Fw: Reynolds writes The Honorable Judge Hood

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From: " by way of ilena rose " <LEEMAURICE@...>

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Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2002 12:07 PM

Subject: Reynolds writes The Honorable Judge Hood

Ilena ... please post.

February 5, 2002

From: Lee Reynolds

The Honorable Judge Hood,

I am hoping that my letter reaches your hands and that it is your eyes that

sees and hears what I have to say.

And I pray that you heart hears and feels my pain and concern. For it is

you, that holds the fate and futures of hundreds of thousands of women and

families.

At 29 years of age, I was a wife, a mother of 2, an active, healthy,

vibrant young woman with an unsuspecting future ahead of me. In 1978, at

the age of 29, I received Dow Corning silicone gel breast implants and I am

part of the Dow settlement. I received the implants purely for cosmetic

reasons, I wanted my large A, small B breasts to match my 35 " hips. Even

after having 2 children, my breast were small but they (please excuse my

choice of words) still " pretty and perky " . I did not choose large

implants, I wanted only to be a small C cup. They were very

proportionate to the rest of my body and I was very happy with the results.

As several months past, my breasts were turning hard (capsular contracture

from scar tissue). The plastic surgeon placed both his hands around my

breasts and squeezed until there was a loud popping sound and a burning

sensation, he broke the scar tissue surrounding the implants. I had

bruising where his finger were placed on my breasts. This was done to me on

two other occasions, because the hardness returned. Eventually this

procedure was discontinued by the plastic surgeons. Within a few years

after implantation of these breast implants, I started having a mixed bag

of health problems. I had a constant low-grade fever, fatigue, joint pain,

muscle pain, hair loss, rashes, respiratory infections, gastrointestinal

distresses, and as the years past and after going to 33 doctors over an 18

month span, I still did not know what was wrong with my failing health. I

was told that I might have Lupus, because of a positive ANA. Can you

believe that I was elated when I was told that! At last I had a diagnosis!

At the point of having the implants 15 years, I was so sick that I felt as

if I was dying a slow death. I could not keep a job because I would miss so

much work or I could not perform because of cognitive problems that had

crept upon me, such as memory loss, confusion, inability to concentrate.

My implants were hard, the throbbed with pain, were red and feverish and

they were been changing shape. They were now displeasing to look at. The

right implant was clawling upward toward my shoulder and had buldges on the

side. I was once again fired from my job, had no insurance, was separated

from my husband and I was living with my daughter. I was seeing an

alternative medicine physician that took a look at my breasts and suggested

a physician that I could go see about having the implants removed. I did

so, as soon as I could get an appointment.

Surgery proved that both implants, as well as both scar capsules, were

grossly ruptured and silicone had spread throughout my chest cavity.

Silicone had to be scaped out from the back of both my nipples. The

explanting physician quoted in his report " This is the worst ruptures I

have ever seen, this is a stringy mess " . Silicone was intermingled with my

natural breast tissues, which had to be removed. Today I have been left

grossly deformed from these artificial breasts that were supposed to last

my lifetime. I was forced into a mastectomy of both of my breasts because

of a product that failed, not because of any breast disease! I was forced

into additional surgeries I did not want or need if it wasn't for having

breast implants. I had reconstruction surgery on my nipples, a year after

explant.

Judge Hood, since the implants have been removed ( I never considered any

type of replacement) my health has slowly but most definitely returned. I

am currently job hunting and planning to get off Social Security

Disability. I am thankful that I have almost recovered completely except I

do now have fibrous of my lungs and I have never smoked. From the implants?

I think so. Can I prove it? Probably not. Even thou some of our physicians

believe it. And you'll never be able to tell that to thousands of other

women that are suffering as I have. Time will tell .

Page 2

My reason for this letter to you is to ask you to reconsider allowing Dow

Chemical to escape liability from this tragedy. They have already been

found liable in a court of law. Why does this not matter? Why has Judge

Spectors decision to hold Dow Chemical accountable been reversed?

Recently in an action brought by individuals that received faulty hip and

knee replacements, the original settlement was replaced by a new

settlement, because it was inadequate for the patients. The new settlement

will give them around $200,000 each. All because they had to have more

surgery. What if a faulty product fails, deforms and mutilates a body,

causes severe health problems by robbing one of their good health and

destroys lives and livelihoods of families? Do you honestly believe that

the Dow settlement as it stands is fair and just? I am sincerely praying

that you reconsider your decision regarding Dow Chemical and give the

people what is deserved for receiving not only a faulty product, but a

deadly one too. Isn't our government here to serve the people? Why does it

seems to be serving corporations and their best interest?

Judge Hood, the women are waiting and waiting for justiceSSS WE ARE THE

TRUTH!

Sincere and hopeful,