A well publicized case of a Luekemia Cluster has struck the small town of Fallon Nevada, ironically another overlooked event has happened several children have been born to soon and suffered disability and death!
Background:
In 1997 the public of Fallon, Nevada started to notice the high rate of children Lukemia victims. It took the media to light a fire under the Health Department to take some interest.
By 1999, it became a big controversy as the victims in this small community of 12,000 swelled to app. 12 children who had contracted Luekemia or perished from it.
Our local newspaper, The Lahonton Valley News kept us locally informed and helped us get to know the victims and their families personally. However as the victims increased the major media started to take note. The cluster was then featured on major prime time news networks. Every thing from our water to military airline fuel lines was suspect.
By the end of 2001 the 17th child victim of Luekemia was diagnosed.
But in the sidelines something else has been happening, Since 1995 there has been a surge of pregnancy problems resulting in misscarraige, premature delivery resulting in child disability and/or death. This went unnoticed due to the fact that problem pregnancies were sent to Reno (the nearest large medical facilities) and were not recorded in Churchill County.
Here is a letter to the Editor I submitted to the Lahontan Valley News about this suspicious 'epidemic' as well:
February 7, 2002
Ms Susan Harrison
325 Amanda Ln
Fallon, Nv 89406
(775) 217-9326
Letters to Editor/ Ann Pershing
46 N. Maine St.
Fallon, Nv 89406
Dear Editor,
The terrible luekemia outbreak that has traumatised the victims and their families of so many in our county is haunting.
My heart breaks every time I hear of a new child with this frightening disease. We all also fear for our own children and who it might strike next. In reality we hope it is as the experts say, just a cluster that will suddenly vanish.
But I have another concern that I believe has gone overlooked. Since 1995 there has also been an outbreak of pregnancy problems, many resulting in misscarraige, premature birth and delivery resulting in disability or death.
I can name 15 people that I know personally that has been effected by this tragic event as well, half of them losing a child or more. I don't know everyone in town, imagine how many others I don't know that has been effected by this.
A state worker I know well, even mentioned to me at one point a year after my own son was born at 2lbs, that in her entire carreer working with pregnant mom's she had never seen such a sudden increase in premature births as she had after my son was born in 1996.
I have contacted the Health Department on this issue and gave them all the information I could. We did agree that in the case of pregnancy problems and premature delivery it might easily go unnoticed due to the fact that woman are sent to Reno with these problems and statistics wouldn't be available in Churchill County alone.
I believe there is a correlation between these two devastating illnesses and events. If our Health Department would start taking BOTH seriously and they are related, we might come closer to the truth in finding the answers we are looking for to prevent further deaths of our children.
If you have had trouble with your pregnancies, had premature delivery/birth, or lost a child since 1995 and lived here in Churchill County I would ask you to contact the Nevada State Health Department. John Flamm or Dr. Randall Todd might be a good place to start. There may not be any relation at all, but if perhaps there is, we might get closer to finding the cause of our communities curse.
Ms Susan Harrison
Churchill County
Ps. One a personal note: I have persued this quietly with the Health Department. Last night my daughter who is 7 month pregnant and completely healthy, went to the hospital and her water broke. This has now become personal and I believe with the help of the press this issue will be looked into. Thank Ann,
SusieQ
Re-Release! No longer back-listed. Return to the Olde Ways. The hustle and bustle of modern day life has brought many of us to a quick fix attitude.This book is for those of you who are fed up; have looked at your life and your loved ones and realize
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