tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post3537985569439907334..comments2024-03-19T00:50:06.099-04:00Comments on Janie Junebug Righting & Editing: THALIDOMIDE BABIES: A SAD FOCUS ON CALL THE MIDWIFEJanie Junebughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10573607241326291404noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-449118107107927982021-01-23T01:05:44.395-05:002021-01-23T01:05:44.395-05:00I was born in 1968 in Asia, a later time than the ...I was born in 1968 in Asia, a later time than the height of its usage, but remember very dimly a boy in my neighborhood who had flipper arms (we moved away when I was 5). I asked my mother about my recollection recently and she confirmed the memory. I read about Thalidomide in the New Yorker years ago and it triggered this memory. That drug is a real lesson in waiting for thorough testing. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-2147316380816335672020-08-24T04:01:33.151-04:002020-08-24T04:01:33.151-04:00Thank you for the thoughtful post and to those wit...Thank you for the thoughtful post and to those with their kind hearted comments. It hard to imagine what people went through but I like to hear how many simply overcame whatever obstetrical and carried on to have a happy successful life - those instances remind me people are merely different and mostly highly capable if given the right opportunitiesDenverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03252046111885430177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-25197468613288089502020-08-24T03:53:12.589-04:002020-08-24T03:53:12.589-04:00It's a little misleading to say this drug has ...It's a little misleading to say this drug has a Nazi history as it was developed in 1953 long after world war II - so it was not part of the Nazi era. However it was developed in post war Germany and some of the principal German researchers had survived the Nazi era or even had a role to play in Nazi government and were later deemed war criminals - but that is the history of the developers. The drug itself was not a tool of Nazi era Germany.Denverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03252046111885430177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-50657032688294344872019-08-29T08:09:09.616-04:002019-08-29T08:09:09.616-04:00This is just a mean ugly statement. Many women s...This is just a mean ugly statement. Many women suffer terrible nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. I was one of them - it gave me great sympathy for people I knew undergoing chemotherapy and felt as terrible as I did. I kept a wastebasket by my desk at work to vomit in. It was awful - but as in previous times there are no options but to simply try to survive the horrible nausea and vomiting. Studies show that women who vomit in pregnancy are LESS likely to miscarry - so they survive the misery AND have healthy babies. I would say that these HERO women are the strongest!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09713582275147499982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-84572903271988557672018-09-07T23:52:21.714-04:002018-09-07T23:52:21.714-04:00I also remember a boy in my grade school class (I ...I also remember a boy in my grade school class (I was born in 1960) who had a deformed “flipper” arm. Watching Call the Midwife brought back this memory of him. I also remember that no one made fun of him and he was fully integrated into the class. I moved away before high school so I don’t know what his life was like later on. <br />Now as a parent I can only imagine the guilt that these poor young moms must have felt when their babies’ deformities were traced back to a morning sickness drug. So sad!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06290070875314066965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-30346184796563607322018-07-05T19:02:11.789-04:002018-07-05T19:02:11.789-04:00Crystal, most often it is not the intervention tha...Crystal, most often it is not the intervention that causes the weakness, but whatever causes the need for intervention. I'd also like to point out that ones who make it without intervention, where intervention may be needed, are often the strongest because the 'weaker' ones most likely don't survive.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-29291636548678765992017-04-25T08:11:56.777-04:002017-04-25T08:11:56.777-04:00Unfortunately, it was a bigger tragedy in the US t...Unfortunately, it was a bigger tragedy in the US than people know. Though not as large a number as in Europe, the number of victims in the US is quite a bit larger than publicized. Military hospitals gave the drug to the families of Vets, then hushed it up. My father became a thelidomide baby this way, as did several hundred others- who were not part of the "drug trials". The victims simply weren't acknowledged. Because of this, there is no compensation for those in the US who suffered from this crime. I get so angry when I read that there were less than 100 victims in the US and the sort.(in historical documents) I have personally met more. Thanks for posting this article.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-26221455106566246062017-01-07T16:37:50.988-05:002017-01-07T16:37:50.988-05:00In 1983, I was given an anti-morning sickness pres...In 1983, I was given an anti-morning sickness prescription. (the name escapes me) I suffered from debilitating nausea/vomiting. I took the drug for most of my pregnancy. At around 6mos gestation, my obstetrician notified me that the drug production was cancelled. However, it was available until the supply ran out. No info was given to me as to 'why' it was cancelled (pre-internet). The doctor wrote for enough medication to see me through to term. Due to the severe symptoms, I opted to continue the medication. My daughter was born perfect. It was only the following year that I became aware of the problems with the drug. It caused birth defects very similar to Thalidomide. I count myself among the lucky ones, in that my daughter was spared.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-84183832465823396212016-10-28T20:38:41.273-04:002016-10-28T20:38:41.273-04:00I remember when this story broke. It was horrifyin...I remember when this story broke. It was horrifying then, and it's still horrifying now. I was so freaked out by what happened to those babies, I refused to even take an aspirin when I was pregnant.Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-83680390438320495942016-10-28T12:10:54.685-04:002016-10-28T12:10:54.685-04:00Shocking and scary. It truly makes you wonder. I&#...Shocking and scary. It truly makes you wonder. I'm always leery when it comes to being given prescribed medicine. What are the side effects? Are there any LONG term side effects? Even after study, sometimes we never know. And then there are the medications you see in commercials where the side effects seem to outweigh the cause they are preventing.<br />Thanks for this information. It's always good to be a little more educated.<br />PS - So angry a doctor could be so rude as to call the poor children, monsters. Who's the real monster?Jeffrey Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06973104877310669196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-56674369849259362652016-10-27T18:14:17.610-04:002016-10-27T18:14:17.610-04:00The thalidomide survivor who contacted me did so b...The thalidomide survivor who contacted me did so because I had photos of adult survivors who are friends of hers. I used the photos because I found them without copyrights or attribution, but I'm grateful that she got in touch with me and asked me to take them down as I really had no right to use them. It would have been very unusual for you to be given thalidomide because the FDA allowed it in the U.S. for testing purposes only. It was not approved for general use in America. Most countries banned it by 1962 or 3.Janie Junebughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10573607241326291404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-91565905412771031772016-10-27T17:39:32.186-04:002016-10-27T17:39:32.186-04:00I graduated from hs in 1964. I had heard about thi...I graduated from hs in 1964. I had heard about this even while in hs. My first baby was born in 1968, and I was terrified to take any medicine, even antibiotics. I was sick from a week after the "episode" until the morning I gave birth. Thankfully, I was never exposed to this drug.<br /><br />These pictures have circulated for years. I think it is important people see the damage done. No one is judging the infants shown. Maybe the woman who wrote will see that these pictures might make more people cautious and distrustful and save other infants the same fate.<br />pparsimonyLindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14991571309786149363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-50115432227484040252016-10-27T14:58:37.856-04:002016-10-27T14:58:37.856-04:00As have I! Thanks for visiting my blog too! Foll...As have I! Thanks for visiting my blog too! Following you too!Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16681111721765764568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-12135212556423598852016-10-27T14:51:49.012-04:002016-10-27T14:51:49.012-04:00I knew what you meant because I can read your mind...I knew what you meant because I can read your mind.Janie Junebughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10573607241326291404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-4325669290077752382016-10-27T14:51:26.334-04:002016-10-27T14:51:26.334-04:00Yes, it came from Germany and has a Nazi history.Yes, it came from Germany and has a Nazi history.Janie Junebughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10573607241326291404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-52430829334511067602016-10-27T14:45:00.053-04:002016-10-27T14:45:00.053-04:00I've learned so much from that show.I've learned so much from that show.Janie Junebughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10573607241326291404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-4768201730234825772016-10-27T14:41:46.880-04:002016-10-27T14:41:46.880-04:00What an interesting comment. It's difficult to...What an interesting comment. It's difficult to know everything that shapes personality. Nature v. nurture interests me.Janie Junebughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10573607241326291404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-1239734615154489382016-10-27T14:40:32.087-04:002016-10-27T14:40:32.087-04:00In some countries they continued selling the drug ...In some countries they continued selling the drug even after the companies knew about the devastating effects.Janie Junebughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10573607241326291404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-6725063590503926382016-10-27T08:55:30.957-04:002016-10-27T08:55:30.957-04:00I knew a man a few years back who's mom had ta...I knew a man a few years back who's mom had taken thalidomide. He had "t-rex" arms(what he called them)but he became one of the lucky ones affected by this tragedy. <br />This gentleman was a real go-getter and a successful business entrepreneur with a great personality. He ran multiple successful businesses, had a large giving heart and was a blessing to his community. After spending a few minutes with him you didn't even notice or give a second though to his arms. He once told me about the struggles he faced growing up and how his mother was told to just put him "away" and forget and go on with her life(have more children). But luckily for him, his mother was more enlightened for that era than the medical and social professionals.<br />I use to wonder if he had been born "normal" and hadn't had this adversity in his life, if he would have been as successful and such a generous and loving person? <br />slugmamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12728856166374248591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-46635322428473599022016-10-26T22:44:41.585-04:002016-10-26T22:44:41.585-04:00I meant cautious...I meant cautious...Birgithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09439720285857050428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-41899583016528106032016-10-26T22:44:24.332-04:002016-10-26T22:44:24.332-04:00I have seen documentaries about this and my mom to...I have seen documentaries about this and my mom told me about this because, when she was pregnant with my brother, she was offered this and my mom said no. Thank god because my brother was born in1961. This drug came from Germany from what I can remember and Canada took to it big time. Thankfully the states were more curious.Birgithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09439720285857050428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-44556843074332967812016-10-26T22:19:44.823-04:002016-10-26T22:19:44.823-04:00I've heard of this drug! It is horrible. Even ...I've heard of this drug! It is horrible. Even Billy Joel mentioned it in his song "We didn't start the fire." There's a line in the tune "Children of Thalidomide". I read up about it and was horrified at the effects.Marthahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09262406079948479112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-3232433442294143092016-10-26T19:20:24.663-04:002016-10-26T19:20:24.663-04:00That's frightening, Jo-Anne. I was so sick whe...That's frightening, Jo-Anne. I was so sick when I was pregnant that if a doctor had prescribed something that would help me and I had no reason to fear it, I would have taken it.Janie Junebughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10573607241326291404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-25394591732167796782016-10-26T18:40:27.473-04:002016-10-26T18:40:27.473-04:00I love "Call the Midwives"! The episode...I love "Call the Midwives"! The episodes dealing with thalidamide babies were heartbreaking. Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16681111721765764568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501852053743373610.post-84604758571553566662016-10-26T18:23:32.826-04:002016-10-26T18:23:32.826-04:00Absolutely.Absolutely.Janie Junebughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10573607241326291404noreply@blogger.com