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Thalidomide? What's all the fuss? [Inspirational story]
Daily Mail UK ^ | July 8, 2008 | Tricia Welch

Posted on 07/08/2008 5:36:55 PM PDT by Alouette

It's 50 years since Thalidomide was first prescribed to pregnant women suffering from morning sickness. It was then found that the drug caused serious birth defects: 500 babies suffered varying degrees of disability as a result.

Here, three generations of women tell their story. June Hornsby, 71, has six children with her husband Len, 76. Their daughter Mandy was born in 1962 with no arms.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: thalidomide

1 posted on 07/08/2008 5:36:55 PM PDT by Alouette
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To: Alouette

In the 60’s my cousin had a beautiful baby girl and she only had a few fingers on the left shoulder area, her other arm and both legs etc. were just fine. She adjusted quite well, she was fitted with an artifical arm which she also prefers not to use. One day I noticed her showing my son her little fingers, he said “She has iddy-biddy fingers, mom” and that was the extent of his curiosity. She married, had two children and is now a grandmother. Amazing.


2 posted on 07/08/2008 5:53:29 PM PDT by GrannyK
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To: Alouette

inspirational. the part about making a 6 year old pull up her own pants without arms is heartwrenching.

in college a buddy and I got paired up on a golf course with a Thalidomide adult. The guy had what I would call a flipper (not meant to be mean) on one side at his shoulder, and a normal arm on the other side. He had long clubs and would hold the top of the club with the flipper, and use the other arm to swing while rotating his body perfectly.

The guy beat the crap out of us on the course. I think he shot just over par.


3 posted on 07/08/2008 6:18:49 PM PDT by laxcoach
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To: Alouette
What a fantastic story = she even could braid her daughters hair!

I have friends whose doctor told them that the sonogram showed their baby had no brain and urged strongly for abortion.

They refused. Their daughter graduated college last year, High Honors.

My last 3 sons were all born in that short span of 1957 to 1961 - Thank God, I refused medication for morning sickness, using soda crackers and ginger instead.

these medical horrors continue. Will Gardasil be this decades Thalidomide?

Given to very young girls as a cervical cancer preventive - there are now alarming reports.

http://www.dogflu.ca/07082008/12/gardasil_vaccine_maybe_cause_of_teen_paralysis

Now they are also planning to screen children as young as 2 for cholesterol - because of the increase in childhood obesity...and discussing giving young children statins. STATINS!

Cervical Cancer is caused by a virus. I read a report once that posited that there seems to be a link with young girls, still developing, and having multiple sexual partners.

Might educating them on this and all the other risks of such sexual activity - which gardasil doesn't protect against anyway = be the better route?

And childhood obesity: what about prevention instead of medication with all the side affects, liver damage, for one = not to mention it's affects on children being unknown?

What about warnings/education on the dangers of High Fructose Corn Syrup now used as a universal sweetener in sodas, candies, jams, gum, just ab out anything that used to have sugar?
What about the trend for far less phys ed in schools, for lack of all round exercise in fresh air and sunshine???

Which is considered paramount? the health of our children or another whole layer of people (children) to be medicated: Millions for the drug companies and the doctors...

am I cynical? You bet.

4 posted on 07/08/2008 6:23:37 PM PDT by maine-iac7 (No trees were killed in sending this message but a large number of electrons were terrible agitated)
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