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Camp LeJeune Toxic Water Health Update 2013

On May 8, 2013 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Camp LeJeune, NC – Marine Toxic Water Update 2013

On March 15, 2013 the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) released its “Chapter A: Summary and Findings” water modeling report for the Hadnot Point and Holcomb Boulevard Water Treatment Plants and Vicinities for Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/hadnotpoint.html). Enclosed you will find a copy of the ATSDR fact sheet about this report and other information from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Camp LeJeune, NC – Marine Water Update

Hadnot Point-Holcomb Boulevard Reports http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/hadnotpoint.html

During 2007–2009, ATSDR published historical reconstruction results for Tarawa Terrace and vicinity. Results for Hadnot Point, Holcomb Boulevard, and vicinity—based on information gathering, data interpretations, and water-modeling analyses—are now presented as another series of ATSDR reports supporting current health studies.

Supplements

Supplement 1: Descriptions and Characterizations of Data Pertinent to Water-Supply Well Capacities, Histories, and Operations [PDF, 2.06 MB]
Supplement 2: Development and Application of a Methodology to Characterize Present-Day and Historical Water-Supply Well Operations [PDF, 20.13 MB]
Supplement 3: Descriptions and Characterizations of Water-Level Data and Groundwater Flow for the Brewster Boulevard and Castle Hayne Aquifer Systems and the Tarawa Terrace Aquifer [PDF, 4.85 MB]
Supplement 4: Simulation of Three-Dimensional Groundwater Flow [PDF, 9.31 MB]
Supplement 5: Theory, Development, and Application of Linear Control Model Methodology to Reconstruct Historical Contaminant Concentrations at Selected Water-Supply Wells [PDF, 5.39 MB]
Supplement 6: Source Characterization and Simulation of Fate and Transport of Selected Volatile Organic Compounds in the Vicinities of the Hadnot Point Industrial Area and Landfill
Supplement 7: Source Characterization and Simulation of the Migration of Light Nonaqueous Phase Liquids (LNAPLs) in the Vicinity of the Hadnot Point Industrial Area [PDF, 4.01 MB]
Supplement 8: Field Tests, Data Analyses, and Simulation of the Distribution of Drinking Water with Emphasis on Intermittent Transfers of Drinking Water Between the Hadnot Point and Holcomb Boulevard Water-Distribution System.
READ MORE: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/lejeune/hadnotpoint.html#Chapter_A

GMO Toxicology – Long term toxicity of Roundup herbicide

On May 3, 2013 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

The health effects of a Roundup -tolerant genetically modiﬁed maize (from 11% in the diet), cultivatedwith or without Roundup, and Roundup alone (from 0.1ppb in water), were studied 2years in rats. Infemales, all treated groups died 2–3 times more than controls, and more rapidly. This difference was vis-ible in 3 male groups fed GMOs. All results were hormone and sex dependent, and the pathological pro-ﬁles were comparable. Females developed large mammary tumors almost always more often than andbefore controls, the pituitary was the second most disabled organ; the sex hormonal balance was mod-iﬁed by GMO and Roundup treatments. In treated males, liver congestions and necrosis were 2.5–5.5times higher. This pathology was conﬁrmed by optic and transmission electron microscopy. Markedandseverekidneynephropathieswerealsogenerally1.3–2.3greater.Malespresented4timesmorelargepalpable tumors than controls which occurred up to 600days earlier. Biochemistry data conﬁrmed verysigniﬁcant kidney chronic deﬁciencies; for all treatments and both sexes, 76% of the altered parameterswere kidney related. These results can be explained by the non linear endocrine-disrupting effects of Roundup, but also by the overexpression of the transgene in the GMO and its metabolic consequences.

GMO Toxicology

Agent Orange Infertility – For the hearts that Ache; but may still find joy

On May 1, 2013 By Q.A.S

Agent Orange & Infertility – Issues all too common for children of Vietnam Veterans

Today my words are meant to help uplift, empower and heal you. I know the feelings written here personally and it has hurt me in the past. I would like to give you some helpful ideas on how you can help children. How you can have them be a part of your life. How you can help them to fulfill their dreams, goals and lives even if you cannot have your own.

Recently I lost another child and finally put into motion a means that I would not concieve again to avoid the pain. I wanted to have my husbands child so badly that I could almost see him already. I felt that he was almost here and I could reach out and touch him and change my life. It was a boy I know that and it tore me open. I cried for weeks about this and I just want you to know that I truly understand how hard it is. This was not my first loss of a child but this one hurt the most.

I have had my share of trouble conceiving a child and then when I could was not able to carry to term. I made some changes in my lifestyle without the intention of having a baby at that time. I got rid of all the chemicals and animal products and voila ..side effect I was pregnant. I was so excited and happy. Then I found out the truth about what was happening and in the end I kissed my child goodbye and told him through tears that I was so sorry that I couldn’t be the mother that he had chosen.

I dealt with that pain and came out the other end knowing that I am here for another reason. That as much as my whole life i heard things like *Oh my god you will make such a good mom* to *You are so maternal* Why can’t I help children or adopt them and give them a better life? Why can’t I be their teacher and inspiration? Why can’t I help other people who feel like i do? I thought about it for months and came to the conclusion that I could do all and any of these things that I wanted to. The only limitation in place is what you believe there is. You can accomplish so much more than you may even realize.

I think that it is very important to remember that you may not be able to have your own child. But there are millions upon millions that could benefit from the love you hold in your heart for the ones you cannot have. They are just there waiting for you to find them, to lift them up and out of their desperate circumstances. To show them a better world and a kinder heart than they may have seen. So long as your choice is kindness and love towards a lonely or hurt child it is a good one.

These links will be a road that you may choose to go down. Remember while you do that just as you may feel alone and without joy and love, there are many children that feel the same exact way that you do. You hold this amazing gift in your hands and it is called free will. You can choose to gift and uplift and show these young people that they may suffer and that life is difficult but it is also filled with surprising kindnesses and gentle loving people.

http://kids-alliance.org/

http://www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.5301295/k.BE9A/Home.htm

http://www.shiningstarsfoundation.org/how-to-help-1/volunteer/

http://www.ymca.net/volunteer

I try to think what the reasons could be as to why people cannot have children. There are so many it would take a very long time to cover even half of the reasons. But I think that while it is a heartbreaking thing to have to realize there is a reason I believe. We are here to help others. We are here to look at and find children that need us and just help them in any way we can. Mourn your losses and move on it is the best thing you can do for yourself. It may sound harsh but that is the truth. You are here for another potential purpose. Perhaps you are meant to be Father or Mother to the children of the world. Perhaps you were given a gift instead. One that could make a huge difference in the world. Have you considered that?

We are all here just floating around and sometimes we see something. We stop and look at it and examine it closely because it speaks to us. Loving other human being that may not be your blood is one of those things that passes by us. We should stop and examine it and see what we can do to help others and in doing so heal ourselves.

http://www.freearts.org/volunteers

http://www.pageahead.org/volunteer.php

I have been amazed at how many things we can do to help children. We could just type in volunteer to help children and find out for yourselves what is out there. What we can do to make a difference in the lives of so many children that lack hope. Because they have been hurt so badly that they find trusting someone difficult. But if this is what you want to do then there is nothing stopping you from helping someone else. Imagine the power that you possess! You could change the life of another human being for the better!

http://www.freethechildren.com/get-involved/

You could volunteer at your local school. See if they need any help and do what you can. If you have medical problems and I know that many of you do then tell them your limitations. Many would be happy to have the help from anyone. If they cannot work with you then keep trying and see what you might be able to start in your community. There is always some way to help others.

http://www.americaspromise.org/Act/Volunteer.aspx

http://www.abetterchance.org/abetterchance.aspx?pgID=963

http://www.mentoring.org/get_involved/become_a_mentor/volunteer_referral_service

http://www.bbbs.org/site/c.9iILI3NGKhK6F/b.5962345/k.E123/Volunteer_to_start_something.htm

I am including as many things that I can find that you could go out and do for yourself. Helping others can help to heal your own suffering. That is a proven fact in this world. If you reach out and help another human being you heal a hurt inside of you. These children that you help will not forget you or the things that you do to try and help them. I know you are hurting inside and I understand and this is a way to heal what is ailing you and your heart. Couples can benefit from this as well. Reach out and take a chance!

Quiescent Aureate Serpent

BECOME AN EMAIL MEMBER OF CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS HEALTH ALLIANCE

YOU WILL RECEIVE A ONCE DAILY EMAIL OF ANY BREAKING AGENT ORANGE NEWS AND RELATED TOPICS IN ADDITION TO ANY COVVHA UPDATES

PLEASE ENTER YOUR EMAIL IN THE BOX BELOW, A CONFIRMATION LINK WILL BE SENT TO YOUR EMAIL. YOU MUST OPEN THE EMAIL AND CLICK THE CONFIRMATION LINK TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS.

GMO LEGISLATION Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act Endorsed By COVVHA

On April 25, 2013 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act

Take Action and make your voice heard now!!!!!!

All Legislation Endorsed and/or Opposed Has Been Approved and Reviewed by Kelly L. Derricks

It has never been easier to write your State Representative and share your position on current legislation. C.O.V.V.H.A. has been making it even easier for members, fans and followers!! The days of getting your pens and papers out to send your letters are over!!!

An “action page” link has been set up for the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act H.R.1699 & S.809 which takes you directly to the specific legislation as well as an area for your Name, Zip Code, and YOUR VOTE. That’s it!!! You hit enter and your information is sent directly to your State Representative in letter form which you will receive a copy of via email.

Your VOICE does count, PLEASE, use it!!!

Kelly L. Derricks (T.T.)

CLICK TO CAST YOUR HOUSE VOTE ON POPVOX NOW

CLICK TO CAST YOUR SENATE VOTE ON POPVOX NOW

I personally casted both of my votes and included the following statement to the United States House and Senate: I support H.R. 1699 (“To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require that genetically engineered food”) because… GMO foods are engineered with health threatening compounds and chemicals and then sprayed with half of the chemical compound used in the production of AGENT ORANGE. The U.S. Gov’t killed my Father at the age of 37 after serving in the Vietnam War. Agent Orange/DIOXIN was passed through his sperm mutating my DNA. I have to fight for my life every single day with more than 30 diagnosed illnesses at the age of 38 and so do tens of thousands of other Children of Vietnam Veterans who were exposed. Now the gov’t doesn’t care that we are being DOUBLE EXPOSED. That’s Capital Murder if you ask me. You’ll see me standing in a court room bringing charges of Murder against the United States Govt before you see me standing down on GMO.

Truth Teller
www.covvha.net

AGENT ORANGE DARK MATTERS TWISTED BUT TRUE

AGENT ORANGE – The Accidental Inventor – VIDEO

On April 19, 2013 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Dark Matters Season 3 Episode 1, Agent Orange – The Accidental Inventor
Synopsis: A chemical that speeds up the flowering process in soybeans turns into a weapon during Vietnam.
Original air date: November 22, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw8OS925lUY

Dark Matters: Twisted But True is a television series featured on the Science Channel. Hosted by actor John Noble of Fringe and Lord of the Rings, the show takes the viewer inside the laboratory to profile strange science and expose some of history’s most bizarre experiments. This show uses narration and reenactments to portray the stories in this show

Agent Orange Testimony To Institute of Medicine January 2013 – COVVHA VIDEO

On January 29, 2013 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS AGENT ORANGE TESTIMONY TO IOM WWW.COVVHA.NET

Good Afternoon, My name is Tanya Renee Mack. I am here representing (COVVHA) Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance INC. I am 39 years old and am a 2nd generation Agent Orange Survivor. My father, SSGT. James Sciaccotti was a Combat Controller in the United States Air Force and was part of the Special Operations Squadron, 101st Airborne Unit in the A shau Valley from 1966 –1968.

The age range of children of Vietnam Veterans is roughly between the ages of 20-45. Many of us have Fathers with service connected Agent Orange Claims recognized by the Veterans Administration. Most of us have Dads who are dead or dying of Agent Orange presumptive illnesses that have been recognized by the VA. Our lives and the lives of our kids are the result of a giant science experiment between the United States Government and the chemical companies gone awry. New information known about human exposure to dioxin and trans-generational exposures, reinforces our belief of a strong plausibility of an epigenetic link to our illnesses and our Father’s or Mother’s service connection to the Vietnam War. We have been treated as collateral damage. The science is now quickly catching up with what we have known all along, we’ve been damaged by a war we did not fight.

COVVHA completes an informal survey when a new member joins our private support community. Through our 500 members (only COVVs) we have consistently been faced with like illnesses, and deformities. We want to bring this information to you, the IOM, urging this committee to finally investigate fully what has been done to us and our children. From our informal research we believe the children and grandchildren of Vietnam Veterans have a much higher instance of several types of disease. (In our submitted documents you will see the categories of illnesses and the number of times the illness has been reported). Represented in our membership also, are several suffering from the illnesses on the Veterans Presumptive lists, please keep in mind this is a group of people between ages 20-45. Diabetes Type II, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Ischemic Heart Disease, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Peripheral Neuropathy, Acute and Sub-acute Respiratory Cancers, Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Parkinson’s Disease.

Our membership of 500 COVVs have reported as many as 93 different congenital anomalies. Fourteen of them listed on the testimony we have submitted are some of same birth defects that are currently covered for the children of Women Vietnam Veterans. Considering there were 6-8 thousand women Vietnam Veterans and Approximately 2.8 million men who served, COVVHA believes this Study was used to keep the children of male Vietnam Veterans from making claims even though early studies showed dioxin caused birth defects in the children of Male Vietnam Veterans. Our fathers were told they were overreacting; there was no scientific link to their children being born with birth defects, rare illnesses and cancers. Air Force study of Ranch Hand personnel responsible for herbicide spraying reported statistically significant increase in reported birth defects in the Ranch Hand group (Albanese, 1988). Defects included: Skin defects, Neural tube defects, Heart defects, Oral clefts, and Kidney defects. Erickson, et al (1984) reported that risks for fathering an infant with spina bifida, cleft lip, and certain neoplasms” were higher for Vietnam veterans than controls. Increased evidence of birth defects were also reported in a population of Vietnam veterans living in Tasmania (Field and Kerr, 1988)., These were ignored, as were many other studies on the effects of dioxin on offspring from other countries, like in Vietnam where reports of birth defects, miscarriage and deformities were rampant.

In September of 2012, Washington State University released an epigenetic study looking at exposures of female mice to dioxin and the trans-generational effects dioxin had on the children and grandchildren of the mice. The Study showed there was a negative trans-generational effect. We need more of this type of research, Skinner, et al (2012). That study was funded partially by the Department of Defense. Why can’t they replicate the same study, but just expose male mice?

COVVHA would like to offer the following recommendations (See our submitted testimony for more):

A. The eighteen plus birth defects for children of female Vietnam Veterans should be approved for children of male Vietnam Veterans: This act alone would help some of the most disabled, and those in most desperate need of services, in the COVV community.

B. Free DNA and Epigenetic testing for the biological Children of Vietnam Veterans : (Our Data shows that biological children of Vietnam Veterans who have been required by their Doctors to have DNA Testing have proven to show genetic mutations. See submitted documents).

C. An official agent Orange Registry for Children of Vietnam Veterans (COVVHA proposes that an official Agent Orange registry be made available to the biological children of Vietnam Veterans.) COVVHA has submitted the types and numbers of each of the roughly 694 illness we have had reported over the past year.

We are willing to cooperate with the IOM in any way possible.

The following is a glimpse of how my Father’s exposure to Agent Orange has affected my life. I am 39 years old and am a 2nd generation Agent Orange Survivor. I was born with severe hip dysplasia and started having hip reconstruction surgery at just 4 months old. I learned to walk in a full body cast after my second reconstruction at 13 months old. After 15 hip reconstruction surgeries, at age 17, I had my first total hip replacement surgery. 22 years later, I’ve had 4 total hip replacements. Currently, I’m scheduled to have it replaced for the 5th time. At 32 years old I started to develop multiple basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. They were very aggressive and according to the pathology reports, were a different mutation than normal. I was sent to UCLA to have genetic testing. There, I was diagnosed with Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome (also known as Gorlin Syndrome) with a Mutation in my PTCH1 gene. A mutation in this gene is only caused one of two ways. It is either inherited from a parent or a new mutation occurs due to chemical or biological environmental exposures. Only 20% of all cases reported are new mutations. Both of my parents were tested, and neither one had the mutation which means that I am in the 20% of new mutations.

By the time I was 34 I had a total hysterectomy due to Squamous Cell Carcinoma in my Uterus and on my Ovaries. At 35 years old, I was diagnosed with Lupus and Raynaud’s Disease, again no family history. I was also informed the severe back pain that I was having was a curve in my spine. In 2010, I was diagnosed with Melanoma. I was fortunate that is was caught early and had not spread to my Lymph Nodes. It did however, spread far enough to have tissue and muscle removed, causing a golf ball size disfigurement in my shin. August, 2011, I was diagnosed with another rare form of Cancer called Bowen’s Disease. Now, my Oncologist was extremely worried because they almost never see this in someone as young as me. Bowen’s Disease is caused by extreme exposure to Arsenic and is considered Arsenic Poisoning. Since I have never worked or been exposed to herbicides or pesticides, I was told by my Oncologist that it was due to my Father’s exposure to Agent Orange. Over 50% of the Compound used in Agent Orange was Arsenic. In March 2012, my Oncologist found a large tumor on the neck of my gallbladder which required another surgery to have my entire gallbladder removed.

As of today, I have had 198 skin biopsies of which 181 were positive for Cancer. I am currently on a new Cancer drug in which I was involved in the Clinical Trial. This drug, however, will only slow down the progression of Basal Cells and still leaves me vulnerable for Squamous Cell and Melanoma. I’m in constant pain and my quality of life has decreased drastically over the last several years. My medical costs with insurance runs an average of $800-$1000 dollars a month. These costs consist of office visit copays ($45 per visit) and tier 6 drugs, these do not count toward my annual out of pocket maximum. Because of this, I struggle every month to make ends meet as my medical insurance and copayments/coinsurance have to be first priority. In March 2007, in an attempt to get help with my mounting medical costs, I applied to the Department of Veterans Affairs for benefits (38 U.S.C. 1815). I sent the V.A all of the required documents, and medical records. I felt confident I would get some help because after all, Hip Dysplasia is a covered birth defect. Four months later I received a letter from The Department of Veterans Affairs denying my claim (See Statement below).

“We denied entitlement to a monthly monetary allowance for your claimed birth defect(s) because the evidence
does not show that your biological Mother served in Vietnam to qualify for payment under 38 U.S.C. 1815. The
claimed disability is hip dysplasia which is considered a qualifying condition. However, regulation 38 C.F.R. 3.815
refers to benefits allowable for an individual with disability from covered birth defects whose biological mother is or was a Vietnam Veteran”

I remember thinking that my Father’s Service to his Country would end up killing me. In my opinion, this was blatant discrimination against men and their offspring. I became depressed and wanted to give up. I was undergoing systemic chemotherapy at the time of my denial letter, and did not know how I would be able to continue since I could not afford the coinsurance for each treatment. Without going into detail, I will say my family has had to give up a lot so I could stay alive. August 21, 2012, My father passed away from Lung and Colon Cancer. He was 64 years old. His Cancer had been attributed to his exposure to Agent Orange. At the time of his death, he was receiving benefits from the V.A. and was considered 100% disabled due to service connected Agent Orange Exposure…..But of course, according o the V.A., there was no possible way that his exposure could have any effect on me, Sad!

Please See Below COVVHA’s Full IOM Testimony Packet

Committee to Review the Health Effects in Vietnam Veterans of Exposure to Herbicides (Ninth Biennial Update… by
Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

BECOME A MEMBER OF CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS HEALTH ALLIANCE

YOU WILL RECEIVE A ONCE DAILY EMAIL OF ANY BREAKING AGENT ORANGE NEWS AND RELATED TOPICS IN ADDITION TO ANY COVVHA UPDATES

PLEASE ENTER YOUR EMAIL IN THE BOX BELOW, A CONFIRMATION LINK WILL BE SENT TO YOUR EMAIL. YOU MUST OPEN THE EMAIL AND CLICK THE CONFIRMATION LINK TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS.

I was told I was wrong to go to Viet Nam

On January 28, 2013 By James J. Alonzo

I Was Told I Was Wrong To Go To VietNam

My step father that raised me was a heavy handed parent back in the 1950′s & early 1960′s. In today’s times he would of been arrested for child abuse. He also was heavy handed with my mother but that ended when I was 16 years old. He never hit her again. However my mother loved him so in the interest of peace and harmony I did my best.

1978, Some years after i had been back from Viet Nam we did try and find ways to move closer in the last two years of my step-father’s life. He had been diagnosed with cancer, and it was Terminal. There were few things we had in common. However, One of them was boxing. We both loved the sport, so I would take him to the ‘fights’ when he asked.

He had never served in War, as I did in Vietnam. But we never really talked about my experiences until one day, when we were on our way to the boxing fights at the city auditorium; we stopped at a diner to have a snack.

All of a sudden the conversation became very serious, when out of the blue he said,

“You know you were wrong to go to Viet Nam!!”

“ What?“ I was shocked, “This is coming from the man that was “Joe Patriot” and used to tell me that it was an honor to serve my country?”

“You know,” He continued, “you’re not the Jimmy I knew before. The Jimmy I knew before died in Viet Nam!”

I first ignored his hypocrisy, but I couldn‘t forgive the cruelty of his statement. I told him something I had felt for a very long time but had never said it out loud.

“Fuck you! You’re an asshole! I can’t believe the media likes to say you’re from the “ greatest generation.”

He didn’t say anything, just looked at me in kind of a very strange way.

” You know yours was the last generation that grew up believing there was a man in the moon, so how great is that?” I said in anger.

His was the last generation that grew up in rural communities untouched by modern technology, unknowing of all that is going on in the world. I grew up in the information age, knowing everything, seeing everything, watching history unfold in front of my well-worn TV eyes.

His was the last generation that grew up having the full American dream intact; mine was the generation who saw the American dream tarnished by exposed lies, the high taxes, Assassinations, Watergate and other political, and business corruption.

Finally, and this was when it got very serious, I told him that his generation was a generation who was able to come home after fighting in a war not only knowing what you did was necessary but everyone around you knew it too.

My generation; part of us fought in a war we did not understand and when we came home, we were demonstrated against, spit on, yelled at, shunned, and left alone, by the other part of our generation. We were denigrated by being emulated in movies and other media programs as drunks, druggies, mentally unstable killers.

We had no justification, no heroes, no protection of the heart, and no treatment for the one wound no one could see. And his generation not only sent us to this war, they didn’t support us when we came back!

We were left on our own to figure it out by ourselves, and many of us, unable to deal with the reality of what we did and what we saw, did the logical thing to survive– the only thing we could do to survive– we buried it. We buried it in the deep place with in ourselves, inside where no one could see, no one could touch, and no one could hurt. Some buried it so deep they withdrew from the world around us and have never been able to reenter.

It was one of the most interesting and sad conversations I ever had with my step-father.

He argued with me on every point except the last– and when we got to that point, he looked at me and said, quietly, and simply,

“You’re right.” And there was a very long pause after he said that – neither one of us said anything, nor when we both had tears in our eyes. My stepfather tears, I knew of no explanation, maybe because his stepson had been hurt and there was nothing he could do about it.

Moreover, me, I had tears in my eyes because it was the first time I had admitted aloud to someone I too had been emotionally wounded in ‘Nam. I guess It caught us both off guard. It was one of the few times that I felt kind of close to my stepfather. I am sure it was because we had shared a deep and significantly personal moment. We never talked about that conversation again, but I remember that moment of sharing, with one whom I had never really shared anything with, my step-father.

*****

“Not everyone who lost his life in Viet Nam died there. Not everyone who came home from Viet Nam ever left there.”

Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

BECOME A MEMBER OF CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS HEALTH ALLIANCE

YOU WILL RECEIVE A ONCE DAILY EMAIL OF ANY BREAKING AGENT ORANGE NEWS AND RELATED TOPICS IN ADDITION TO ANY COVVHA UPDATES

PLEASE ENTER YOUR EMAIL IN THE BOX BELOW, A CONFIRMATION LINK WILL BE SENT TO YOUR EMAIL. YOU MUST OPEN THE EMAIL AND CLICK THE CONFIRMATION LINK TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS.

Living With Fibromyalgia, Solutions For Suffering

On January 28, 2013 By Q.A.S

Fibromyalgia where to begin.

Where do you begin when you are feeling ill and overwhelmed with pain? When each movement is like some sort of agony, when stress can end your day and you spiral into another bout of pain. Getting out of bed can be a struggle and most days you most likely wish that you could just crawl back into bed and stay there. Does any of this sound familiar to you? Have you been wondering why do I feel this way? Why me? What have I done to deserve this? We can beat ourselves up over this or we can try to understand it. We can choose to give up or we can decide to take charge of our life and diet. We can crawl back into bed and wish it was all over or we can take some control back and realize that life IS worth fighting for. We can listen when people tell us it is all in our head, we made it up etc.

We can let the world bring us down or we can research, listen, learn, try something different. We oftentimes repeat our patterns over and over and wonder why nothing changes. In order for change to exist we have to try a new choice and stick to it. Fibromyalgia can become more bearable and I am living proof of that. Do you find that your skin tingles? Do you get muscle spasms? Weakness in your limbs or nerve pain? Do your muscles twitch or do you begin to find that good sleep is becoming more and more rare? Are you finding it difficult to concentrate? Do you suddenly find that either you can remember things that happened long ago and short term memories are disabled? Or is it the other way around for you? Did you used to be able to multitask like a pro and now you sit there wondering what you can do. Spend time doing that and before you know it your day is coming to an end and you are so tired and you go to bed. Then while you toss and turn do you turn to pills? All of these questions are linked to Fibromyalgia. We all feel this at some time or another. Some of us get all of these symptoms, some only a few.

http://www.fmnetnews.com/fibro-basics/symptoms

So you have just been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and you are terrified and overwhelmed and full of questions. You looked into the eyes of your doctor and found little help there. It is frustrating and sometimes you will cry. You might come home and look up on Google this then you will read it. You might even read between the lines and realize that this is just a name for something that they do not really understand at all. That is when you got a little angry, when you realized that your doctors were practically clueless. That they wanted to throw pills at it and then hopefully you would leave them alone. For some a prescription for Lyrica works.You pray and hope and sit nervously in your chair. This is supposed to help you, you look at that bottle like a potential saviour. You might think that with this pill you just might be able to feel normal again, or at least to some degree. Right? Well the chances of it working are just like any other pill. It may or may not work.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibromyalgia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregabalin

One thing that you may have noticed having Fibromyalgia is that not only are you more sensitive physically. You may also find loud noises unbearable. Strong smells bother your olfactory sense as well. So on top of everything else your other senses may go into overload. Even spicy food is a bit too much for some people. Add in the extra strong senses into the situation and it can make most mundane tasks more difficult. It is a bit like being the most sensitive person in the world. You may wonder why you did not get your cape and outfit if you are going to have super anything. You might ask why you cannot at least fly along with super senses.

Treating Fibro can and should be more than just a pill. Pills treat symptoms but they do not cure. So this means that the root cause is somewhere either inside of you or around you. I am suggesting that you look at the inside of your home and inside of your body. Your home can be hiding many toxins that can only make you more miserable. This website goes on to speak about this. Chemicals are not going to help you at all. Whether it is a glass cleaner or a surface cleaner be very careful of chemicals. There is a way to make your own homemade cleaning items that work just like those cleaners bought from the store. The benefit of this is that you can eliminate not only chemicals that are having an effect on your Fibromyalgia symptoms, but also you are getting rid of chemicals that are harming your family too. People buy these items without thinking. Sometimes they do not even read the labels. You have to begin to read labels and take responsibility for what you are bringing into your environment. These take a toll on your health.

http://managingfibromyalgia.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/fibromyalgia-and-chemical-sensitivities.html

You may wonder how to make household cleaners or something that will clean your bathroom etc. You may also buy home fragrances, air fresheners, scent warmers or scented candles. The trouble with many of these is that they are chock full of synthetic scents etc. You should not be exposing yourself to things like this. This teaches you how to make your own. It is not hard at all once you get used to this. Not only that but doing this thoroughly around your home when you have the energy can really help you. If you cannot do it find someone that can and ask for help. Do not be ashamed to admit you need help. You are sick and you deserve understanding and compassion. Once you get this done then your home will not smell as bad. The vinegar does fade away leaving a clean surface. Plain candles can be substituted for those chemical nightmares.

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/cleaningtipsandrecipes/a/Homemade_Cleaners.htm

You also need to take a long look at what you are eating. This is no joke, this is your comfort and happiness here. You need to look at everything that you are eating and get rid of anything that is overly processed. You would be wise to seek out food in its most whole form. Instead of frozen potatoes or powdered ones buy the fresh ones. I know that Velveeta tastes good but it is nothing but chemicals and food colorings really. If you are going to eat cheese then make sure that you eat it sparingly and try to spend a little more and get real cheese. The same goes for sodas of all kinds. Sodas are not worth it. I know they taste good, but is it worth your health? Really consider this please. You may be saying but it tastes so good, or only a little bit can’t hurt me. A little bit can hurt you. Getting rid of processed foods and sodas is step one.

http://waterforlifeusa.com/blog/8-ways-soda-fizzles-your-health

Continuing on with diet, there have been studies done. There are clear links with a plant based diet and improving of symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Your author is on a plant based diet and has lost weight and symptoms have become better over time. Remembering how bad it was and where it is now, things are better. This is something worth looking at. There are many many places that tell you fish will help. I advise against consuming fish vehemently.There are studies coming out right now showing that mercury contamination is much higher than previously believed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_poisoning

http://www.greenandhealthy.info/fish.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11093597

Sleep is a very big issue with people suffering from Fibromyalgia. Sleep comes rarely and you wonder when it will come by and visit you. It becomes that thing that people talk about and you hear but seem to almost never experience. You toss and turn add pillows and finally you will sleep after tossing enough. When you wake up you may feel like you have been wrestling with sleep rather than sleeping next to it. This does not help you when all you want is sleep, some peace from the constant pain. This article goes over some of the problems found with patient suffering from this.

http://www.musculoskeletalnetwork.com/fibromyalgia/content/article/1145622/2110825

Now I will cover medical marijuana uses for people with this.It can be said that the author uses this for medical reasons and it has helped tremendously. Each person makes their own choices and finds their own path. Personally, this coupled with a plant based diet and complete elimination of household chemicals and processed foods have helped. Symptoms are much less than they were which of course does tend to cause worry. Because it makes you wonder how bad it would be if these measures had not been taken. It is not so much pain relief as a disassociation from your pain that it provides. It makes it feel slowly less and less until your pain becomes easier to deal with.This is what most people that suffer from Fibromyalgia usually lament. They will say “I wish I had one day without pain, that would be nice, Or that would be a gift” or they will simply lay in bed and cry wondering why they are suffering so much from something that even the doctors wonder about. These things do not inspire confidence or peace of mind.

http://www.medicalmarijuana.net/uses-and-treatments/fibromyalgia/

Herbal relief can also be something else that you can incorporate into your regimen. Now they do say that you should consult your doctor before you begin taking these supplements. Personally, I would make sure that my doctor knew and was open to the idea of herbal remedies. Many doctors seem to be against herbal remedies opting for the more standard western practices. So please be forewarned and forearmed. I am suggesting that you research it and try to find a homeopathic doctor in conjunction with your regular doctor. Just to make sure that you are not getting a biased opinion.

http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/conditionsetoh/a/Fibromyalgia.htm

http://www.myhomeremedies.com/topic.cgi?topicid=285

You can also try alternative therapies to find relief from your symptoms. There are many things that you can do that do not involve taking a pill, getting surgery of some kind, etc. Massage does help with the pain aspect of this. While massage is expensive for some it is possible to just do it yourself. You can give yourself a massage and relax somewhat if there is nobody to help you with this. You could also save up to buy a used massage table that you and your partner can use. You do not have to rely on a professional for the rest of your life. You can get books and begin to practice gently on your partner and eventually it can be something that you can share with your significant other. Acupressure and acupuncture can be very helpful as well. Read more about various other things that you can look into.

http://www.fibromyalgia-symptoms.org/self-massage-for-fibromyalgia.html

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/alternativetreatments/a/bodywork.htm

https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Acupuncture+for+Fibromyalgia+Syndrome

Remember, you can be your own worst enemy if you do not watch what you say and do carefully. Do not pay attention to others that show you no patience at all while you suffer. The following is an article on ten things that you should stop doing to yourself.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/copingwithfmscfs/a/10-Things-To-Stop-Doing-To-Yourself.htm

Ways of coping are very important tools. Sometimes perhaps write yourself small notes when you are feeling good. Then keep them stashed away somewhere for when you are feeling bad. When you are having a bad day read what you wrote and remember to smile even if you do not feel like it. You can fool yourself into being more happy over time if you just continue to smile.

http://chronicfatigue.about.com/od/copingwithfmscfs/a/pacing101.htm

Finally I want you to repeat after me. This is not my fault and I am a beautiful worthy person. You deserve to be happy and have enjoyment in life. This can feel like a heavy burden but you can find ways to lighten the load. My advice comes from living with Fibromyalgia myself. I know what it feels like and how hard it is. So just know that this advice is coming from someone that does indeed know how you feel. Find something that you enjoy doing that helps others. There is a joy in helping someone that cannot possibly pay you back for your kindness, but it brightens the world. You can smile and find joy and hope and a reason to go on. Life is beautiful and you are not alone.

Quiescent Aureate Serpent

©Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

ILLNESSES REPORTED BY CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS AGENT ORANGE WWW.COVVHA.NET

Agent Orange 731 Illnesses Reported By Children Of Vietnam Veterans – COVVHA Database Update 2013

On January 9, 2013 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Agent Orange 731 Illnesses Reported By Children Of Vietnam Veterans – COVVHA Database Update 2013

We have compiled a list of 731 reported illnesses that the biological Children of Vietnam Veterans are suffering from to try and find common threads. There have been no official claims that anything on this list has been proven to be caused by Agent Orange/Dioxin unless otherwise noted in the information below. Other reports indicate that there are up to 30 years of illnesses and conditions being collected that we suffer from as the second generation. While many of us are born with these problems, our members that participated in this list are generally between the ages of 20-45 both male and female, often with no prior family history. If you are suffering from any illness not listed, please email us at COVVHA@GMAIL.COM. This list has been updated as of January 9, 2013. Please click on the page “JOIN OUR SITE” to become an email subscriber. You will then receive notifications when databases for 2ND GENERATION, 3RD GENERATION, and VETERANS HEALTH have been updated as well as any new articles that are published. Please be sure to check your email after subscribing for your confirmation completion.

Abnormal Cervical Bleeding
Abnormal Growth between the Ovaries
Abnormal Pap Smears
Abnormal Periods
Abnormal Rectal Bleeding
Achy Body
Acid Reflux
Acne Issues Undefined Cystic
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Acute Myeloid Leukemia
ADD
Addiction Cigarettes
Addiction other than Cigarettes
Addison’s Disease
Adenomyosis
ADHD
Adrenal Gland Tumors
Adult Acne
Agoraphobia Severe
Albinism
Alcoholism
Allergies
Alopecia Areata
Amblyopia
Amenorrhoea
Amputation
Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Basaloid Type
Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma
Anaphylaxis
Anencephaly
Anemia
Anger Issues
Angioedema
Ankyloglossia
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Annual Decrease in Night Vision
Anorexia Nervosa
Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Anxiety
Aortic Pulmonary Regurgitation
Aphasia
Appendicitis Cancerous/Undefined
Appendicitis
Arachnoid Cyst In Brain Space
Arachnoiditis
Arnold-Chiari Malformation
Arrhythmia
Arteriovenous Malformation
Arthritis Inflammatory Of The Si Joint Rheumatoid
Arthritis Juvenile
Asperger’s
Asthma
Ataxia
Atrial Fibrillation
Autism
Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune Disease Unknown Etiology
Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction
Autonomic Neuropathy
Back Pain
Bacterial Meningitis
Bacterial Infections
Balance Problem
Bell’s Palsy
Benign Cyst Armpit
Benign Multinodular Goiter
Benign Oral Cysts
Benign Tumor on Thyroid/ Near Total Thyroidectomy Surgery
Berger’s Disease
Bicornuate Uterus
Bicuspid Aortic Heart Valve
Bicuspid Valve Prolapse
Bilateral Baker Cysts
Bilateral Uterus
Bipartite Patellas
Bipolar Disorder
Blackouts
Bladder Infections/ Utis
Bladder Is Collapsing
Bladder Issues Infections/Overactive
Bladder Lift
Bleeding Issues
Blindness
Blood in Urine Undefined
Blood Vessel Issues
Boils
Bone Cancer
Bone Spurs/Problems Undefined
Bones Missing At Birth
Border Line Diabetic
Borderline High Blood Pressure
Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline Schizophrenia
Born Blind
Born Deaf
Bowel Deformity/Issues
Bradycardia Arrhythmia
Brain Calcification And An Enlarged Perivascular Space
Brain Issues Water On The Brain
Brain Lesions Aneurism/Tumors/Surgery
Brain Stem Abnormalities
Brain Stem Small
Brain Tumors
Breast Cancer
Breast Pain
Breathing Problems Undefined
Bronchitis/Bronchial Spasms
Bursitis
Calcium Deficiency
Calluses on Vocal Chords Faulty Stomach Acid Caused
Camptodactyly
Cancer
Cancer Undefined
Cardiac Arrhythmia
Cardiac Deformity
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiac Sarcoma
Carpal Tunnel
Caudal Regression
Cava Perthes
Celiac Disease
Cellulitis
Central Nervous System Disorder
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebellum Issues Undefined
Cerebral Aneurysm
Cerebral Palsy
Cervical Cancer
Cervical Dysplasia/Incompetency
Cervical Infections
Chiari Malformation Assoc W/ Spina Bifida
Chemical Sensitivity
Chest Wall Pain/ Breast Pain/Chest Pain
Childhood Bedwetting
Childhood Extreme Shyness
Chloracne
Choristoma Tumor in the Ear
Chromosome Abnormalities
Crohn’s Disease
Chronic Asthmatic Bronchitis
Chronic Candida and Other Female Reproductive Organ Infections
Chronic Childhood Ear Infections
Chronic Constipation
Chronic Costochondritis
Chronic ENT Issues Resulting In Adenoidectomy Tonsillectomy And Ear Tubes
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue and Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
Chronic Insomnia
Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic Knee Dysplasia
Chronic Migraines
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Copd
Chronic Pneumonia
Chronic Sinusitis
Chronic Urinary Tract Infections
Chronic Venous Insufficiency Cvi Severe
Cleft Palate Lips
Clotting Disorders
Club Foot
Club Foot Talipes Equinovarus
Cognitive Disorder
Cognitive Disorder
Cognitive Issues
Cold Hands/Feet
Cold/Flu Chronic
Collapsed Vertebra
Colon Issues
Complete Hysterectomy
Complete Pelvic Floor Collapse
Compromised Immune System
Compulsive Skin Picking Around Fingers
Congenial Scoliosis
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
Congenital Anosmia Born Without the Ability To Smile
Congenital Heart Blockage
Congenital Hips
Congenital Hypertension
Connective Tissue Disorder
Constipation/Cramping
Conversion Disorder
Costochondritis
Cranial Synthesis
Crest Syndrome
Crohn’s Disease
Crossed Eyes Newborn
Cryoglobulinemia
Cushings Syndrome
Cystic Acne
Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis
Cysts
Cysts Arm Brain Hand Leg Shoulder Blade Thyroid
Daily Headaches
Debilitating Muscle Spasms
Deep Venous Thrombosis
Deformed Arms/Legs/Fingers/Toes/Feet
Deformed Sinuses
Deformity of Chest/Breast
Deformity of Shoulders/Muscles
Deformity of The Face/Head/Neck
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative Joint Syndrome
Degenerative Ligament Tissue
Dehydration
Dental Problems
Depression
Depression Major Clinical
Dermatitis
Detached Retina
Developmental Delay
Deviated Nasal Septum
Dextrocardia
Diabetes Type I
Diabetes Type II
Diagonal Earlobe Crease
Dilated Cardiomyopathy with Enlarged Left Ventricle And Heart Sound
Diarrhea SP
Digestive Issues
Disc Desiccation
Dissociative Disorder
Diverticulitis
Dizzy Spells
Double Cervix
Double Hernia @ Birth
Double Ureter
Double Uterus/Cervix
Double Uvula/Cleft Uvula
Droop Eye Ptosis
Drug Abuse
Duane Syndrome
Dwarfism
Dysautonomia
Dyslexia
Dysphagia
Dysthymia Aka Chronic Depression
Ear Infections/Problems/Surgeries/Tubes
Ectopic Pregnancy
Eczema
Electrolyte Abnormalities
Elevated Heart Rate
Emotional Problems
Empty Sella Syndrome
Endocrine Disorders
Endometrial Cancer
Endometrial Hyperplasia
Endometriosis-
Enlarged Heart
Enlarged Liver-Cause Unknown
Epilepsy
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
Excessive Nose Bleeds
Excessive Sweating
Exotropia
Extra Body Parts
Extra Bones
Extra Vertebrae
Eye Floaters
Eye Problems Undefined
Eyes Legs Stomach Abdomen
Facet Joint Syndrome
Facial Aplasia
Factor V Leiden
Familial Tremor
Fatigue Chronic Syndrome,
Fatty Deposits on Liver
Felty’s Syndrome
Fever Seizures
Fever Undefined
Fibrocystic Breast Disease
Fibroid Cysts in Breast
Fibromyalgia
Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis
Follicular Lymphoma/Large B Cell Lymphoma
Food Allergies
Foot Deformity/Issues/Burning
Fragile X Syndrome
Frazonism
Fused Digits
Fused Vertebrae in Neck
Fused Vertebrae/Disc
Gall Bladder Disease/ Gall Stones
Ganglion Cyst
Gastritis
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Gastrointestinal Problems
Gastroparesis SP
Gene Mutations gg MHP
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Gestational Diabetes
Glaucoma
Glioblastoma
Gluten Intolerance
Goiter
Goldenhar Syndrome
Gout
Grand Mal Seizures
Grave’s Disease
Growth Hormone Deficiency
Growths/Lumps on Skull
Hae – Hereditary Angioedema
Hair Loss
Hairy Cell Leukemia
Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Thyroid Disease
Head Sores
Headaches (Chronic
Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss/Deafness
Heart Attack
Heart Defect/Murmur/Newborn
Heart Disease
Heart Failure
Heart Murmur
Heart Palpitations
Heart Problems/Surgery Undefined
Heat Intolerance
Heel Spur
Hemangioma
Hereditary Atypical Hemochromatosis
Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
Hernia
Herniated Discs
High ANA Levels In Blood Leads To Potential Lupus Diagnosis
High Blood Pressure
High Cholesterol
High Myopia/ Shortsightedness
High Pulse Rate
Hip Deformity/Pain/Surgery/Undefined -
Hip Dysplasia
Hip Pain Undefined
Hip Replacement
Hirsutism
Histiocytosis
Hives
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Hormone Issues/Replacement
Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Hydrocele Testis
Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephaly CG (brother-deceased
Hydrocoele Hernia
Hyaline Membrane
Hymen Issues Partially Intact
Hypercoagulability
Hyperhomocysteinemia
Hyperinsulinemia
Hyperlipidemia
Hypermobility Issues/Surgeries
Hyperparathyroidism
Hypertension
Hyperthyroidism
Hypoglycemia
Hypoparathyroidism
Hypoplasia Entire Right Side
Hypoplastic Heart
Hypospadias
Hypothyroidism
Hyperprolactinemia
Hysterectomy
Idiopathic Gastroparesis
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Itp Platelet Disorder
Immune System Issues Undefined & Ivig Infusions
Imperforate Anus
Incompetent Cervix
Infant/Toddler Lethargy Withdrawal
Infertility
Insomnia
Insulin Resistance
Interstitial Cystitis
Intracranial Cyst
Intracranial Hypertension Formally Known As PTC
Involuntary Muscle Spasms Face
Iron Deficiency
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Ischemic Heart Disease
ITP
Jaw Deformity/Surgery
Joint & Muscle Problems/Pain
Joint Hypermobility Syndrome
Juvenile Macular Degeneration
Keratosis Pilaris
Kidney Disease/Surgery
Kidney Issues/Infections/Cysts
Kidney Stones
Kienbock’s Disease
Knee Chondromalacia Patella
Knee Problems/Dysplasia/Pain/Surgery
Kyphosis
Lactose Intolerant
Lateral Epicondylitis
Bilateral Microtia
Lazy Eye
Learning Disabilities
Legally Blind
Lethargy
Leukemia
Leukocytosis with Neutrophilia
Lhermitte’s Sign
Lichen Planus
Lipomas-Non-Cancerous Tumors Throughout Body
Liver cirrhosis due to atypical hereditary hemochromatosis
Liver Disease Fatty/Undefined
Liver Inflammation/Other
Liver Lesions
Long Qt Syndrome
Loss of Skin Pigment
Loss of Strength In Limbs
Low Blood Count Red
Low Blood Pressure
Low Estrogen
Low Potassium
Low Testosterone
Low Vitamin D Levels
Lumbarization
Lumps On the Head
Lung Cancers and Hocm
Lung Deformity rd Lung
Lung Disease/Nodules/Tumors/Clots
Lupus
Lupus of The Skin
Lymphocytic Thyroiditis
Lymphatic Tumors/Lymphangioma
Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Lymphoma
Macrodactyly
Major Depressive Disorder
Malabsorption of Food/Drink
Malabsorption of Vitamin B
Marfan Syndrome
Mastocytosis
Mastoiditis
Melanoma
Memory Loss
Menieres Disease
Menopause Issues Early
Menorrhagia
Menstrual Cycle Issues
Mental Health Issues
Mental Retardation
Metabolic Syndromes
Metatarsus Varus Pigeon Toe
Methicillin Staphylococcus Resistant Aureus
Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase
Microtia
Migraine Headaches
Migraines : Hypnic Cluster Basilar Hemiplegic
Mild Dysplasia
Misopedia
Missing A Whole Layer of Dermis
Missing Big Toe ,
Missing Digits
Missing Fingers
Missing Limb Right Leg below the Knee
Missing Limbs/Body Parts
Missing Vertebrae
Mitral Valve Prolapse
Mittelschmerz
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
Mood Swings
Multiple Sclerosis
Mullerian Aplasia
Multiple Cardiac Arrests
Multiple Recurring Undiagnosable Oozing Sores
Muscle Spasms/Pain/Numbness Undefined
Musculoskeletal Problems,
Muscular Dystrophy
Myasthenia Gravis
Mycobacterium Gordonae
Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Mitral Valve Prolapse Duplicate Mitral Valve
Nasal Cancer
Nasal Polyps
Nausea
Neck Pain
Nephrolithiasis
Nerve Damage
Neuralgia Face Feet Hands Legs
Neurocardiogenic
Neurological Problem Undefined
Neuropathy
Neutropenia
Nevus Sebaceous
Night Blindness
Night Sweats
Night Terrors
Nightmares
Non-Hodgkin’S Lymphoma
Nosebleeds
Numbness
Nystagmus
Obesity
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Orthostatic Hypotension
Orthostatic Intolerance
Osteoarthritis
Osteochondritis
Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Osteopenia
Osteoporosis
Ostras Laughters
Otosclerosis
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cysts
Ovaries & Wrists
Overactive Bladder
Pain In Chest Radiating Up My Right Side of Neck
Pain Undefined
Palate Problems
Pancreases
Pancreatitis
Pancytopenia
Panic Attacks
Paralysis
Paresthesias
Para-Thyroid Gland Disfunction
Pericarditis
Pars Planitis
Partial Thyroidectomy
Patellar Subluxation Left Knee
Pectus Excavatum
Peeling As If Sunburned Face and Body
Pelvic Bones Not Fused
Pelvic Congestion Syndrome K, before Hysterectomy
Pelvic Reconstruction/Issues
Peptic Ulcers
Peripheral Neuropathy
Periventricular Leukomalacia
Pernicious Anemia
Personality Disorder
Phantom Pains Photosensitivity
Pierre Robin Sequence
Pituitary Gland Disfunction
Pityriasis
Planar Spaciatis
Pneumonia Childhood / Recurring
Poland Syndrome
Poliosis
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Polycystic Kidney Disease
Polycythemia
Polycythemia Vera without Genetic Factor
Polymorphic Light Eruption
Polymyositis
Poor Egg Quality
Porphyria
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
Potassium Issues
Preeclampsia
Pregnancy Complications Undefined
Pregnancy Partial Molar
Premature Babies
Premature Menopause
Premature Ovarian Failure
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor
Prolactinoma
Prolapsed Cervix
Prostate Problems/Enlarged
Psoriasis
Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic Rheumatoid Arthritis
Pseudo-Obstruction Intestinal Neurological
Pseudotumor Cerebri
Ptosis
PTSD Primary Related To Family Violence
PTSD Secondary
Pulmonary Embolism
Pulmonary Edema
Pulmonary Fibrosis/Other Undefined
Pulmonary Restriction
PVC’s
Pyloric Stenosis
Rapid absorption
Rash under My Arm Same Place My Dad Gets It
Rashes Newborn
Rashes Undefined
Raynaud’s Syndrome
Rectal Prolapse
Rectal Seal Prolapse
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
Renal Cysts/Calcifications
Renal Failure
Reproductive Problems Female
Respiratory Infections/Distress
Restless Leg Syndrome
Retroverted Uterus
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Rheumatic Fever
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rosacea
Sacral Agenesis
Sacral lumbarization
Salpingitis Isthmica Nodosa
Sarcoidosis
Schizophrenia
Scleroderma
Scoliosis
Sebaceous Cysts
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Secondary infertility
Seizures Petit Mal
Seizures,
Sensitive Skin
Sensitive Teeth
Sensitivity to Medications
Septate Uterus
Septate Uterus
Severe Chronic Neutropenia
Severe Depression
Severe Light Sensitivity
Shingles Ears Mouth Ophthalmic Throat
Short Term Memory Problems
Shyness
Sinus Infections/Problems
Sinus Tachycardia
Sinusitis
Sjogrens Syndrome
Skin Cancer -
Skin Lesions
Skin Problems/Deformity
Skin Rashes
Sleep Apnea
Slight Deviated Jaw
Small Digits on Hands-
Snoring
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Problems
Spastic Colon
Speech Problems
Sphincter of Oddi Disorder
Spina Bifida
Spina Bifida Occulta
Spinal Cord Disease/Tumors
Spinal Deformities
Spinal Deterioration
Spinal Surgeries/Pain/Undefined
Spinal Meningitis
SpinoCerebellar Ataxia
SpinoCerebellar Degeneration
Splenetic Cysts
Spondyloarthropy
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis
Squamous Papilloma Benign Polyp In Mouth
Steatohepatitis
Stenosis of The Spine
Stomach Pains/Problems
Strabismus
Strange Growths
Strep Throat
Stress
Stress Seizures
Stroke
Sturge Weber Syndrome
Subglottic Stenosis
Suicidal Thoughts
Suicide Brother
Supraventricular Tachycardia
Swelling Undefined
Swollen Glands
Syndactyly
Syringomyelia
Tachycardia
Tachycardia Unknown Due To Wpw Syndrome
Temporal Arteritis
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
Tendonitis
Testicular Deformity
Thinning Of Hair Top Front
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Throat Tumors
Thrombophilia
Thyroid Cancer Hashimoto’s
Thyroid Issues & Cysts Hyperthyroidism
Tilted Uterus
Tinea Versicolor
Tinnitus Lifelong
Tired
Tonsillitis/Tonsillectomy
Tooth Decay Abnormal
Tooth Formation Absence Adult Teeth Never Came In
Torticollis
Tourettes
Toxic Shock Syndrome
Tracheoesophageal Fistula
Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula
Tremors
Triple Ureter
Triple X Syndrome
Truncus Arteriosus
Tuberculosis
Tumor on The Parathyroid
Tumors
Tumors on Liver
Twitches
Ulcerated Colitis
Ulcers Stomach Mouth Nose
Undiagnosed Rash One Side of Body
Unexplained Numbness
Unexplained Tingling Right Side of Body
Unspecified Immunodeficiency
Urinary Tract Infections/Issues
Uterine Cancer
Uterine Fibroids
Uterine Leiomyosarcoma
Uterine Polyps
Urticaria
Vacterl Syndrome
Vaginal Bleeding
Vaginosis
Vascular Headaches
Vasculitis
Varicose Veins
Vertebrae Extra/Missing
Vertigo
Viral Meningitis
Vision Problems
Vitamin B Deficiency
Vitiligo
Vomiting
Von Willebrand’S Disease
Vulvodynia Pain in the Vulva
Weak Enamel In/On Teeth
Weak Muscles Left Leg
Webbed Toes
Weight Loss
Whole Thyroidectomy Surgery
Wolff- Parkinson- White Syndrome

© (COVVHA) CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS HEALTH ALLIANCE INC

monsanto agent orange vietnam veterans gmo news

Agent Orange, Vietnam Veterans, Monsanto, GMO News – November & December 2012

On December 26, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

What is A.O.F.D, Agent Orange Food Disorder, and how many …

Agent Orange Food Disorder, AOFD, is an ongoing mutation of cells from …. suffering birth defects as terrible as those found in the Agent Orange contaminated …

‘Legacies of War’

Coeur d’Alene Press Dewey Parker worked on a flight line inspecting airplanes that sprayed the Agent Orange herbicide during the Vietnam War. Today, the Air Force veteran who …

Agent Orange, United States Military Veterans, And Myelodysplastic …

The MDS Beacon I often see Vietnam-era military veterans in my clinic who have been diagnosed with MDS, and they always ask me, “Could Agent Orange exposure have …

What Are GMO? What Is A GMO? What Foods Are Genetically Modified …

OpEdNews … PCB’s & Agent Orange), Dow (Agent Orange and Agent Blue – Arsenic), Bayer (CCD – Colony Collapse Disorder of Bees), BASF (GMO Potatoes), DuPont

AO Victims Grateful to British PM

Salem-News.Com … of Agent Orange, was asked by the Viet Nam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) to present the gifts in person. The gifts comprised a selection of beautiful hand-embroidered linen and colourful hand-painted pictures made by….

Ten Top Reasons Why Food with GMO Ingredients Should Be So Labeled

Meridian Magazine In the past, Monsanto also assured us of the public safety of DDT and Agent Orange as household items, both of which were produced by Monsanto with devastating results. 7. GMO labeling has nothing to do with excessive government intervention and …

@DA NANG: Perception gap over Agent Orange is déjà vu after Fukushima

Asahi Shimbun Highly toxic dioxin, the main ingredient in Agent Orange, continues to be detected … is a Vietnam War veteran, and her mother was born with birth defects.

The pesticides you eat

Salt Lake Tribune Their answer to a failing Roundup system is now “Agent Orange Corn.” The corporate sales pitch is that GMOs increase crop yields and so are needed to feed …

A daughter faces demons of father’s war
CNN
“Yeah, because they’ve seen bad things,” Caitlin said. Christal had spoken with other grown children of Vietnam veterans. But this was the first time she saw herself in a child. Christal contained herself in front of Caitlin. But when she and her mom …

Tribute to Vietnam fallen helps keep Dad in her life
Tribune-Review
Rihn, a respiratory therapist, and about 70 other children of veterans went to Vietnam in 2003 to retrace the footsteps of their fathers. She and her husband, John, and their daughters, Megan, 20, and Alyssa, 17, make several trips a year to Washington …

Fifty years later, US, Vietnam deal with Agent Orange
USA TODAY
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently ruled that numerous ailments are presumed to have been caused by Agent Orange among the Vietnam veterans who have them. The ruling meant these veterans would qualify for certain benefits that had been …

Living With MDS: Why Did I Get Cancer?
The MDS Beacon
Dr. Steensma’s recent column about Agent Orange reminded me of the many months (or was it years?) I spent kicking myself over every poor decision I had ever made about my health. It also caused me to re-visit having lived near a dioxin superfund …

Agent Orange leaves lingering, costly aftermath
Reading Eagle
Some were casualties of Agent Orange. “A lot of them that were there had limbs … Tumors, rashes, miscarriages and birth defects were reported in the years …

Deadly rainbow: Veterans suffer from Agent Orange exposure
Montgomery Advertiser
The main dioxin in Agent Orange, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, or TCDD, is one of the most toxic. During the 1970s, veterans returning from Vietnam …

Air Force Vietnam veteran wants other vets to learn about Agent Orange Registry
ABC Action News
It did, it floored me,” recalled Bob Wood. When Wood suffered a heart attack two years ago, doctors at the Haley VA Hospital told him his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam contributed to his heart disease. “This is unbelievable,” Wood thought at the…

A Battle Unending: The Vietnam War and Agent Orange
the Diplomat
By Simon Roughneen While the Vietnam War ended decades ago, its effects continue to linger on.Agent Orange haunts the lives of the people it has touched.

Monsanto and Genetically Engineered Food: Playing Roulette With …
Truth-Out
Is Monsanto the most pernicious global corporation when it comes to GMOs, … They lied to us about the safety of PCB’s, DDT and Agent Orange, …

Sister of Agent Orange victim says battle for recognition far from over
GlobalNews.ca
Bertrand was one of about 30 people who got compensation from the federal government after it overturned a decision to deny claims for people diagnosed with Agent Orange-related illnesses past a June 30, 2011 deadline. Timeline: The fight for Agent …

WMU professor’s book analyzes effects of Agent Orange
Western Herald
Ed Martini, Associate Professor of History and Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences, recently published Agent Orange: History, Science, and the Politics of Uncertainty, a book that better explains the chemical used during the Vietnam War.

Dioxin, TCE Drums, U-235 and El Toro’s Panhandle
Salem-News.Com
We do know that one El Toro Marine who never served in Vietnam died from Agent Orange exposure, Dr. Chuck Bennett over 12 years ago cited two Orange County experts who examined soil samples from the panhandle and found weapons grade U-235 …

Vietnam Veterans Memorial 30 years later | Invisible Children Blog
Three decades ago, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC was officially dedicated on Nov. 13th 1982. Consisting of two reflective walls that span …

Veterans Corner: Vietnam service ‘presumptive’ disability benefits
Hanford Sentinel
Certain conditions are also recognized for the children of Vietnam veterans. Covered birth defects include a wide range conditions. Eighteen defects are specifically included and others not specifically excluded are covered. Vietnam veterans who served…
****COVVHA HAS RESPONDED TO THE ABOVE ARTICLE****

THE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THE ARTICLE IS MISLEADING AND INCORRECT

“VA does this because of the unique circumstances of their military service. If one of these conditions is diagnosed in a veteran, VA presumes that the circumstances of his/her service caused the condition and disability compensation can be awarded.”

Let’s start with using the term, Agent Orange Dioxin. This is the “unique circumstance” our military members were exposed to, by their own government.

I think it’s totally disrespectful to not mention what the disability compensation is connected to.

The government used a chemical herbicide nicknamed Agent Orange (due to the orange stripe on the barrel). They used 22 million gallons on Southeast Asia to kill the vegetation, and deny the enemy cover. This chemical was also used along the Korean DMZ. Our government told our military was safe. What our troops were unaware of is that it contained Dioxin the most poisonous chemical known to man. Well, they found out, alright. Years later, our Vietnam Veterans began becoming seriously ill. Many died young, many young men acquired “old man” diseases with no prior family history all while our government denied their poison had any role in harming them.

The government waited till 1991 to help our veterans, prior to that they were called crazy or faking. The process has been so slow to help our Vietnam Veterans that even after they started to “Presume” a few illnesses, many Vets succumb to their illnesses leaving their families with only more questions and no support. There are claims dating back to the early 1980’s for Ischemic Heart disease (Added only to the presumptive list in 2010) still in appeal. This is not an easy process no matter what you may be led to believe. It is a tragedy.

Secondly, this article is disseminating incorrect information about the Children of Vietnam Veterans. After coming home from war, Veterans tried to move on with their lives and start their families. They soon discovered their children were being born with horrifying deformities, cleft Palate, Club foot, hip dysplasia, rare disorders, and strange illnesses. Our Government again turned it’s back.

“Certain conditions are also recognized for the children of Vietnam veterans. Covered birth defects include a wide range conditions. Eighteen defects are specifically included and others not specifically excluded are covered”

“Vietnam veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975, and later contracted any of these conditions, or have children with birth defects, should apply for disability compensation benefits.”

This is very frustrating especially if this is supposed to be by someone knowledgeable in this field. There are not 18+ birth defects covered in the children of Male Vietnam Veterans. There is only one Spina Bifida. From the VA website:

Children who have spina bifida (except spina bifida occulta) and meet the following requirements may be eligible for VA compensation, health care, and vocational training:

Are biological children of Veterans who served:Were conceived after the date on which the Veteran first entered Vietnam or the Korean demilitarized zone during the qualifying service period
- In Vietnam during the period from January 9, 1962 through May 7, 1975, or
- In or near the Korean demilitarized zone between September 1, 1967 and August 31, 1971 and were exposed to herbicides. Veterans who served in a unit in or near the Korean demilitarized zone anytime between April 1, 1968 and August 31, 1971 are presumed to have been exposed to herbicides.
If you are the child of a Male Vietnam Veteran you are NOT eligible for compensation unless you have Spina Bifida (NOT OCCULTA- the most common form)

There is no help for the thousands and thousands of children of male Vietnam Veterans that are suffering from congenital deformities, Cancers, Autoimmune Diseases, Reproductive Problems and other rare illnesses. There were 2.8 million people that served in Vietnam. Six to eight thousand of them were women.

The eighteen, plus birth defects you talk about in this article are only covered in the children of WOMEN Vietnam Veterans NOT in the children of Male Vietnam Veterans even though the children of Male veterans suffer greatly with the same illnesses!

Anyone else who have the birth defects listed whose mother was not a Vietnam Veteran WILL BE DENIED.

Covered birth defects include, but are not limited to, the following conditions: NOT COVERED IN THE CHILDREN OF MALE VIETNAM VETERANS!!!!!!!!!!

Achondroplasia
Cleft lip and cleft palate
Congenital heart disease
Congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot)
Esophageal and intestinal atresia
Hallerman-Streiff syndrome
Hip dysplasia
Hirschprung’s disease (congenital megacolon)
Hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis
Hypospadias
Imperforate anus
Neural tube defects
Poland syndrome
Pyloric stenosis
Syndactyly (fused digits)
Tracheoesophageal fistula
Undescended testicle
Williams syndrome

If you are confused over what is or isn’t covered for the Children of Vietnam Veterans feel free to email us at COVVHA@gmail.com

Medical History Should Include Military History, Doctor Says
New York Times (blog)
So he was surprised to learn not long ago — from reading a newspaper article — that at least one of those ailments, ischemic heart disease, has been linked to exposure to the defoliant Agent Orange, which was used widely in Vietnam. It dawned on him …

Over 200000 veterans exposed to Dioxin
VietNamNet Bridge
VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam currently has more than 200000 veterans exposed to Agent Orange/Dioxin and infected with some diseases identified by the US …

Agent Orange remains big health concern
Herald Palladium (subscription)
JOSEPH – A vestige of the Vietnam War is present front and center at the Berrien County Veterans Service Office. Dozens of veterans of the war, which ended in 1975, call or visit to get help in filing claims for illnesses and conditions attributed to …

Monsanto On Verge of $40 Million GMO Bailout in Europe: Report
DeathRattleSports.com
Monsanto GMO Bailout in Europe A Sign of Things to Come? … a company that moved from producing Agent Orange during the Vietnam War to using their …

Conditions recognized as related to exposure to Agent Orange
Journal Times
The following presumptive conditions are recognized by the Veterans Affairs as related to Agent Orange exposure for veterans who served in county in Vietnam during Jan. 9, 1962, through May 7, 1975. • AL Amyloidosis — A rare disease caused when an …

Vietnamese still fighting for recognition of Agent Orange impact
Toronto Star
They are, she believes, victims of the Agent Orange dumped on Vietnam’s … found “compelling evidence” linking a rise in birth defects and miscarriages in …

A toxic disaster
The Korea Herald
Authorities estimate that 4.8 million were exposed to Agent Orange dioxin in … causing men exposed to Agent Orange to father children with birth defects.

Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance | AGENT ORANGE
Memories of the Vietnam War are dimming, but veterans and Vietnamese nationals who were exposed to Agent Orange and other dioxin-laced defoliants are …

agent orange gmo monsanto children of vietnam veterans www.covvha.net

Agent Orange, Children Of Vietnam Veterans, Monsanto, GMO – The Video That Explains Everything

On December 18, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

On October 16, 2011, Kelly L. Derricks (TRUTH TELLER) traveled to New York City where she gave a public speech about Agent Orange after being invited by Millions Against Monsanto to participate in the rally event for World Food Day. Below is the video recording of that speech.

Kelly has battled severe health issues since she was born that continue today. Some of her illnesses, presumed to be associated with the inter-generational effects of Agent Orange, include but are not limited to the following:

• Chronic kidney disease
• Crohn’s disease
• Addison’s disease
• Congenital adrenal hyperplaysia
• Intersticial cystitis.

*Her complete list of illnesses staggers to 30 different things.

Kelly continues to fight for the Children of Vietnam Veterans as well as Vietnam Veterans and their families. In January of 2012 She Co-Founded The Non-Profit Organization (COVVHA) Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance INC

Visit The Main Website At WWW.COVVHA.NET

https://www.youtube.com/user/teppnme?feature=watch

Agent Orange Okinawa Japan Documentary #COVVHA

VIDEO – Agent Orange Okinawa Documentary

On December 10, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Published on Nov 4, 2012
This is the English-language version of Defoliated Island, a Japanese
award-winning documentary about the usage of Agent Orange on Okinawa
during the Vietnam War. Produced by Okinawa TV station, QAB, the show won national acclaim in Japan when it was first aired in May 2012.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5tRkP2b3dsM

Never Forgetting Our Heroes

On December 10, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

I just got done watching an episode of Bones called “The Patriot in Purgatory”, starring David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel. It is a show on the FOX network and it was originally aired on November 12th, 2012. This is a clip from that show, http://youtu.be/ooRloIi1Yq4. It was about a homeless man that they were trying to identify, he had been found in a parking garage, believed to have been murdered. It turns out that he was a veteran from Afghanistan that had PTSD and he was at the Pentagon on September 11th. The injuries that he sustained were believed to be from being beaten to death but were in fact from saving 3 people from the rubble of the Pentagon after the plane hit. He had been there every day, yelling out the names of the soldiers that were with him in battle and were killed in an ammo dump. He thought it was the only way to get these guys the silver star, he had petitioned the Pentagon 56 times to no avail. He bled out after 10 days from a punctured lung. Once he was identified, he was given a full military funeral.

The reason I am writing this article is that I am extremely humbled in knowing that there are thousands of homeless veterans in this country and they seem to be invisible. They went to war, be it in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan, they fought for us, they lost men that they loved as brothers in doing so and we can’t be bothered to help these men. I think back to my own family. My dad was in Vietnam in 1965, he was one of the lucky ones, he got to come home. My brother was in Desert Storm in Iraq in 1991. He also came home but at what price? Dad was exposed to Agent Orange/Dioxin and has health problems because of it. His best friend didn’t come home. He was killed in an accident due to carelessness. My brother has issues due to his service over there. How much is a human life worth? You can’t turn on the TV these days without hearing about the suicides of the vets coming back from Iraq/Afghanistan. Has this county gotten so jaded that these men mean nothing, that their service to this country was just for fun? We have forgotten our heros! We have forgotten that without them, we would be living a much different life. This is unfair and it is unacceptable!

We have all lost something due to war. These men and women have lost so much, their health, their lives, their sanity, their hope! This country was changed on September 11, 2001. Some lost parents, husbands, wives, their humanity, their faith in GOD, what have you. That should have been a wake up call for us, for us to take care of our own and make sure that they know how much we appreciate them and how important they are to us. Instead, we focus on our own trivial lives and continue on like these men are just window dressing. PLEASE, take some time out to thank a veteran today and to welcome him or her home. There was a number and a website at the end of the show for the Veterans Crisis Line, www.veteranscrisisline.net, the phone number is 1-800-273-8255.The VA has a program to help homeless vets, that address is www.va.gov/Homeless,www.voa.org/ If you know of a veteran that is need of help, reach out, give them a hand up. Go to the VA and see if you can volunteer, if you know of a veteran that is homeless, give him or her a blanket and steer them to where they can get help. Write or call your Senators and Congressmen and women to tell that they need to support the legislation concerning veterans and their welfare. The reason that the man in the show was homeless is because he was the only one of his unit that survived an attack on the ammo dump they were in. He couldn’t handle being indoors and his wife would find him sleeping in a park somewhere. These men and women aren’t lazy or pathetic, who among us knows what they went through and why they are homeless? There is no purple heart for PTSD and no recognition for what they have given up or lost to fight for us.

We as the children of Vietnam Veterans know better than anyone what life is like for our vets. We need to help them through whatever hardship they may be facing, they fought and died for us, what more can they do? Be thankful, so many of us have lost them for different reasons, most of which are due to Agent Orange/ Dioxin exposure. We have each other to lean on for support and for comfort, these men have fallen through the cracks and don’t have anyone. We can’t give up on them. We can’t forget what they have sacrificed for us and what they stand for. We aren’t alone, don’t let them be, you can make a difference in someone’s life today. It is time that we showed them just how much they are not forgotten. They didn’t forget us when they laid their lives on the line for all of us, not just their own families but for all of us as a nation. Don’t let their sacrifices mean nothing!

In closing, I would like to say Thank You and Welcome Home to any and all veterans that are reading this article and I would just ask that you not forget out heros! We can make a difference if we all just stick together and do something. Thank you for reading this and know that none of us are alone. We just have to take the time to see what has been invisible for too long. It is up to us as a nation to uphold all veterans, whether they are Vietnam Vets or Iraq/ Afghanistan vets. Without them, where would we be now?

Karen Y. Wengert

The Lingering Effects of Agent Orange

On December 3, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

This video explores the perspectives of three generations of Agent Orange survivors offering a rare insight into non-Vietnamese survivors highlighting the global scale of this issue. Additionally, Jon Mitchell, a Welsh born journalist now residing in Yokohama explains his groundbreaking work in helping to uncover the use, storage and burial of Agent Orange on the Japanese islands of Okinawa. Through the video, viewers can see how these inspiring individuals used their time aboard Peace Boat to spread the messages of this issue as well as their time on land in Da Nang, Vietnam; where they were able to visit a support center for Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange.
Special thanks to
Heather Bowser (Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance), Kenneth H. Young, Jenna Mack, Jon Mitchell
&
Da Nang Center for Agent Orange and Disadvantaged Children

The lingering effects of Agent Orange from Peace Boat on Vimeo.

http://vimeo.com/peaceboat

courthouse-lights-art-gstkceal-1xmas09-klm-12dec09-2-jpg

Something Lost….

On November 24, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

The wind was blowing coldly, I pulled the collar up over my ears so that they would stop stinging. There was a soft snow beginning to fall from the sky, adding to the feeling in the air. The children of all ages were bundled in there coats, hats, mittens and scarves all eager to greet Santa on this blustery evening. My favorite were the babies with the animal hats on, they were just precious. The Alive Vineyard Church of Licking County was giving away free popcorn and Hot Chocolate to everyone, to help battle the nipping chill in the air and they had a wonderful live Nativity, you could pet the animals. Sahara, the 7 month old camel was my favorite, she was so sweet. We walked around that square I’ll bet 8 times, listening to the songs that were being sung, this 9 year old girl was amazing!

We had almost given into the cold and went home when it was time for Santa to make his arrival, the kids all got so excited and it was like an electric current in the air, you could feel it. He came in by way of the Newark Fire Department, on a ladder truck, it really is a site to see. He got up on the stage and directs everyone to yell Merry Christmas as loud as they can and the lights will come on. Everyone yells, nothing. You can feel the disappointment from the kids when they don’t come one. He says, try it again, this time give it all you’ve got! This time, the lights on the bottom quarter of the building come on and go off. Again, disappointment, but the excitement is building again. Then he tells everyone to close their eyes and feel the Christmas Spirit well up from their toes and then yell, this time, half of the building comes on and goes back out. The last time is the trick and the lights on the entire courthouse, the gazebo, all the decorations on the lawn and the trees all light up brightly and I realize that what I am feeling is JOY!

I have always loved the lighting of the courthouse. It has been a tradition in my family most of my life. Richard got to go with me this year. He hasn’t been able to do that since we first started to date 13 years ago. I felt joy in that my husband was with me, joy that I was able to be there, joy that I have family and friends that love me, joy that I am truly blessed! It is my hope that in this season of love that you are able to find one thing in your life that brings you joy! A child (or grandchild’s) laughter, being with your spouse, watching Christmas lights come on, helping someone that is less fortunate than you, giving someone a hug, reading your favorite book, whatever it is that brings you happiness and joy, I hope that you have it!

I sometimes forget just what joy feels like. We can sometimes let it get lost when we are feeling sick, pain, lonely, sad, angry, frustrated, like a lot of us are most every day of the year. It isn’t fair, it isn’t right but there has got to be ONE thing in your life that makes you feel joy, you just have to remember it. Even if it is a memory of a loved one that has gone on, or a memory of family get togethers from long ago. I feel it the most when my niece and nephew give me a hug and tell me they love me, when I am with my husband, when I am lost in a wonderful book, when I am with my family and feel the love that they have for me, when I am working with Heather and Kelly and I feel like I have accomplished something with two women who have become my sisters, when I look at my Christmas tree and I think of my mom. It is something that I let get lost a lot and I need to remember how that feels because it is too precious to be lost. Take some time in the holiday season to find someone that you love and just be with them. Go to the Soup Kitchen and help out, Give something of yourself. It is worth it! It isn’t about how much you have or how much money you spend, it is about love, compassion and togetherness. I want the best for each and every one of you and it is my hope that you have a very Merry Christmas!

Karen Y. Wengert

©Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Supporting Agent Orange Awareness – COVVHA BY DESIGN CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

On November 23, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

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On November 21, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

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A Window Into The Holidays…

On November 15, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

It is Thanksgiving morning and I am so excited I can’t hardly wait! We are going to Grandma and Grandpa’s for dinner and it is going to be so much fun and oh my, all the yummy food to eat. There are chores to be done before we can leave and every time I look at the clock, it doesn’t look like it has moved at all and it feels like it is taking forever to get through them. My Great aunts and Great uncles will be there and my cousins will be there, my Uncle Vernon is always so jolly, he makes me laugh.

I take my shower and change into my Sunday best, as we always dress for special dinners like Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it is finally time to leave. I help my mom to carry things to the car and we are on our way. It is a cold November morning, drizzling rain and a little snow too, maybe it will turn into all snow by tomorrow. We get to the house and when we get to the back door, the outer porch windows are steamed up, you can see the little drops of water streaming down the glass. I prepare myself to open the door for that smell. I know when I open the door that I am going to be enveloped in all kinds of good smells. Turkey, dressing ( 2 kinds, oyster and regular for those of us that think that oysters are gross!), pies, mashed potatoes, and so many other things, YUM!! I was not disappointed when I opened the door when that warm, yummy air hit me right in the face, it was like Heaven. Grandma is in front of the stove and Aunt Katie is by the sink and everyone else is in the dining room, setting the table. I give hugs and run into the living room, where my cousins are and we watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade together and talk like we haven’t seen each other in a year. Grandpa had started a fire in the wood burner that morning so it was nice a cozy so I settle in his big red rocker to watch TV til dinner.

It is time to eat. My eyes are as big as my stomach. I don’t know what I want first. We say grace and then dig in, everyone starts to pass the food and it slowly makes its way to the kids table where the 4 of us a relegated to. It is delicious as always. I look around the table and I see my Grandparents, my parents, my brother, my aunt and uncle, my 2 cousins, my 3 Great Aunts, my 2 Great Uncles and my 93 year old Great Grandmother and I truly feel blessed to be there! There is football on the TV, laughter and talking all around the room and the warmth of a family breaking bread together. It is the best Thanksgiving ever and I will never forget it as long as I live!!

That is a glimpse into my childhood, thank you for letting me share it with you. I would have been about 9 when that happened. The Christmases at Grandma and Grandpa’s were just as wonderful. We would gather in the middle room around a beautiful tree to open gifts and be together. I hope that you spend this holiday season with your friends and family. The most important thing in this world is love. We can possess all sorts of material items, we can have all the money that the world can give us, we can even be the most famous people in the world but if there is no love in your life, there is nothing.

If you are in need of something to do to remember one that you have lost in your life, there are things that you can do this holiday season. I have done some of these things as most of the people in this story have passed and I miss them dearly. It can be a very lonely and sad time of year for some because they are missing loved ones, whether they have passed, whether they have parted ways for various reasons, you can make a difference in someone’s life. You are never alone.

* You could go to a friend’s or loved one’s house and celebrate with them. It is important that you not isolate at this time of year.

* You could go to a nursing home and “adopt” a grandparent. Some of the people that are in these facilities either don’t have families or they have them and they are dumped there and forgotten about. They are lonely and would love to have the company.

* You could volunteer at a Food Pantry or a Soup Kitchen. I did this my Senior Year in High School. We threw a dinner for the kids at the Domestic Violence Shelter, we had a Santa for them and we made dinner for them and it was one of the best Christmases of my life.

* You could find a church that you are comfortable in and take part in the activities that they are having. You can meet some wonderful people at the churches and it would be a wonderful way to spend the day.

* You could volunteer at a Veterans Organization. Find a Veterans Home in your area, go to your local VVA chapter, see if the VA has any Volunteer Opportunities.

* You could “adopt” children that don’t have anything and be their Santa. The best Christmas of my life was the year that my mom died. My dad worked with a lady that was married to a minister. She came to me and said that she had these 2 children in her church and they didn’t have anything and was wondering if I might be willing to help them out. They were 10 and 7, what really broke my heart about these 2 children was that the little girl stopped believing in Santa because she asked for a doll for Christmas and it wasn’t there because they didn’t have the money to get it. Between myself, my best friend, my dad, and her grandmother, we got $ 300 together and went and bought them clothes, toys, bath stuff, Krogers donated gift certificates for both kids, we had 6 full size trash bags full of gifts for these kids by the time we were done. Their mom cried when she came to pick the stuff up, my mom was with me that day, it is no less than she would have done!

* If you don’t feel like leaving and being a little more private, you and your family could set a place at the table for your loved one so that they are “still with you,” kind of like a memorial. We used to do that after my Grandpa passed. It made my Grandmother feel better.

* Turn to a support group, COVVHA, a grief support group in your community, an online support group, etc, so that you have someone that knows how you are feeling and can give you feedback and support. Some of my very best friends have come from online support groups!

So you see, there are things that you can do to get through the holidays so that they aren’t quite so lonely. It is my hope that you have plenty of love and support around you and that you have the love that I had in this wonderful memory to share. The holidays can be a very hard time of year but they don’t have to be. You are never alone and we here at COVVHA wish you the very best that this Holiday season has to offer. Happy Holidays!

Karen Y. Wengert

©Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Love To The World

On November 14, 2012 By Q.A.S

Dear readers I want you to know that the holiday season is upon us. It comes in many shapes and forms and encompasses the whole of the world. There are many different colors of people and religions and beliefs as a whole. There will be different food and different ways to eat it. There will be themes that we might not think of ourselves. There may be songs we do not normally know or hear being sung in remote parts of this beautiful world that we live in. There will be dances that we do not know and might watch with curiosity.

We may not fully understand all the holidays all over the world. But that is OK. The idea is not to understand all of the differences and traditions that may not make any sense to us at all. The point is that we understand that people all over are sharing the same body that we have and soul and heart and mind and breath. It is important to note that we all hunger for love and companionship and warmth. We all of us desire to get along and find a way to make this world flourish with all of us inside of it. We all hope for a good future for our children and a warm home for them to live in and be safe from harm. We all pray or meditate or think of others in time of need and in times of plenty. We think for a moment of someone we miss because they are no longer here in physical form. We all know that somewhere someone is sad and wants to help. To me these are universal truths that surround us all.

This year I want to share an idea with all of you. This is in my heart and it gives me warmth and comfort and hope. I want all of you to see this world as one living breathing organism. I want you to remember to love and give all year long and forever try to remember the positive. Focus on the joyful moments in your life and try to give to others. There is a giving loving person inside of everyone. Even if you suffer yourself you are not alone. You have family somewhere. They may not share your blood but they share your humanity. They understand the basic needs of each person. So I ask that you remember these unifying truths. I want you to remember that you can do good or you can do harm but the choice is eventually up to you.

For every horrible thing that happens and is shared through the news media remember please..That for every one of those there are plenty of good things happening. Do not allow the world to overwhelm you with the spectacle of the media. Look for the good in the world. Find the stories that give hope and love a chance and succeed. Step away from the stereotypes and harness that light within you and share it with everyone. Do not let the world dim your light inside. Walk away from stereotypes and remember the truths that you see and know in life. Whenever someone makes a joke at the expense of anothers pain do not feed into it. Help all those that you can and do good.

You are capable even when you feel your worst moment is upon you to help another. Small things can become great big amazing stories to share with your grandchildren and friends. When you have more give to others. Play with your children and hold your loved ones. Know that around every corner is a potential friend or someone that can teach you many new things. Every single person is put in your path to teach you something. What you take from that experience will be up to you. Someone may come into your life and cause you problems but in doing so they teach you to look for trouble and how to avoid it. How to become stronger and yet deal with things fairly. Or they may be there to teach you patience. But regardless of what they teach you they were put in your path for a reason. Try not to forget that.

This season I want you to recognize that we are all one humanity one consciousness sharing this planet together. Find reasons to come together instead of giving in to things that may tear you apart. Be good to everyone year round and know peace. Know that I am writing this because I love you and I want you to know the same love and hope that I do. Things can get hard but remember there is always something that you can do to make a change for the better. Do not let your emotions tangle you and mislead you. Love love and love some more. Make the world a brighter more loving place.

Q.A.S.

VETERANS DAY 2012 FLAG 2 CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS HEALTH ALLIANCE

Veterans Day in America 2012

On November 9, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

Written By Heather A. Bowser

America, the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

Have you ever noticed? They are all around you.

We have young ones, and old ones, yellow and red ones, ones from the south, ones from north, ones who are peace nicks and ones who still fight. We have compassionate ones too, mothers and fathers, plus sisters and brothers. We have wounded ones, and ones who are still intact. We have mentally ill ones, and homeless ones too. We have generational ones, and ones blazing a new trail. We have poor ones and well off ones, conservative ones, and liberal ones. We have gay ones (we are allowed to say that now), and straight ones.We have black ones, and white ones too. We have angry ones, and hurt ones, and ones with PTSD. We have ones who love their community, and ones who want to be left alone. We have proud ones, and ones who never talk. We have addicted ones, and cold stone sober ones. We have women ones, and men ones too. We have ones who have been raped. We have ones who have seen horrible things, and ones who have created peace. We have P.O.W. ones, and ones who have given the ultimate sacrifice, they will never be forgotten. We have ones who hate, and ones who love. We have poisoned ones, and amputee ones. We have ones who beep in metal detectors, and ones who saw no action. We have mid-western ones, and west coast ones. We have aggressive ones, and passive ones. There are abusive ones, and ones who have been abused. We have gun hating ones, and gun loving ones.We have in-country ones, and desk jockey ones. We have proud ones, and ashamed ones. We have immigrant ones, and hometown ones. We have ones with mixed emotions, and ones who are assured. We have ones with wanderlust, and ones who are homesick. We have ones with little children, and ones who have lost children. We have ones who’d never re-up, and ones who have over and over. We have suicidal ones, and ones who have died from suicide, lots and lots of ones. We have lots of different types of ones.

They may come from a different walks of life, political persuasions, or moral ideals then you, but they have laid it all on the line for your parents, you, your children, and your children’s future children. We are celebrating all the ones, the Americans, who have served in the U.S. Armed Services on this eleventh of November, 2012.

Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance, honors our Veterans today, and everyday. Thank you each for your service, and welcome home to the land of the brave.

“Freedom Is NOT Free”

© Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

COVVHA BY DESIGN CUSTOM CLOTHING LINE

On November 5, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

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Agent Orange News Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance 2012

Agent Orange Dioxin & GMO News September – October

On October 8, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

One veteran’s story about fighting Agent Orange

Ruben Rosario: Did this veteran’s service cost him his life?

Ken Blum: Focus on Agent Orange before victims are all gone

John Bury: Victims of Agent Orange must band together to push …

Despite knowing Agent Orange, Parkinson’s link some veterans still have …

France May Issue Call for Europe-Wide Ban on GM Corn

Red Fridays – Burn Pits, the new Agent Orange

Genetically Modified Organisms No Answer to Food Shortage

Treatment of veterans is totally disgusting

Federal Judge Dismisses Agent Orange Case in NY

Agent Orange in Okinawa: the Smoking Gun

Prop 37: 8 Reasons for Voting Yes for Labeling GMO Foods

New method of cleaning Passaic River fails test in Lyndhurst

Promise made, promise kept: Son takes father’s fight about Agent …

Agent Orange wrecks future generations’ too?

Corpus Christi Army Depot’s safety history sometimes spotty

Letters: A veteran’s take on his healthcare

After military service, veterans next battle V.A.

Vietnamese, Korean dioxin victims on epic bike trip

Homeland Security is Working for Monsanto

US says to help clear dioxin from Da Nang airport by 2016

War veterans’ children supported by scholarships

Over VND2.5 billion raised for disadvantaged children

Agent Orange consequences to be overcome by 2020

Vietnam Veteran Remembered As Kind, Proud American

SEARCH TIME.COM

US, Vietnam join hands to deal with AO consequences

Agent Orange chemical in GM war on resistant weeds

Agent Orange cleanup effort stirs questions about responsibility

Mag Links Romney To Monsanto

Remember Vietnam,Continuing Birth Defects Caused By Agent …

Massive Attack on GMO Labeling Proposal in California

Monsanto: One of Romney & Bain’s Earliest Clients

Andrew G. Reiter: Questions on efforts to clean up Agent Orange

Oregonians Fear Harmful Effects From Timberland Herbicides

AGENT ORANGE Rainbow Herbicides A Bioforming Pandemic Killing Some …

Feds May Acknowledge Ground Zero Cancer Link

FRA | Legislative Update: Agent Orange Reform

Debate over genetically modified food gets political with Prop. 37

Agent Orange’s shameful legacy

U.S. and Vietnam looking to improve trade relations

American student asks justice for AO victims

Birth defects caused by Agent Orange : WTF

Dow denies succour to Bhopal despite new-found enveronmentalism

Navy veteran says Agent Orange is still a concern

Dow Chemical still blamed for deaths and birth defects and under …

Laos still in the dark on Agent Orange impact

United States and Laos yet to deal with Agent Orange legacy

I look to the positives rather than the ifs or the buts’

United States Embarks On $43 Million Effort to - Birth Defect Lawyer …

Da Nang: 62 people infected with dioxin

VA Harnesses Big Data For Broader Impact

McNair researcher to use Vietnam’s toxic aftermath for realistic theatre

Craig Wehrle: War supporter Grothman should look at birth defects

The Terrible Legacy of Agent Orange

Vietnam forgotten, more than a ‘Lost Generation’

150, 000 Vietnamese children born with birth defects - Agent …

He’s telling the other side of war

Veterans For Peace: U.S. just beginning Agent Orange cleanup in …

Cleaning Agent Orange - Video Library – The New York Times

Behind the front line

The Toxic Effects of Agent Orange Persist 51 Years After the …

Children of Vietnam Health Alliance Makes Debut Appearance On Vietnam Television – VIDEO

On October 1, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

We here at COVVHA, get this question a lot…

When I made my first trip to Vietnam, my biggest fear was that I would be considered a traitor, a war sympathizer, and God forbid, a Hanoi Jane (A.K.A. Hanoi Heather). Even after my first trip, I was a little hesitant to start speaking out. Then it happened. I just started sharing my experiences with others. To my surprise, as I started speaking out, many American Vietnam Veterans came to me asking questions. They would ask, “Did you go to XXX? I served there, what is it like now?” Others would speak of the topography, where they went on R&R, more than one told me of a lost love, asking if I met any Vietnamese American children. Some would tentatively ask how I was treated by the Vietnamese. When I would tell the stories of meeting aging Vietnamese veterans, who once fought for the North or South, and how they would listen to my family’s tragic Agent Orange story, and tear up, then tell me through the translator, how they are very sick from diabetes, cancers and heart conditions and how their children are very ill or dead. The American Veteran would listen, and then more often than not say, “I’m glad you went, I’m not sure if I would go back, but I’m glad you went. I know your Dad is very proud of you.” That was all the affirmation I needed. I was on the right path. It took the men who are living the long Shadow of the Vietnam War to give me the courage I needed.

A few times, and I say very few, because it’s only happened twice, I have been called a “War sympathizer,” I will tell you no Vietnam Veteran has ever called me such. Maybe they are too polite or too pissed to speak with me, I get that, but I’ve never had that experience. When it has happened, I have said, I am not a war sympathizer, I am a humanitarian, the war is over, and our countries are at peace with each other. The mental, and physical pain left from the war is not over, on either side, but the actual taking up arms and killing each other is.

The Vastness of the problem with Agent Orange in Vietnam took till my third trip to even grasp. Vietnam is roughly the same size in square miles as the state of New Mexico. Vietnam reports it has over three million Agent Orange victims. Now think about a county in your state. In one small province in Vietnam I visited, there were 14,000 Agent Orange Victims, 7,000 of them were second generation victims. Can you imagine? Remember the polio epidemic? If it were happening again, would you just sit by and watch? Now, not only throw in the polio epidemic, but also throw in extreme poverty, very poor health care and toxic local environments that are continuing to poison the food supply, creating more victims. This is the current state of things in Vietnam. Would you support those who were doing the work to stop it, and improve the conditions of innocent children? There are many trying to stop this epidemic in Vietnam.

How can helping those offspring affected by Agent Orange in Vietnam help the offspring of Vietnam Veterans in the US or Australia? Currently, there is more research going on in Vietnam on issues of Agent Orange than anywhere else in the world. In Vietnam, there are more supporters globally then there have ever been for the children of US or Australian Veterans. Ninety nine percent of these global supporters do not even know there are Agent Orange offspring Victims in the United States or Australia. If none of the children of American Vietnam Vets or Australian Vietnam Vets are speaking out and educating those in the global community that we are in fact here, how will they ever know? How will they ever know we need help with health care costs and the like?
Why is all this research happening and global supporters still do not know other victims exist? Number one, it is the multitudes of identifiable Agent Orange victims in Vietnam. Remember, three million victims in the area as large as the state of New Mexico. Secondly, it has to do with the fact that Vietnam acknowledges there is a problem, unlike the Australian and US Governments, and invites researchers in to try to help. I do have to have a side note to say, at least the Australian Government has been more open to appropriate research. Our governments and chemical companies have worked hard to dismiss the Vietnam Veteran’s story of suffering in their children and stifle any real research. Then they turn around and say, there are no reputable studies on the affects of Dioxin in the offspring of Vietnam Veterans
.
Wouldn’t it be helpful if this international support would come to the offspring of American and Australian Agent Orange victims as well? Especially after the last 40 years that our own governments have turned their back on our Fathers, and our families. Wouldn’t it be amazing if the same pressure that is happening in Vietnam to require the government to create social/medical change for the victims of Agent Orange could also happen in the US and Australia? Unless the children of American and Australian Vietnam Veterans engage with the rest of the world, it will pass us by while we wait for our governments to just do the right thing. How much longer should we be passive?

There is something to be said for the emotional healing that has happened for me as a result of my trips to Vietnam. I was once extremely bitter, especially after my own Father died as a result of his AO illnesses. It changed me to see other disabled children born after the war, who also like myself, had no say in the politics of the 60’s, interacting and caring for each other. Their simple acts of compassion for each other helped heal a very lonely place left in my heart from childhood. It’s also given me hope by watching Non Government Organizations, physically help those in most need in Vietnam. I see what could be. I see the future for projects that could meet the unique needs of American and Australian generational victims of Agent Orange. We have to be out there meeting each other, we have to understand the suffering we ALL are going through. One of our dreams is to facilitate a group of American/Australian victims of Agent Orange to go to Vietnam as a delegation to experience this for themselves. It’s only with doing, engaging and acting can real change happen.

It’s about public relations, building relationships, comparing research, and comparing experiences, that helps not only the greater good, but us in the long run. Some may never agree with me, and that is fine. I am a humanitarian, not a war sympathizer, I have my Father’s approval and that is all I need to continue this work. Caring about the Vietnamese Agent Orange victim really does matter.

Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxhnIKp3WlU

DIOXIN WSU EPIGENETICS AGENT ORANGE #COVVHA

#Dioxin Agent Orange causes disease reproductive problems across generations – WSU #Epigenetics COMPLETE Study

On September 27, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

“Dioxin (TCDD) Induces Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Adult Onset Disease and Sperm Epimutations,”

Dioxin causes disease, reproductive problems across generations

By Eric Sorensen, WSU science writer

PULLMAN, Wash. – Since the 1960s, when the defoliant Agent Orange was widely used in Vietnam, military, industry and environmental groups have debated the toxicity of its main ingredient, the chemical dioxin, and how it should be regulated.

But even if all the dioxin were eliminated from the planet, Washington State University researchers say its legacy would live on in the way it turns genes on and off in the descendants of people exposed over the past half century.

Writing in the journal PLoS ONE, biologist Michael Skinner and members of his lab say dioxin administered to pregnant rats resulted in a variety of reproductive problems and disease in subsequent generations. The first generation of rats had prostate disease, polycystic ovarian disease and fewer ovarian follicles, the structures that contain eggs. To the surprise of Skinner and his colleagues, the third generation had even more dramatic incidences of ovarian disease and, in males, kidney disease.

“Therefore, it is not just the individuals exposed, but potentially the great-grandchildren that may experience increased adult-onset disease susceptibility,” says Skinner.

Skinner is a professor of reproductive biology and environmental epigenetics – the process in which environmental factors affect how genes are turned on and off in the offspring of an exposed animal, even though its DNA sequences remain unchanged. In this year alone, Skinner and colleagues have published studies finding epigenetic diseases promoted by jet fuel and other hydrocarbon mixtures, plastics, pesticides and fungicides, as well as dioxin.

The field of epigenetics opens new ground in the study of how diseases and reproductive problems develop. While toxicologists generally focus on animals exposed to a compound, work in Skinner’s lab further demonstrates that diseases can also stem from older, ancestral exposures that are then mediated through epigenetic changes in sperm.

This latest study was funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Skinner designed the study; the research was done by Assistant Research Professor Mohan Manikkam, Research Technician Rebecca Tracey and Post-doctoral Researcher Carlos Guerrero-Bosagna.

The study, “Dioxin (TCDD) Induces Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Adult Onset Disease and Sperm Epimutations,” is embedded below and also available at http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0046249.

Contact:
Michael Skinner, WSU Professor of Environmental Epigenetics And Reproductive Biology, 509-335-1524, skinner@wsu.edu

Dioxin (TCDD) Induces Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Adult Onset Disease and Sperm Epimutations

Agent Orange In Ohio – COVVHA Event Press Release

On September 21, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

For Immediate Release

Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance
COVVHA@GMAIL.COM
www.Covvha.net

Agent Orange In Ohio

Boardman, OH – October, 13 2012 – Two Generational Victims of Agent Orange who founded the Non-Profit Organization ‘Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance’ will host a meet & greet and educational seminar on October 13th starting at 6pm at Ohio Naturopathic Wellness Center, 755 Boardman-Canfield Rd., Suite D- (Southbridge West), Boardman, OH. Appetizers and beverages will be served, followed by the seminar at 7pm. Please make your reservations at COVVHA@Gmail.com for attendance since seating is limited. The event is free and open to the public and can also be joined through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/COVVHA

Heather A. Bowser (39), Daughter of Bill Morris, of Canfield Ohio and Kelly L. Derricks (37), Daughter of Harry C. Mackel Jr., of Bucks County Pennsylvania are both daughters of deceased Vietnam War Veterans. Each of their father’s were exposed to the deadly herbicide Agent Orange/Dioxin while serving with the United States Military resulting in their untimely deaths. Heather and Kelly were both born with multiple birth defects and illnesses which they still suffer from Today. In early 2012, after many years of independent advocacy, they came together to form ‘Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance’ a Non-Profit organization seeking justice and providing assistance for the tens of thousands of sons and daughters also suffering from the generational effects of Agent Orange that occurs during the conception of a child.

Karen Y. Wengert (38), Daughter of surviving Vietnam Veteran George Ridgeway, of Newark Ohio, will also be attending the event. Karen’s mother, Barbara Ridgeway (Dunn), who is now deceased, was a key proponent in starting the area’s local VVA chapter. At the age of 8, Karen accompanied by her parents on November 11, 1982, stood in attendance at the official opening of the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. As a surviving Vietnam Veteran, Karen’s father now suffers the severe health effects that Agent Orange / Dioxin is known for leaving in its destructive wake. Recently, Heather and Kelly were very pleased when Karen graciously accepted the position of Secretary as an Official COVVHA board member. Karen has worked tirelessly over the last several months, despite her suffering with numerous illnesses, to ensure COVVHA’s ability to reach the 2ND generation victims of Agent Orange.

Nicknamed COVVHA, Kelly and Heather stress four simple words that have reached millions, not just in the American community, but also the international community of those exposed including Vietnam, Australia, Korea, Japan, Guam, and Canada; “You Are NOT Alone.” COVVHA has vowed that no Vietnam Veteran, Child, Grandchild, or those who were exposed to Agent Orange by other circumstances, will ever feel like they are waging the fight for their lives alone. The event which is being hosted by Kelly and Heather on October 13th starting at 6pm at Ohio Naturopathic Wellness Center, 755 Boardman-Canfield Rd., Suite D-(Southbridge West), Boardman, Ohio, Is intended to educate the general public and those exposed about the generational health and medical effects of Agent Orange. They also hope to meet other Sons and Daughters of Vietnam Veterans who may have interest in volunteering any extra time to COVVHA.

Before his Death at the age of 37, Kelly’s father stated, “I know I have a bomb ticking inside of me, I know that bomb is Agent Orange.” Before his death at the age of 50, Heather’s father stated, “If I only knew I was taking my children to war, I would have dodged the draft.” Please join Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance on Saturday evening, October 13, 2012 to help COVVHA raise awareness. R.S.V.P. by email at COVVHA@GMAIL.COM At the conclusion of the evening’s events, A brief memorial tribute will be held in honor of Kelly’s father marking the 30 year anniversary of his death on October 14, 1982. Kelly was only 7 years old when her father died. Agent Orange was not just a Vietnam War Era tragedy. In fact, Agent Orange was used globally long before the war began. To people like Kelly and Heather and the millions they fight for, the Vietnam War never ended. The battle ground and weaponry have simply changed.

Visit Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance at their main website www.CovvHa.net

Support COVVHA’S Facebook Page by clicking the “LIKE” button at https://www.facebook.com/COVVHA

Contact Heather and Kelly by email at COVVHA@GMAIL.COM

Hysterectomy Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

My Journey to Hysterectomy

On September 17, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

I know that several of you have either taken this journey already or will be taking it yourself but I would like to share my experience with you in hopes that you will get a glimpse into what it is like to go into the unknown. My journey started with a diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome at 18. I had always had problems with my periods, I started at 13 but then I didn’t have another one until I was 15. I had sporadic periods and the pain would intensify with every one I had from then on. I went to Planned Parenthood when I was 18, as I didn’t have a regular OB/GYN, they did a pap test on me, I almost came off the table as the doctor pinched me with the speculum, and she said that since my “situation was so far outside the realm of norm,” she was going to have to refer me to an high risk OB/GYN. At that point, I hadn’t had a period in 2 years. Thus began the roller coaster ride.

I started to see the OB/GYN, which then prescribed birth control pills for me to take to get my periods under control. That is when the facial hair began to really grow in fast, she then added a water pill to make the facial hair stop growing, it didn’t work but I sure did have to go to the bathroom a lot. I changed birth control pills 3 times that year. One made me bleed, one made me sick and one made my hair fall out. I started to have pain in my abdomen and that is when I started getting the large cysts. The pain was unreal. I would usually end up in a hot bathtub full of water, soaking, that is the only thing that would ease the pain.

I got married at 26, Richard and I wanted kids very badly. We tried for 3 years to have children. We went to my OB/GYN, she put me on Clomid, a fertility drug and had me taking my temperature to check for fertility everyday. It was an exhausting process. I had 3 pregnancy tests come back positive and I was exstatic! I had all the symptoms of being pregnant, I was nauseous all the time, I had the breast pain, I was gaining weight, everything, so I called the doc. She gave me a due date of January 21 over the phone and scheduled me for an OB workup and ultrasound. I went in for the appointment and when I went for the ultrasound, the woman, very rudely, demanded to know just who told me I was pregnant. I told her Dr. Yablonkski told me and she said, again, very rudely, “there’s nothing in here, take off your underwear!” So, I did and she shoved the ultrasound wand inside me none to gently and she told me there was no baby growing inside me. I was absolutely beside myself! I was crying and I just wanted to go home and grieve but they made me wait to see the doc. When she finally showed up, she wanted me to take more Clomid and Provera to get rid of my lining. When I told her I didn’t want it, she told me I was being “irrational and overly emotional,” and that I needed to just get back in there and try again. She gave the scripts to Richard, he tore them up, threw them at her and we never looked back.

We went to another OB/GYN at Riverside before I found the one that I have now and she did and exam and told me that I had a chemical pregnancy. She didn’t really explain anything to me. While doing the exam, she found a polyp on my Cervix and she said I might feel some cramping and she removed it with no anesthesia or anything. It was so painful that I had to bite my lip to keep from yelling out. Needless to say, I never went back to her either.

I went to see Dr. Atwood that spring. She looked through my records and saw what happened with the pregnancy that almost was, and she started asking me questions about it. When I told her what the woman at Riverside told me and that she never explained what it meant, she just shook her head and apologized to me. A chemical pregnancy is when the sperm and the egg get close enough to meet but they don’t fertilize into a viable pregnancy and they send out the chemicals to the brain that you are pregnant. It was nice to finally have an explaination of what had happened to me, I thought I was crazy, that was in 2004. We tried a couple of different types of birth control pills to regulate me but getting my diet under control actual did the most good. I was eating more healthy and walking 2 1/2 to 5 miles a day and it did more than any pill for my system. It regulated itself and I could almost set my watch by it. Then I had my first big nervous breakdown. I didn’t care about anyone or anything and I took to my bed.

I started to have pains again with my periods in 2006, it was gradual at first. I would get nasty cramps to let me know I was going to start and then I would be fine after that, then it would be for the first day then I would be fine, then it got to be almost everyday. This became habit so I had gotten used to carrying Ibuprofen in my purse and having it in my locker at work, 1600 mg and I would be able to make it through the day, then 3200 mg wasn’t touching the pain anymore. 2008 comes and the pain in my abdomen ends me up in the ER more than once. It was actually a saving grace. I had a CT scan done and they found spots on my lower lobe of my lungs. After several tests and scans and one cancer scare later, they found that it was Sarcoidosis, not cancer. That is when we first started talking about hysterectomy. That to me was a death sentence. I just knew it to be a dark, scary thing that was going to hurt and that was going to make me stop being a woman!

I suffered for the next 2 years with cramps so bad that they started in my abdomen and went clear through to my lower back. The ONLY thing that made it better was either soaking in a hot bath or I was plugged in with a heating pad all day, everyday! It was so bad toward the end that the pain was radiating down my legs. In 2011, started to get heavier periods and I was passing blood clots the size of baseballs. I was weak and I was sick all the time. I made the appointment with Dr. Atwood and I told her about what was going on and she just asked me, “are you ready yet?” It was then I decided that I had to do the right thing and end the pain and the suffering that I had been living with for YEARS. I didn’t realize how bad it was until she asked Richard how bad it was and he told her that I couldn’t function even to do basic everyday things. I didn’t think he was noticing or that it was effecting him, but it was. We tried for almost 10 years to get pregnant and it was killing me that this was how it was going to end but all Richard said to me was that he wanted me to be ok, that was all that mattered to him. I am thankful and blessed to have him. He was feeling it too.

She scheduled it for October 4th 2011. I had 3 weeks to get used to the idea and believe me, I was terrified! On one hand, I was at peace with the idea. I was tired of the pain, I was tired of being tied to that blessed heating pad, I just wanted it to be over. On the other hand, I was in mourning for the fact that I was 38 years old and I would never have the one thing that I wanted the most in this world, children. I would never get to feel what it was like to carry a child in my womb, I would never get to feel the agony of childbirth. It was just going to have to be ok.

The morning came, and I was nervous. We didn’t tell anyone but my dad and Jane, our good friend Lora and our dearest friend Kelly that I was having the surgery. I needed to be focused on myself and getting through whatever was going to happen on that day. No one was with us at the hospital. I went back and they prepped me for surgery, everyone was really nice, they are at the hospital where it was done. I was so cold, it was freezing back there. I don’t remember anything else til I woke up in my room.

I woke up with Richard and my dad and Jane with me. I just remember wanting to get out of bed right away. I was still groggy. Richard always buys me a stuffed animal when I have surgery, he bought me a TY Bat, my dad brought me some beautiful flowers. I was talking to them and all of the sudden I told them I was going to be sick and it just came in waves. I couldn’t stop, the only thing I can think of now is that I was on a Morphine drip (your best friend) and I hadn’t had anything to eat. The nurses came and changed me and changed me bed and moved me to the room I was going to be in from then on. My bladder didn’t seem to want to cooperate for 24 hours after the surgery. I had a catheter in and I was drinking one of those 32 oz cups of ice water an hour and I wasn’t putting anything out. They were getting very concerned and kept doing ultrasounds on my bladder but it finally turned around right before I was let go to go home. I was told that what she found when she got in my abdomen was that my ovaries were the size of small potatoes and covered with sacs of blood and that scar tissue was beginning to attach to my bowels so instead of leaving my uterus and one ovary like she planned, she had to take everything.

I had staples across my abdomen. They don’t suture you after the hysterectomy. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. It was completely numb across there so I didn’t even feel them, except right before they were to come out, one was getting infected and it was pinching a little . I didn’t feel it one bit when she took them out, it was all still numb when she took them out. I haven’t had any pain since she did the surgery and I am so relieved! I am still numb across my abdomen a year later, but numb I can live with. This is a decision that I wrestled with, am I still a woman, yes. Am I still grieving, some. Do I regret it? No! It is something that we go through as women because our bodies are flawed and need to be corrected, not because there is anything wrong with us as women!

I hope that this glimpse into my journey helps to ease a fear, to let you know that you are not alone.

Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

American Grief, Or Is It? September 11, 2001

On September 10, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

We are the children of Vietnam Veterans, the ones left behind, the collateral damage of a war we never signed up for. Yet today, and everyday, we share our grief world wide with other children, the children of September 11, 2001.

This article is not being written to discuss and or debate the who’s, why’s, and what’s of that day. It is being written to simply state that WE, the children of Vietnam Veterans and our families, hear you and your families.

We understand your grief, your pain, and your horror. We understand your questions. We have asked the same questions. Why. The question is always WHY.

Our tragedies did not happen on one day as did yours. Our tragedies have been occurring for more then 50 years. Our fathers lay dead and dying because of Agent Orange / Dioxin poisoning. Now we lay dead and dying. Regardless, it is a tragedy that we suffer together.

When people ask me the same question that has been haunting Americans for 11 years, “What do you think happened that day”, I reply with the same answer each time; “My opinion does not matter. What matters is that there are now thousands of children growing up without a father or a parent. Children just like me. Children that we at COVVHA have founded our principles on standing up for. My father died when I was 7 years old and I would never wish that grief upon anyone that walks this earth.”

Whether it be the Vietnam War, Agent Orange Dioxin, or September 11, 2001, it is a shared grief. No, it is not the grief of America, it is indeed the grief of the world.

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.”
Washington Irving

Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

COVVHA OFFICIAL AUTHOR – Willow ‘s Introduction

On August 30, 2012 By Willow

I genuinely enjoy writing about topics I am passionate about. Although I was never considered the pensive writer in the family, but instead received ‘the call’ later in life. It gives me a chance to step back, assess, evaluate, explore, and understand. I do not, however, enjoy writing about myself. So, I will start with my father.
My father served in Vietnam as a Marine, Technical operations FAC, air control. Although, I am not entirely sure what that means. As the youngest of three girls in a traditional household, sharing war stories was not something he often did. It was only when our Grandfather, male family friends, boyfriends, and later, husbands, were present that he opened up about that part of his life. Instead, he shared his alcoholism, PTSD, obsessive fears, and rage on a daily basis. Through this, I embraced the ‘performer’/tomboy role; trying to entertain everyone to break tension, while acknowledging his desire for his last child to be a boy.
It was while he chose to serve our country, that he was exposed to Agent Orange. I will write more about his health issues, but suffice to say he fits the criteria that most exposed suffer with. And, he unknowingly passed it to us.
I always had urinary infections from as far back as my memory will allow. I recall sitting in a tub of ice in the ER, nurses sponging my scorching skin, the result of a a 104 temperature. I can still remember the frightening hallucinations of black spiders emerging and crawling rapidly down the wall. I think I was around two years old at the time. I had mild psoriasis and eczema, also typical of a Agent Orange child. Looking back, I consider myself fairly lucky, even though I was frequently ill, and took longer to recover than the average child. My parents were often frustrated with my bladder and digestive issues, but not as much as me, I assure you. The doctors didn’t offer much help, and no one tied my dad’s health issues and Agent Orange exposure to our health problems.
The worst was yet to come for me. At seventeen, I began experiencing mind-numbing menstrual cramps during my cycle. At twenty, I contracted mononucleosis, which seemed to open the flood gates, so to speak. I will also write at length about these ten years at a later time, but for the purpose of the intro, give you a brief idea of my declining health. I have been diagnosed with severe Stage IV Endometriosis, severe Interstitial Cystitis, Fibromyalgia, asthma, and painful lipomas. I’ve had hundreds of procedures, treatments, medications, and tests. I’ve had twelve surgeries in the past nine years, and in discussion for the thirteenth and fourteenth.
Besides sharing my journey as a Vietnam Vet’s daughter, and how Agent Orange has changed our lives, I would also like to share the skills I’ve acquired and mastered to cope with such issues. In particular, I will focus on meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, and visualization techniques to help those that suffer and survive along with me. It was six years ago, that I briefly gave up on the limited knowledge and narrow mindedness of the doctors, and instead focused on what my body was telling me. No, I did not heal myself completely, but I found a way to be a partner in my health and improve my symptoms. Most importantly, I feel in control.
I hope you enjoy my musings, and I look forward to finally sharing my personal stories with those that can identify and empathize. As you can probably tell, I am not the typical vet daughter. But, thanks to the COVVHA, I do know there are those like me out there. Perhaps it is those souls I am speaking for. I hope that does not deter anyone from reading and sharing, because in the end, we have more in common than not.
Don’t hesitate to contact me with questions or comments regarding my topics.
We are in this together, of course.
On the days not riddled with pain from various sources, I also design and create for my own jewelry line. I am now in the process of creating a bracelet specifically for the COVVHA. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to our tireless leaders and founders of COVVHA, and the site that brought me a new life purpose.

Peace

COVVHA & Canadian Veterans Advocacy Setting Sail On Peace Boat – Agent Orange Dioxin

On August 15, 2012 By Children Of Vietnam Veterans Health Alliance

As the voice and face of Agent Orange in Canada, Kenneth Young of Emo has travelled the globe bringing awareness to the effects caused by the harmful herbicide and defoliant used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War from 1961-71.
But the 64-year-old is especially excited to continue his Agent Orange awareness campaign aboard the “Peace Boat,” a Japan-based, international non-governmental and non-profit organization that works to promote peace, human rights, equal and sustainable development, and respect for the environment.

Peace Boat’s 77th Global Voyage for Peace departs next Friday (Aug. 24) from Yokohama, Japan and will travel to Da Nang, Vietnam.
There, Young will meet with Vietnamese survivors of Agent Orange as well as the U.S. ambassador in Vietnam.
“His role is that he is going to be teaching about what happened in Canada at CFB Gagetown,” noted Young’s son, Daniel, who also lives in Emo, adding his father will give a 75-minute lecture to university students aboard the Peace Boat.
“They called him in as an expert on the subject because he’s been an advocate for so many years, researching and getting all the facts on the matter,” Daniel Young said.
“And he’s been disseminating that through the Internet and other means.
“He’s been published probably hundreds of times now. He’s been really focused on this mission to get the information out there.
“He’s excited but a little nervous, too,” admitted Daniel Young, referring to his father’s upcoming presentation.
A Canadian veteran and first generation Agent Orange survivor, Kenneth Young also will be travelling alongside Heather Bowser, a second-generation American Agent Orange survivor, and Jenna Mack, an 18-year-old third-generation American survivor.
Bowser was born with multiple birth defects as a result of her father’s exposure to Agent Orange/dioxin during the Vietnam War while Mack’s mother was born with severe hip dysplasia, suffers from lupus, and also developed an extremely rare form of cancer five years ago.
This is the first documented case of three generations of survivors from the U.S. and Canada travelling to Vietnam to build ties with Vietnamese survivors and to raise awareness of the global scale of the Agent Orange legacy.
Young indicated in an previous interview that Vietnam has suffered the most from the side effects Agent Orange caused, including “birth defects, 15 different types of cancers, diabetes, and destroying the immune system.”
There are an estimated 300,000-500,000 third-generation casualties, some of which Young noticed while in Vietnam last year, where he was a speaker at the Second International Conference of Agent Orange/Dioxin

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