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Randolph
Warren (Randy) was born June 27, 1961, disabled, as a consequence
of the drug thalidomide. Thalidomide is the notorious teratogenic
drug that caused so many birth defects |
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in
the late 50's and early 60's. Randy was born with phocomelic legs
(seal flipper) and 4 fingers on each hand. His mother only took
the drug two times on the 38th and 41st day of pregnancy for morning
sickness symptoms. Randy was born in Germany to a Canadian serviceman
and his German wife.
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By
1962, Randy and his family were in Canada, and Randy was sponsored
as the first baby to be admitted to the Shriner's Hospital in Montreal.
Randy would spend an accumulated 8 years of the first 16 years of
his life there, and would have 24 operations in that time.
Back
home in London, Ontario, Randy would be integrated into a regular
school using prosthetic limbs to get around. Randy, like many other
thalidomiders, had no real concept of legs. At the age of 16 Randy
began life as a wheelchair user. According to Randy, "that
was when my life as a whole person began".
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In
1987, the drug that caused Randy's disabilities, and Randy would
come face to face for the first time. Randy was appointed Research
Consultant for a Task Force seeking compensation for Canadian-born
thalidomiders. That fight was successful and shaped Randy's future.
In
1991, Randy became the Executive Director of a Victims Association
that he helped co-found in 1988. Over the next 10 years, Randy would
devote day and night to the plight of thalidomiders and the subject
of the drug thalidomide. As a result, Randy became an expert in
this field.
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Randy's expertise would be put to the test when an American drug
Company decided to apply for licensing of thalidomide, the drug
that was banned around the world in 1961-1962. Rather than fight the
return of the drug in the traditional "advocacy" sense,
Randy chose to deal with the drug's
return. Thalidomide was being brought back to deal with many
horrific diseases and conditions including leprosy, AIDS, and many
forms of Cancer. Randy recognized that the drug's return was inevitable,
and took a new approach. The victims of the drug's original notoriety
would work to ensure the drug's safest possible return. |
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This
new approach took Randy to the FDA,
the NIH, and on a path that led him directly to the door
of the drug company making licensing application. Often in an adversarial
relationship, Randy would propose changes to packaging and thinking,
ensuring as much as possible, that there would be no more babies
born disabled as a consequence of the drug thalidomide. To date
there have been no new babies born disabled from thalidomide.
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Randy has led an exciting and unique life, meeting exciting people,
and encountering challenging situations. His life has been a roller
coaster of fame and excitement with many peaks and valleys.
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From
appearances in 3 major television documentaries (CBC's Broken
Promises, PBS's Extraordinary People, and the History
Channel's Prescription for Diaster), to a book written by
Rock
Brynner (Yul Brynner's son) called Dark Remedy, Randy
has seen his life story highlighted. Randy has appeared around the
world in media from The
Joan Rivers Show and Canada's
Dini Petty Show, to Newsworld, CNN
and ABC, to a
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piece in the New York Times Magazine and numerous other print
and radio media interviews. BUT
each of these profiles only told part of the story of Randy and the
many obstacles he has managed to overcome. Although he has accomplished
so much, the struggles of day-to-day living as a person with a malforming
disability, and as a person in general makes for an inspirational
and motivational tale. |
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Randy
is a man of real personality and uniqueness. He has devoted his
life to doing the right thing and changing realities he could not
accept. After years of hospitalization, struggling with prosthetic
limbs, service in the disability advocacy movement, mentoring youth
with disabilities, and of course his accomplishments in the thalidomide
arena, Randy has lived many lives. Randy has many pearls of wisdom
and observations, which he shares
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by
taking people on a special journey, the journey of his life so far.
Randy brings you inside the battle and the accomplishments and the
failures. Through it all, Randy has kept his unconquerable spirit,
sense of humour, and a real belief in positive change. Randy's ability
to think outside of the box and effectively affect change bucking
the system make him a role model to all.
Want
to make your event special and memorable, then cry, laugh, and cheer
with the story of Randy, as presented by Randy
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