The following is a personal story submitted to Civilian Exposure and published as part of our new series: “Contamination Chronicles: Personal Stories of Exposure”. If you would like to submit your story, you may fill out our form here or send directly via email to share-@-civilianexposure.org.
In 2014 I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. It all started with severe back pain and fatigue. I saw my primary physician for a physical and full bloodwork, and the urine and blood showed I had Multiple Myeloma. I then saw an oncologist, and he started me on treatments.
I did 24 months of oral chemotherapy and bone infusions. After I completed that, I had an auto stem cell transplant in 2016. Now, I live with constant bone and joint pain. I talked to my transplant team from Loyola Medical Center in Chicago for possible causes, and they said from environmental exposures.
I was then puzzled because I live such a clean life, no smoking, drinking, or working around any harmful chemicals.
One day, I was on social media and someone was talking about Fort Ord receiving a Superfund status for cleanup from the government, so I checked into it. I found out that the water was contaminated, and so was the soil. I never knew this for years, so I asked my oncologist if it was possible that the TCE, PCE, and Benzene could have caused the Multiple Myeloma.
He said it was more likely than not that it did.
I filed a claim with VA just to get a denial, so now I have filed it to a higher court. I was glad to see other stories from Ord. Thanks for sharing mine.
- Author resides in Niles, Michigan
Note from the Editor: The account/editorial is verbatim from the author without edit, with only the omission of their name to preserve anonymity.
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2 comments
I also was stationed at ft Ord in 1966 and also have Multiple Myeloma. Filed a claim with VA on agent orange with no luck yet. keep trying that’s what i do.
My husband Scott Lindquist was at Fort Ord 1985-1986
He has Plasmacytoma, Multiple Myeloma, and Amyloidosis, Va has denied his claim twice now but we will keep fighting. Dont give up everyone. We all got to push them to stand behind each and every soldier. You all did your dutie now they need to do theirs and stand behind you all. God Bless