Agent Orartge Legacy

Children of Vietnam Veterans

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contact us atagen toran gelegacy@g mai l.com

Founded in 20t7 by Sharon L, Perry & Danielle K. Perry Reyes

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Ê'çËnt ürärtü*ChilcJren of Vìetriani Veterãns

Hello my name is Danielle Perry Reyes, lam the daughter of a Vetnam Veteran. lllyfather died June 3, 2005 at the young age of Fifty Six (56); after a long battle with illnessescaused by Agent Orange. I am a Founder of Agent Orange Legacy, my Co-founder Sharon L.

Perry is also my mother. I have been sick all of my life. At the age of thirty one (31) I have twentyeight different illnesses. Everyday is a struggle.

Agent Orange Legacy is committed to fighting for the support, services and rights of theArnerican Children of Vietnam Veterans. Since 20AT we have been gathering health informationfrom our members who are children of Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange. 92% of ourmembers report they have birth defects and/or suffer from autoimrnune or rare disease, mental

Our research leads us to believe that the children suffer from birth defects, chronic andsevere autoimmune and rare diseases. The children of Vietnam veterans exposed to agentorange are at risk for developing diabetes, heart disease and many different forms of cancer asare other Americans. We believe that the Children of Metnam veterans experience a muchhigher rate of risk than the average American for developing these diseases and are at a greaterrisk for developing them at a younger age than is normally expected. Although we don't have theproof we suspect as much since we see a high incidence of diabetes, heart disease, andcancers in the health information provided by our members who are children of Vietnamveterans. We currently have a list of four hundred and ninty-seven (497) illnesses reported byour members.

We need a Center of Excellence for the Çhildren of Metnam Veterans and futuregenerations! Ïhe center can serve as a facility where the children of Metnam veterans can getthe medical help that we so desperately need, and at the same time conduct the scientificstudies that need to be done. Vietnam Veterans of America is currently working on legislation tobuild a Center of Excellence for the children of Vietnam veterans. We support their workwholeheartedly!!

When lwas 10 years old lwas admitted to the hospital. The doctor told myparents that lwas "failing to thrive". lhad severe and debilitating muscle spasms allover mybody and was wheelchair bound. I had to learn to walk again at 10 years old. There were no

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answers, no help and nobody listened. tMy mother told me that our nightmare started long before

the day I was admitted to the hospital. lwas sick from my father's exposure to Agent Orange

before he started to show any s¡mptoms.

"This is the struggle of a lifetime. I for one, will fight until nry very last breath hasleft ny bodyand my heart no longer beats". Danielle K. Re¡æs, Founder of AgentOrange Legacy

The children of our Vietnam veterans, who answered the call of duty, live with healthproblems and birth defects without answers to their questions. We struggle without appropriatemedical intervention, without the services and support we, as the sick and disabled children ofVietnam Veterans, deserve.

Many of the adult children of Vietnam veterans have suffered needlessly. Many morehave multiple mental and physical health problems. Something must be done. We do not wantour children to suffer as we have.

Why do something now?

1. There has been more research conducted shedding new light on old questions.

2. Technology has provided us with information that was just not available prior to thistime.

3. The children of Vietnam veterans have grown up and we now have children of our own.

4. The health of the adult children of Metnam veterans continues to decline.

5. The next generation have inherited birth defects as well. A lot has happened over theyears.

There have been advances in

1. Accessibility in technology as well as medical information.

2. Ease of communication.

3. The deaths of Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange.

4. lnter-generational veteran - child/grandchild issues.

5. Extensive documentation.

6. There has been advancement and awareness of other Agent Orange victimsworldwide. For us, the children of Vietnam veterans, this is our legacy.

We have learned that some of our members have also been exposed to other toxic substances.This makes the matter of improving the lives of the adult children and grandchildren and greatgrandchildren of Vietnam veterans a daunting task. Some of the adult children have been bornor lived on military bases such as Camp Lejune where military families have been exposed totoxic chemicals; for instance contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune.

There are many children and grandchildren of Vietnam veterans who have served in the Gulf,lraq and Æghanistan theaters of war and have multiple exposures to toxic chemicals that areconsidered mutagenic and teratogenic. War is expensive; the cost of waging war and itsaftermath are just now being realized by so many.

Agent Orange/Dioxin is known as an endocrine disruptor. lt can be naturally occurring inthe environment as well as a man made synthetic chemical. The endocrine system deals withmost of our bodily functions. lt is a very vital system. Without it our bodies would function verypoorly.

Children of Metnam veterans sufferfrom autoimmune diseases. The kinds of symptomswe suffer from make our lives extremely complicated. We have no answers or help from ourdoctors because autoimmune disease can not be detected by routine blood tests.

The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) reports that there is"untold suffering" of persons with autoimmune diseases due to misdiagnosis or delayeddiagnosis which may result in damage to vital organs.

We have found that there are children of Vietnam veterans who have been diagnosedwith rare diseases. One of the problems that we face is many doctors do not recognise raredisease or their symptoms because so few people have rare diseases.

Many of the children of Metnam veterans and their families want to have genetic DNA testingdone but we cannot afford it. We understand that these tests can screen for mutated genes andmutated genes can be linked to chemical exposure. This would help us to find out what ishappening to our bodies so we could, for example, slow the progression of disease. lMaybe if I

knew what disease I've had most of my life I wouldn't have just been diagnosed withgastroparesis. lf lknew what lwas dealing with lcould have made changes that could haveimproved the quality of my life.

There are very few studies about the effects of Agent Orangeldioxin on the children ofMetnam veterans. To date there have been more studies done on the effects of the Vietnam Waron the families of Vietnam veterans and their children than the effects of Agent Orangeldioxin.

Again I say there needs to be a "Center of Excellence" a place for the children of Vietnam

veteran as well as the following generations to go receive the proper medical intervention support

and services that we deserue, the help we so desperately need. We have or are watching our

parents die due to the efiects of exposure to Agent Orange/dioxin. We are sick and some of us

are dying or already dead. We need help, we have been left out in the cold alone, to suffer

without any help. without the proper medical intervention support and services that we deserve

as the children of Vetnam veterans. Please help us now, before it is too late.

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak on behalf of Agent Orange Legacy and

the children of Vetnam veterans. We are the second generation Agent Orange victims and

Dioxin survivors.

List of illnesses reported by our members

Abnormal PAPsAcid RefluxAcne lssues (Undefined, Cystic)AddictionAddison's DiseaseAdrenal Gland TumorsAlcoholismAllergies (Antibiotic/Others)

AlopeciaAmblyopiaAmenorrhoeaAmputationAncephalyAnemiaAnger lssuesAngiodemaAnkylogossiaAnkylosing SpondylitisAnorexiaAntiphospholipid Syndrom e

AnxietyAolpecia Areata

AphasiaAppendicitis (Cancerous/Undefined)

Arachnoid CystArnold Chiari Malforrnation * See Chiari belowArthritisArthritis (Juvenile)

Arterial Vienous lt¿lalform ation (AW)AspergersAsthmaAtaxiaAtrial Fibullation

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD HD)Autism (ASD)

Autoimmune DisordersAutonomic Nervous System ÐysfunctionBack & Disc ProblemsBacterial lnfectionsBalance Problem

Bell's PalsyBerger's Disease (Kidney Disease)

Bicornate Uterus

Bicuspid Aorta Heart Valve

Bilateral Baker's Cysts

Bipartide PatellasBipolar DisorderBladder lss ues lnfections/Overactive

Bleeding lssuesBlindnessBlood lssues (Undefined)

Blood in Urine (Undefìned)

Blood Vessel lssuesBoils

Bone CancerBone Spurs/Problems (Undefined)

Bones Missing at BirthBowel Deformity/lssues

Brain lssues (Water on the Brain, etc.)Brain Stem (Small)

Brain Les ions Aneuris m/Tumors/SurgeryBreathing Problems (Undefined)

Breast CancerBroncitis/Bronchial Spasm sBursitisCalcium Def,ciencyCamptodactylyCancer (Undefined)

Cardiac AhhrythmiaCardiac DeformityCardo SarcomaCarpalTunnelCaudal RegressionCava PerthesCeliac DiseaseCellulitis lnfections

Central Nervous System DisorderCerebal PalsyCerebellum lssues (Undefi ned)

Cerebra AnuersysrnCervicalCancerCervical Dys plas ia/lncom petency

Chairi lValformation (Assoc.w/ Spina Bifida)

ChloracneChrom osom e Abnorm alities

Chronic Fatique and lmmune Deficiency Syndrome (CFIDS)

Chronic lnflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)

Chem ical Sens itivities

ChloracneChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Cleft Palate, Lips

Club Foot (Talipes Equinovarus)

Cognitive lssuesCold/Flu (Chronic)

Cold Hands/Feet

Collapsed VertebreColon lssues

Compromised lmmune System

Congenital Heart BlockageCongenital Adrenal Hypoplasia

Congenial ScoliosisConnective Tissue Disorder

Conversion DisorderConstipation/Cram ping

CostrocondritisCranial SynthesisCrohn's DiseaseCrossed Eyes (Newborn)

CryoglobulinemiaCushing's Syndrome

Cystic Fibrosis

CystsDebilitating muscle spasmsDeep Venous Thrombosis (DVT)

Deformed SinusesD eform ed Arm s/Legs/Fi n gers/Toes lFeetDeformity of ChesUBreastDeformiÇ of the Face/Head/NeckDeform ity of Shoulders/Àrfu sclesDegenerative Disc/Bone DiseaseDegenerative Ligament Tiss ue

Degenerative Joint DiseaseDehydrationDentalProblemsDepressionDermetitis

Developmental DelayDeviated SeptumDextrocardiaDiabetes Type I

Diabetes Type ll

Diagonal Earlobe CreaseDiarrheaDigestive lssuesDisc DesiccationÐissociative DisorderDiverticulitisDizzy SpellsDouble Hernia @ Birth

Double UreaterDouble Uterus/CervixÐouble Uvula

Drug AbuseDuane SyndromeDwarfismDysautonomiaDysphaxiaDyslexiaDysthymia (AKA Chronic Depression)Ear lnfectionslProblem s/Surgeriesff ubesEctopic PregnancyEczemaElevated Heart RateEmotional ProblemsEndocrine DisordersEndomertil CancerEndom etrial HyçerplasiaEndometriosisEpilepsyExcessive SweatingExotropiaEye Problems (Undefined)

Facet Joint SyndromeFacialAplasiaFamilialTremorFatigue (Chronic, Syndrom e)

Felty's SyndromeFever (Undefìned)

Fibrocystic Breast Disease

FibromyalgiaFollicular Lymphoma/Large B Cell Lymphoma

Food AllergiesFoot Deform ity/lssues/Burning

Fragile X SyndromeFocal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)

Fused DigitsFused Veterbrae/DiscGall Bladder DiseaseiStones/RemovalGanglian CystsGastritis (Acid Reflux)Gastrointestinal Problem s

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

GastroparesisGene Mutations (4G4G)

GerdGlaucomaGlioblastomaGluten lntoleranceGoiterGoldenhar SyndromeGoutGrave's Disease

Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD)

Growths/Lumps on Skull

Hair LossHashimoto'sHead SoresHeadachesHearing Loss/DeafnessHeart AttackHeart DiseaseHeart Failure

Heart DefecUMurm ur/NewbornHeart Problem s/Surgery (Undefi ned)Heat lntoleranceHemangiomaHereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT)

HerniaHerniated DiscsHigh Blood PressureHigh CholesterolHigh Pulse Rate

Hip Deform itylPain/S urgery/UndefinedHip Dysplasia (Congential)

Hip Pain (Undefined)

Hip ReplacementHives

HistiocytosisHodgekin's LymphomaHorm one lss ues/Replacem entHydradenitis S upprativaHydrocephalusHylan MembraneHymen lssues (Partially lntact)

Hypercoag uaguli bility

HyperhomocysteinomiaHyperinsulimiaHyperlipidemiaHyperm obility lss ues/Su rgeriesHypertensionHyperthyroidismHypoplastic Heart

Hypoplaisa - Entire Right SldeHypoglycemia

HypospadiasHypothyroid/Hypothyroid is m

Hysterectomyldiopathic lntercranial Hypertension (llH)

ldiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (lTP) Platelet Disorderlmperforate Anus

lmmune System lssues (Undefined & MG lnfusions)lnfertility

lnsulin Resistancelnterstitial Cystitis (lC)

lnsomnialntracranial Cystlron Deficiencylrritable Bowel Syndrome (lBS)

lschemic Heart Disease"Jaw Deformity/Surgery "

Joint & Muscle ProblemsiPainJoint Hypermobility Syndrom e

Keratosis Pilaris

Kid ney lss ues/lnfections/CystsKidney Disease/Surgery

Kidney StonesKienbock's DiseaseKnee Problems/Dysplas ialPain/SurgeryKnee ReplacementLateralMycrotiaLearning Disaþilities

LethargyLeukemiaLiver Disease (Fatty/Undefined)

Liver lnfl amation/OtherLiver LesionsLong QT Syndrome (LOTS)

Loss of Skin PigmentLoss of Strength in LimbsLow Blood Count (Red)

Low Blood PressureLow EstrogenLow Potassium

Lum barization (Extra Veftebrae)Lung Deformity (3rd Lung)

Lung Disease/Nodules/Tum ors/ClotsLupus

Lupus of the Skin

Lyhocytic Thyroiditis

Lym phatic ïum ors/Lym phangiom a

Lym phoblastic Leukem ia

LymphomaMacrodactylyMarfan Syndromeh/elanorna

Memory LossMemory Retention ProblemsMenopause lssues (Early)

Menare's DiseaseMenstrualCycle lssuesMental Health lssues[t/enorrhagiaMetabolic SyndromesMethicillin Staphylococcus Resistant Aureus (MSRA)

Methylenetetrahyd rofolate Reductas e ( MTHF R)

MicrotiaMigraine HeadachesMiscarriages

Missing DigitsMissing Limbs/Body Parts

MittelschmerzMitralValve Prolapse

Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD)

Motor Developm ent (Slow@childhood)

Mullerian AplasiaMultiple SclerosisMuscle Spasms/Pain/Numbness (Undefined)

Musco-Skeletal Problems

Muscular Dystrophy (MS)

llyasthenia Gravisfvlyelodys plastic Syndrom e

Mycrobaterium GordoniaNasal CancerNasal PolypsNausea/VomitingNeck Pain/ProblemsNeuralgia

NeurocardiogenicNeurological Problem (Undefined)

NeuropathyNeutropeniaNevus SebaciousNight BlindnessNight TerrorsNon-Hodgekin's Lym phom a

NosebleedsNumbness in Hands & FeetNumbness in Body/LimbsNystagmusObesityObsess ive Compuls ive Disorder (OCD)O ppos itional Defiant DisorderOrthostatic HypotensionOsteoarthritisOsteochrondritisOsteogenesis lm perfecta

Osteopenia

OsteoporosisOtosclerosisOvarian CancerOvarian Cysts/Other

Pain (Undefined)

Palate Problems

PancreatitisPancytopeniaPanic D isorder/AttacksParalysisParasthesiasParicarditisPars PlaintisPectus ExcavatumPelvic Reconstruction/lss ues

Peptic UlchersPeripheral Nervous System DisorderPeripheral NueropathyPeriventricular Leukom alacia (PVL)

Personality DisorderPityriasisPituitary lssuesffumorsPierre Robin SequencePlanar SpaciatisPneumonia Childhood / RecurringPoland SyndromePoliosisPolycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS/PCOD)Polycythemia VeraPolymyositisPorphyriaPost Tramatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)Potassium lssuesPreclamsiaPrim itive Neuro-Ectoderm al Tumor (PNET)

Pregnancy Com plications (Undefined)

Pregnancy, Partial lVblar

Premature BirthsPremature l/enopausePremature Ovarian Failure (POF)

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

Prim itive Neuro-Ectodermal TumorProlactinemiaProlapsed CervixProstate Problems/Enlarged

Psoriasis

Psoriatic arthritisPsoriatic Rheumatoid ArthritisPsuedotumor CerbriPsuedo-Obstruction (lntestinal, Neurological)PtosisPulmonary EdemaPulm onary Fibrosis/Other (Undefined)

Pulmonary EmbolismPulmonary RestrictionPyloric StenosisRashes (Undefined)

Rashes (Newborn)

Raynaud's DiseaseReflex Sympathetic Dystrophy SyndromeRenal FailureReproductive Problems (Fem ale)

Res piratory lnfections/D istressRestless Leg SyndromeRetroverted Uterus

Rheumatoid ArthritisRheumatic FeverRefl ex Sym pathetic Dystrophy RS D/C RPSRosaceaSacralAgenesisSacral LuburalizationSalpingitis lsthmica Nodosa (SlN)

SarcoidosisSchizophreniaScladermaScoliosisSeizuresSeizures, Petit tVal

Sensitivity to MedicationsSevere Chronic Neutropenia

SchizophreniaShort Term Memory ProblemsSinus lnfections/Problems

SjogrensSkin CancerSkin LesionsSkin Problem s/Deform itySleep Apnea, DisordersSocial Problems

Spastic Colon

Speech ProblemsSpina Bifida

Spina Bifida OccultaSpinal Cord DiseaseffumorsSpinal DeformitiesSpinal DeteriorationSpi nal S u rgeries/Pain/UndefinedSplenetic CystsSpondyloarthropySpondylolithesisSpondylolytisStrabismusSteatohepatitisStom ach PainsiProblemsStrange GrowthsStrep Throat

StressStrokeSubglottal StenosisSuicidal TencenciesSupraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)

Swelling (Undefined)

Swollen Glands

SyndactylySyringomyeliaTachycardiaTemporal Arteritis

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)

Tendinitis

Testicle DeformityThoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)

Throat ïumorsThyroid Cancer (Hoshimotos)

Thyroid lssues & Cysts (Hyperthyroidism)

ThrombophiliaTorticollisTonsillitisffonsillectomyTourtettesTracheo-Esophageal FistulaTremorsfficksTriple X SyndromeTruncus Arteriosis

Tuburculosis (TB)

TumorsTwitchesUlcers, Stomach, l\ilouth, Nose

Ulcerative Colitus

Urinary Tract lnfections/lssues

Uterine CancerUterine Fibroids/Cysts/Other[Jterine LeiomyosarcomaUticariaVACTERL Association

VasculitisVascular HeadachesVaginalBleedingVaginosisVertebrae, ExtralMissing

Vertigo

Vitiligo\Ísion ProblernsVomiting

Weight LossWolff-Parkinson-W h ite Syndrom e

Deaths - Children

Deaths - Grandchildren