Able employees have united in support for customer service rep Claudia Taflinger, who is battling Stage 4 cancer. Photo from Claudia’s Fight!
An Able Aerospace employee with Stage 4 cancer is proving to be an inspiration to her colleagues, who have come together to support her in “the fight of her life.”
Claudia Lisa Taflinger has been with Mesa, Ariz.-based Able for five years, and is the customer service representative for many of Able’s Tier One customers. Soon after joining the company as a customer service rep, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and transferred to a production role to allow her more time to focus on treatment. She continued working through chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, eventually moving back into customer service.
Sadly, after three years in remission, Taflinger learned that her cancer had metastasized, spreading to her liver, lungs, kidneys, spine, and bones. Her Stage 4 cancer is inoperable, and, while Taflinger continues to undergo chemotherapy, her prognosis is grim.
Taflinger has four children: Gavin, age 6; Julian, 7; Priscilla, 12; and Analisa, 14. According to her friend Karah Henderson, when Taflinger learned she might have as little as six to 12 months left to live, her first priority was to create lasting memories with her family.
Taflinger with her children. Creating lasting memories with them has been one of her priorities. Photo courtesy of Karah Henderson
She also made a “bucket list” of experiences she wanted to have, including going for her first helicopter ride. Thanks to her Able Aerospace family, Taflinger was able to cross that item off her list within three days of her Stage 4 diagnosis in late May.
Able had just opened its new completion center, and had maintenance test flights to perform on a customer aircraft. So, the company arranged for Taflinger to ride along as part of the crew and record flight data. Her children and family were there to see Taflinger’s excitement at finally experiencing the thrill of vertical flight.
Taflinger on her first helicopter flight. Photo courtesy of Karah Henderson
Henderson described Taflinger as “an amazing person inside and out” and “a true inspiration to Able’s 400 employees [as] an example of the core values Able prides itself on.” Many of Able’s employees have demonstrated their support for Taflinger by taking part in a “Wear Pink for Claudia” campaign.
Taflinger’s coworkers are also among the contributors to the Claudia’s Fight! group on Facebook. Besides a place to share health updates and fundraising information, the Facebook group is a way for Taflinger’s friends “to share stories, photos, and thoughts to tell and show Claudia how much she is loved and what she means to everyone in her life.”
