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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
Congressman Jefferson Van Drew of New Jersey is working toward building a bipartisan coalition for our USA Thalidomide Survivors Group Bill; a contact made thanks to the connections and advocacy of Thalidomide Survivor Katherine Falcone. His staff, led by Senior Legislative Assistant, Noah Garber, has already begun to write the bill!
The photo below was taken during our historic first meeting with the Congressman’s office, September 12, 2024.
#thalidomidesurvivors #thalidomide #usathalidomide #usathalidomidesurvivors
WONDER DRUG
by: Jennifer Vanderbes
THE SECRET HISTORY OF THALIDOMIDE IN AMERICA AND ITS HIDDEN VICTIMS
Detailing the previously unreported suspicions raised by the original FDA investigation.
How Many Thalidomide babies Were born in the US?
Every source from 1962 through 2019 has quoted an incorrect number of “thalidomide babies” born in the United States.
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- The official FDA count released in the 1960s was seventeen thalidomide babies born in the United States.
- Nine of them were born to mothers who took samples made by American drug companies.
- Eight other mothers said they obtained the drug in other countries.
- FDA records investigated by journalist Jennifer Vanderbes suggest that dozens of babies were never identified or officially counted.
- The official FDA count released in the 1960s was seventeen thalidomide babies born in the United States.
There were many more…
WATCH OUR DOCUMENTARY
Thalidomide in the USA: Seeking a Life of Dignity and Independence
A few of approximately 150 self-identified survivors we have located since 2016
Bonnie: born in Illinois in 1962
JoJo: born in New York in 1962
Jean: born in Ohio in 1962
Laura: born in California, 1958
Darren: born in Missouri in 1962
Steve: born in New Jersey, 1962
Gwen: born in Ohio in 1962
Burt: born in Wisconsin in 1957
Kim: born in Pennsylvania in 1959
Jan: born in Oklahoma in 1962
Tawana: born in North Carolina in 1963
Gianna: born on a US Military Base in 1962
John: born in Mississippi in 1959
Terrie: born in 1964
Bobbie:
Leslie: born in Maryland, 1959
Marta: born in New York in 1961
Randall: born on a US military base, Madrid, Spain, 1958
Robin: born in Oregon, 1965
Julie: born in California in 1957
LATEST NEWS
Client who sued Hagens Berman over failed Thalidomide case settles
From the PENNSYLVANIA RECORD, Thursday, September 24, 2020 PHILADELPHIA – With the case set to press on after a harsh ruling from the judge hearing it, the law firm Hagens Berman has reached a settlement with a disgruntled former client. On Sept. 17, Carolyn Sampson...
USTS to welcome Professor Vargesson as first in our Online Speaker Series
It's time to register for the 1st session of the US Thalidomide Survivors 2020-21 Online Speaker Series! For this 1.5 hour session on 9/19/2020 8:00 AM PDT/11:00 AM EDT/4:00 PM Aberdeen, Scotland Time, we welcome Professor Neil Vargesson. Prof. Vargesson is currently...
From Our Blog
Finally! A recap of the US Thalidomide Survivors’ 4th “Annual” Conference
Back row: Paul and LorXena Koneczny, Laura Kendall. Front row: Gwen Riechmann and the star of our show, Aragon, on his first big service dog trip. He not only looked mahvelous – he did great! We were missing an important member of our team, Lori Kay. She couldn’t be...
Book Review: WONDER DRUG
This book for me has been 61 years in the making. I am a character in the book — honestly, I really am. And so are a lot of my friends from U.S. Thalidomide Survivors, a nonprofit formed only a few years ago in 2018. This book is us. This book literally helped us find...