for relaxation, he’d work some more. He’d drive through the field and check on the cows, drive a feed truck, hop on a tractor, regulate the water, pull a few weeds and then head home. Stan wanted an easier life for his four sons. He wanted an education for each of them. Stan was a beloved member of the community. He had a special love and concern for his small hometown--Washington, Utah and its residents. Stan’s life was one of service, continually performing small acts of kindness. Stan set an example and had a major influence on the lives of everyone with whom he associated.

Stan was admitted to the Veteran’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah on April 3, 1986, where his bladder was removed with the intent of creating a new experimental bladder by improvising with an intestine. After the bladder was removed, quality of life and dignity were gone, but there was still a twinkle in his eye and a crooked half grin. Just prior to his death, Stan was presented the “Meritorious Service Award” as a result of his outstanding service to his national guard unit, his community and his country. His efforts enabled St. George, Utah to grow to a two-Battery community. The new St. George Armory is named in his honor. At the time of his death, Stan looked like he had been in a concentration camp. On October 31, 1986 Stan announced that his final gift to me would be “To live through my birthday,” which is November 1. The red roses for a blue lady were delivered. True to his word, Stan was taken from us November 2, a beautiful, sad Sunday morning. We had been married twenty-eight years, four months and two days.

At age 46, I became the family breadwinner. At one point my only alternative was to sell the only piece of property we owned. We were extremely disappointed when the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act was passed in 1990 and Bladder Cancer was NOT on the list. Today I continue to struggle financially. To quote from a letter our second son, Kory has written, “ My family’s lives changed forever when my father died, and for the most part we have never fully recovered. Monetary compensation cannot even begin to replace the void caused by my father’s death. But in my opinion, it is the least the government can do for what they did to my dad, to my family and to the people of southern Utah.” To quote from a letter our fourth son, Kress has written, “My dad’s fight with Bladder Cancer and eventual death was a very difficult time for my family and myself. I was only eleven years old. I am convinced that nuclear fallout was the reason that my father, a man that didn’t drink, smoke or do anything harmful to his body, got cancer. He was in top physical condition. I believe that the U.S. Government should have been more responsible in carrying out those tests. I love this country and the freedom and liberty that it provides. My father loved it as well, that is why he worked so hard and gave so much to it. I know he would be pleased to see it give his family something back. I also am proud to be a member of the Utah Army National Guard.” Our eldest son, Kip remembered and recorded the following, “In death my father set the ultimate example for me in courage. Never did he spend a full day in bed. I don’t remember a day when he didn’t get up and put his boots on.” Kip, our oldest son died in 1992 at age 35, following multiple surgeries and being kept alive on life support machines for six months. Kip was never really healthy and Stan agonized over how I would deal with his health problems after he died.

Our 13 grandchildren also suffer from his absence. They are unable to enjoy many of the simple pleasures that their grandfather would have brought into their lives; a ride in the truck to feed the cows on the farm, an ice cream cone on the way home, or his gentle smile and encouragement during school, church, athletic events and talent performances.

As a family, we strongly believe that Stan’s death was a direct result of the testing conducted at the Nevada Test Site during the 1950's and early 1960's. Hopefully, you can relate to our various situations and understand the feelings of the residents of southern Utah. We feel that the lives of the citizens of southern Utah were of low value, and that our contribution to our families, home and country have not been adequately appreciated nor compensated.

YES, I am here to support compensation for Bladder Cancer, and YES, I am here to support compensation for all types of cancer that are included in the proposal that have not been considered for compensation in the past. I represent the residents of southern Utah whose lives and whose families have been affected by the nuclear tests that took place just across the border in Nevada that caused the southern Utah ground and water to covered with white radio active debris.

Through my OWN experience I have found that, “change is inevitable. If you can’t control change--change will control you.” I feel that this is a change that could have been controlled by our United States Government. Please continue working towards this worthy legislation and thank you for your efforts.

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