(NewsUSA) -  

“For the Love of Buddy”
by Dyanna Morrison       

“For the Love of Buddy” is a whimsical and heartfelt, true tale that highlights the journey of a girl and her cat, from the East Coast to the West Coast and from asthma to diabetes. It will serve as a touching and frequently humorous reminder of how our pets experience the same medical ailments that we, as humans, face over the course of our lifetimes. It is a poignant story of love and remembrance, even when confronted with the inevitable pain of loss.  

The book will bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye, and will be embraced by children and readers of all ages, as you recount and celebrate memories from your lifelong journeys with members of your own furry families.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3JEMf3u.

“The Friendship Pact”
by Jill Shalvis  

New York Times best-selling author Jill Shalvis returns to Sunrise Cove with a powerful, moving story about a young woman on a quest to find the truth about her father who learns the meaning of true love along the way. Alone in the world, Tae Holmes and her mother April pretty much raised each other, but as Tae starts asking questions about the father she’s never met, April goes silent.  

Then Tae finds herself face-to-face with Riggs Copeland, whom she hasn’t seen since their high school fling, but who comes to her aid to help track down her father. On a hunt to unlock the past, the two of them learn a shocking truth, while also reluctantly bonding in a way neither had seen coming.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3jHkf4V.

“Riding the Executive Roller Coaster: Medical Staffing Cases”
by Kelli Christina  

The author creatively uses real-life events and court cases unnoticed by the public eye over a decade and fictionalizes them in a compelling story of the tribulations of professional offices at their highest and lowest moments.  

Handling business or professional issues improperly or illegally has consequences that can escalate and destroy lives along the way. Too often, bosses and employees learn the hard way about employment laws that were designed to help businesses. And when business goes wrong, you can expect to find yourself in attorneys’ offices and court proceedings.  

This book is geared to help business leaders learn employment laws as well as necessary life lessons that can affect our well-being, families, friends, relationships, and love life.

Purchase at https://bit.ly/37P2SfB.

“Living and Leaving My Legacy”
by Merle Saferstein  

A serious journal writer, the author has filled more than 380 journals since 1974 and undertook a legacy journal project. She sorted through thousands and thousands of pages and found meaningful excerpts to share with others. Somewhere along the way, this morphed “Living and Leaving My Legacy (Volumes 1 and 2).”  

When she began, she chose 70 relevant topics, eventually narrowing it down to 22. After careful editing, she chose to include the excerpts that best capture her thoughts, feelings, conversations, encounters, memories, dreams, travel adventures, and more. She has been teaching a course, “Living and Leaving Your Legacy,” since 2012. She has taught 61 classes and speaks on the subject of legacy to a wide range of audiences locally, nationally, and internationally. Learn more at https://merlersaferstein.com.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3MFpzTj.

NOTE: BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - Most people think of Marine Toys for Tots as the flagship Children’s Christmastime charity, but it is much more. The organization continues to seek more ways to support children in need throughout the year.     

“Toys for Tots distributed three million toys, games and books to COVID-19-impacted families through its DoGoodNow campaign over the past two years. Our support was desperately needed and so well received that we want to continue to do more --  at Christmastime and beyond. For the third year in a row, we’ll be partnering with our friends at Good360 and will expand upon our DoGoodNow initiative by distributing another one million toys, books and games to families with children in need,” says LtGen Jim Laster, President & CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.     

He continues, “Our support doesn’t stop there. We want to be able to reach even more underprivileged children through other avenues. This summer, Marine Toys for Tots expands the DoGoodNow campaign with Summer of Smiles. One way Toys for Tots delivers summertime smiles is by providing support to children in the foster care system.”     

On June 3rd, staff members from the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation teamed with Wendy Chadwell, local Coordinator for Middle Georgia, to distribute educational gifts and bring hope to children in Georgia’s foster care system. The Foundation provided educational toys, books, games, and school supplies, and volunteers filled 476 brand-new backpacks to the brim to provide to local foster care children! The gifts were received by the local District Foster Care Coordinators who represented eleven surrounding counties and will be given directly to children in the local foster care program.     

This initiative is just one of many that allows the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to provide support to underprivileged children beyond the holiday season.     

“It is Marine Toys for Tots’ mission to bring hope and joy to more children in need every year -- even beyond the holidays,” explains LtGen Laster. “That is why we distributed educational toys, books, games,school supplies and backpacks to the local District Foster Care Coordinators in Middle Georgia. This initiative was our first step in supporting children in foster care,” LtGen Laster adds.     

“These children leave their homes with only a small plastic bag of their belongings. Marine Toys for Tots wants to give foster care children not only something tangible to take with them as they move, but also some tools and hope for a brighter tomorrow.”   

Visit toysfortots.org for more information on how to help Toys for Tots support children year-round. Follow Marine Toys for Tots on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn to learn about the year-round impact you’re making for our Nation’s children in greatest need.

(NewsUSA) - ­­­­

“Iris in the Dark”
by Elissa Grossell Dickey       

A single mother faces her worst fear -- the past -- in a provocative novel of suspense by the author of “The Speed of Light.” Iris Jenkins knows that bad things happen. She’s tried to escape these things for years.  So when she is entrusted to house-sit at a lodge on the South Dakota prairie, she thinks she’s prepared for anything.  

But one surprise is Sawyer Jones, the property’s neighbor and caretaker, and a caring, reassuring presence. Then late one night, Iris hears a chilling cry for help coming from a walkie-talkie buried in a box of toys. As the calls get more desperate, personal and menacing, Iris realizes the person on the other end isn’t reaching out for help, but to terrorize her. Purchase at https://amzn.to/37PteOI.

“Monkey Business”
by Carleton Eastlake  

When TV writer William Fox is dragged by his show’s toxic producers to a “gentleman’s club,” he meets Nicole, a mysterious dancer who claims to be an anthropologist searching for signs of rational life on Earth.   Enchanted by her playful and serious ideas, Will falls in love -- and his ever-more troubled, love-struck behavior and the acidly destructive battles during the production of his show begin to illustrate Nicole’s theories.  

Nothing about Nicole seems authentic. After she warns she’ll soon leave and his producers are humbled by an uncanny encounter with the police, Will begins to wonder whether Nicole is staging real world events with him and the producers as her experimental subjects? And if so, can he learn the lessons she’s trying to teach and earn her love? Purchase at https://amzn.to/3ruWDoh.

“Crazy to Leave You”
by Marilyn Simon Rothstein  

From the author of “Husbands and Other Sharp Objects” comes a witty, big-hearted novel about the happy accidents that lead to love and second chances.  

Forty-one years old, the last of her friends to marry, and down to a size 12, Lauren Leo is in her gown and about to tie the knot. There’s just one thing missing: the groom. With one blindsiding text, Lauren is unceremoniously dumped at the altar.  

Picking her heart up off the floor, Lauren turns to her work and plans her next step, finding a second chance in the most unexpected place. “A heartfelt, delicious story,” says Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnolia Palace. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3Eeeg0S.

“A Letter in the Wall”
by Eileen Brill  

It’s 1971, and Joan Dumann fears her former business partner wants her dead. As she constructs a letter about her predicament, she revisits her past.   Born into a prominent Philadelphia Quaker family in 1915 and raised with privilege, Joan wrestles with her turbulent thoughts and unfulfilled desires. When she attempts to push against the norms for women of her time to forge her own identity, she is met with resistance.  

Inspired by a letter written by the real Joan, found hidden in the wall of a Pennsylvania home more than half a century later, this is a fictionalized imagining of who she was and what motivated her. Moving through several decades, the book examines the factors that influence one woman’s journey toward independence and empowerment.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3vkCUZN.

NOTE: BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - The ongoing pandemic has highlighted the importance of keeping your immune system strong and healthy, according to Leonard A. Farber, MD, a healthcare executive and expert in emerging technologies and their impact on public health.     

A weak immune system increases your risk not only for developing illness, but for a more severe case if you do become ill with something such as COVID-19, says Dr. Farber, who also serves as a spokesperson for nutritional supplement manufacturer Quadramune.     

Fortunately, there are many ways the average person can strengthen his or her immune system. In many cases, following the obvious and well-known advice to get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet, and exercise regularly can help boost your immune system. Other factors include avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and incorporating ways to relieve stress, such as with yoga, tai chi, or other mindfulness-related activities.     

In addition, the right nutritional supplements can play an important role in reducing inflammation in the body and supporting a healthy immune system, says Dr. Farber. “At early stages, our bodies’ inflammatory response can fight off infection as well as play an integral role in injury repair. When inflammatory cells reach an unhealthy level such as in chronic inflammation, they can trigger your body’s immune system to attack healthy tissues and organs,” Dr. Farber explains.     

Nutritional supplements, such as those developed by Quadramune, are designed to help keep the immune system in balance. Anti-inflammatory foods such as salmon, tofu, walnuts, grapes, and olive oil can have a positive effect on the immune system, and many of the active ingredients in these foods are actually found in Quadramune supplements.     

The Quadramune supplements provide the benefits of infection-fighting power and protection against chronic inflammation, according to the company website. Several key ingredients in Quadramune supplements include:     

• Pterostilbene. A natural dietary compound that has shown antioxidant activity and inflammatory properties.     
• Epigallocatechin gallate. This powerful antioxidant plant compound boasts antioxidant properties and potential ability to help protect the lungs and promote healthy T cell activity.     
• Sulphoraphane. This natural plant compound has been shown to help reduce inflammation, which may help protect your lungs and reduce your vulnerability to respiratory infections.     
• Thymoquinone: phytochemical compound found in the plant Nigella sativa.  This active ingredient is chemically related to hydroxychloroquine, but with no prescription needed. It has demonstrated to stimulate natural killer (NK) cells which are antiviral, and is a potential antiviral itself based on its mechanistic effects on cells.     

This combination of ingredients “can be immune stimulating or boosting and preventative of an unhealthy immune response,” says Dr. Farber. “This allows the body a better chance not only to fight the onset of an infection or inflammatory reaction but also to lessen the severity of certain illnesses, especially those that are inflammatory-based in nature,” he adds.     

For more information, visit buyquadramune.com. 

(NewsUSA) - Colorectal cancer remains the third most common non-skin cancer in American adults, according to the American Cancer Society. Regular screening is essential to identifying colorectal cancer early, so it can be effectively treated. If colorectal cancer is caught early, five-year survival rates are as high as 90 percent. However, many people do not seek routine screening, and don’t experience symptoms until their cancers are advanced and harder to treat.     

The American Cancer Society recommends that adults at average risk for colorectal cancer should be screened every five years starting at age 45. Unfortunately, the disparities that persist in many areas of health care continue to affect colorectal cancer screening.     

For example, according to the Ohio Department of Health, colorectal cancer is diagnosed in more than 5,200 Ohioans each year, and the state’s colorectal cancer mortality rate among Blacks from 2012 to 2016 was 20% higher than that of whites.     

Strategies to reduce these disparities include offering more options for screening.     

“I believe that it is important to not pressure people to use one particular screening approach. It is up to them and their doctor to determine the method and frequency that is best in their case,” says AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio Market Chief Medical Officer Steven Spalding, M.D. “The important thing is that everyone get regularly screened.”     

Screening methods, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) recommended frequency for those at average risk, include:     

• Every Year: A fecal occult blood test or fecal immunochemical test (FIT). Both check for blood in your stools. These tests can be done in your own home, and require no advance preparation or dietary restrictions.     

• Every 1-3 Years: A FIT-DNA test, which combines FIT with a test that looks for altered DNA in the stool. This test also can be done at home without advance preparation.     

• Every 5 Years: A flexible sigmoidoscopy, in which a doctor puts a short, thin, flexible tube into your rectum and the lower third of the colon. The device allows the doctor to remove most polyps and take biopsies.     

• Every 10 Years: A colonoscopy, which is similar to a flexible sigmoidoscopy but examines the entire colon. Your doctor also will conduct a colonoscopy if any of the other screening methods reveal anything unusual.     

AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio, a Medicaid managed care organization that is slated to begin serving Ohio Medicaid enrollees later this year, will cover the costs of colorectal cancer screening tests on the CDC’s schedule from ages 45 to 75, and earlier and/or more frequently for members considered to be higher risk. However, other Medicaid plans can have different policies, so be sure to check with your health plan.   

 For more information about AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio, visit www.amerihealthcaritasoh.com.

(NewsUSA) - BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

­­­­“Antithesis”
by Svet Rouskov       

A collection of vivid and exhilarating science fiction stories, tied together by characters whose moral challenges offer windows into humanity and the human condition. These stories are cautionary tales, flights of fancy, terrifying psychological journeys, humorous romps and even a space opera.   Among them: a speculative tale about humankind becoming obsolete from the perspective of the machines we created. An airline pilot who loses his faith in the physics of flying. A new galaxy where humans are irrelevant, but the conflicts of a class-based society are not. A mission to Mars, the origins of humanity and an atrocity that stretches across time and space.  

Escape into worlds unlike anything you have seen before, but some eerily similar to our own.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3FcLxtZ.

"Preposterous: An Elizabeth Cromwell Mystery"
by Jennifer Mason  

A San Francisco dominatrix, Elizabeth Cromwell, is drawn into the sudden disappearance of Edith Barlow, an heir to the estate of an old friend of Elizabeth’s, a woman who herself had vanished seven years earlier. A struggling poetry zine, a 400-meter hurdler who just missed the Olympics, a women’s track coach with a yen for bullwhips, a billionaire with a state-of-the-art S&M dungeon, a man serving a life sentence in Alabama, and an erotic art dealer, are a few of the many mysterious parts in a highly convoluted string of strange disappearances.  

Says Kirkus, “The murkiness of the tale and its California setting will call to mind the works of Thomas Pynchon, but Mason creates an atmosphere that is very much all her own.”

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3uwabk0.

“Storm Surge”
by John F. Banas  

Brenda Meyers is having a bad day. Her daughter is trapped somewhere in New Orleans right before Hurricane Katrina strikes. Her increasingly estranged husband may be on the verge of losing another job. And her cheating former fiancé claims to have evidence that his wife and Brenda’s husband are having an affair.  

But nothing matters more than finding and rescuing her daughter. Brenda feels a rescue mission can be made before the storm hits. So, when her former fiancé offers his boat and his help, Brenda reluctantly accepts, knowing her husband and ex cannot get along.  

Her worries prove correct. While racing the raging storm, she uncovers a fiendish plot to murder her well-insured husband, who happens to harbor secrets of his own.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3uTBsgu.

“Disorderly Conduct on a Flyer”
by Tiera Newhouse  

A single mother is falsely incarcerated and accused of disorderly conduct over punching a flyer, which ends in another twist of events. The author believes a life is far more valuable than a piece of paper. Read it and weep as the story describes how easy it is to get a false charge against you if you fail to comply with what the police ask you to do -- whether you break the law or not.  

Tiera shares her story on behalf of those who did not get to share theirs. It’s a story so serious that you’ll laugh when it’s over. Tiera illustrates the value of never giving up when things still look bad. Keep fighting to progress in the right direction, and you will succeed.

Purchase at https://bit.ly/3LqTptK.

NOTE: BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - Many older adults would prefer to remain in their own homes as they age, but a lack of affordable options makes this plan a challenge for individuals and their families, according to results of a new survey of more than 1,700 caregivers and other respondents in two rural California counties.     

Older individuals may find themselves burning through savings to stay at home, or forced to move to a nursing home or long-term-care facility if they can’t afford to hire home-care help, according to the survey. The survey was sponsored by Legacy Health Endowment, a California-based nonprofit healthcare grant-making foundation.   

Often, adult children become caregivers, and they face financial and emotional hardships of their own. Nearly 80% of the survey respondents says that their caregiving responsibilities have affected their ability to pay their household expenses. Adult children may sacrifice saving for their own retirements, funding their children’s college education, or making down payments on a home to financially support and care for aging parents.     

In these situations, “caregivers shoulder the burden of rearranging their schedules, juggling doctors’ visits and prescriptions, squeezing in regular shopping trips and performing essential housekeeping chores, all while caring for a spouse or aging parent,” explains Jeffrey Lewis, President and CEO of Legacy Health Endowment.   

The burden is even heavier for women, says Lewis. “Women who leave the labor force early because of care-giving responsibilities cost themselves an average of $324,044 in lost salary and Social Security and pension contributions over their lifetimes,” he adds.     

Other key survey results related to women caregivers include the following:     

• Approximately 90% think services that allow seniors and those who are disabled to live where they prefer are important.     
• Approximately 72% say that caregiving responsibilities have impacted their physical, mental, and emotional health.     
• Approximately 60% report decreasing their work time because of caregiving responsibilities.

The survey also found overwhelming support from respondents for respite care for primary caregivers, who often face fatigue and burnout. More than 91% say they support programs that provide resources for their own mental health as well as resources to help with caregiving.  

The survey was sponsored by Legacy Health Endowment and conducted by J. Wallin Opinion Research, and conducted in English and Spanish between March 25 and April 19, 2022, in Stanislaus and Merced counties. The data were collected by professional interviewers by calling cell phones and landline phones, as well as online interviews via text, e-mail and social media.     

For full survey results,visit legacyhealthendowment.org.

(By George Renaudin, SVP, Humana) - Now that we’re halfway through 2022, it’s important that people with Medicare re-evaluate what is included in the Medicare Advantage health plans they selected to ensure they’re maximizing their coverage throughout the year.

While it’s common for Medicare Advantage members to use benefits such as coverage for doctor’s appointments, preventive screenings and vaccines, many plans offer additional benefits so individuals should look to take advantage of the innovative options that might be included in their plan, such as:  

• Transportation Benefits: Several health plans cover non-emergency medical transportation to and from doctor’s appointments. If transportation has been a problem for you, or you’d prefer to not drive, inquire with your health plan about transportation benefits in your area.     

• Fitness Programs: The SilverSneakers health and fitness program is designed for individuals with Medicare. Members have access to 15,000 participating U.S. fitness locations which may have cardio equipment, pools, and free weights as well as fitness classes and social events. The program also includes yoga, walking groups and on-demand video classes.     

• COVID Care: In addition to the free tests offered by the government, some Medicare Advantage plans currently offer 14 days of home-delivered meals (up to 28 meals) as well as $0 copays for testing, treatment, and vaccinations.     

• Insulin Savings: The price of insulin can be a barrier for the 3.3 million people with Medicare who use it. Fortunately, many plans offer a benefit to help members save money on insulin costs. For example, some Humana members pay no more than $35 for a 30-day supply of select insulins at all in-network pharmacies.     

These are just some of the benefits included in Medicare Advantage plans. If you’re currently enrolled in a plan, reach out to your agent or health plan to confirm what you’re eligible for so you can take advantage of these resources, as the only opportunity to change your plan outside of the annual election period is if you encounter certain events, such as moving or losing other insurance coverage.

Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO, HMO SNP, PPO, PPO SNP and PFFS organization and a stand-alone PDP prescription drug plan with a Medicare contract.  Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal.

George Renaudin is a senior vice president at Humana.

(NewsUSA) - When was the last time you thought about the health of your nails? In fact, healthy nails are not only attractive, but they are also important to overall health.     

Nails can even be a window into underlying serious disease. Proper nail care helps keep your hard-working hands and feet looking and feeling their best by decreasing infection risk and breakage. As temperatures start to rise and RSVP season kicks into high gear, it’s time to show your nails some love.     

According to Dr. Dana Stern, a board-certified dermatologist and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, the most common mistakes people make when it comes to caring for their nails are choosing the wrong products and using the wrong tools.     

“We need to think about nail care in the same way we think about skin care and pay more attention to products we’re using and how we focus on not just the look of our nails but the underlying health,” says Dr Dana.     

Dr. Dana, the only dermatologist who devotes her entire practice to nail diagnosis, treatment, and surgery, is a go-to dermatologist for patients seeking advice on how to treat nail conditions and gel damage, as well as the best ways to keep their nails healthy and beautiful. Some common nail complaints she hears from patients are dryness, weakness, ridges, and aging related nail issues. She also hears her patients talk about dry, brittle nails from all the hand washing and use of hand sanitizer.     

Dr. Dana shares her top three tips to improve the look and health of your nails:     

First, when you’re choosing products, be mindful of the ingredients and steer clear of harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, a known carcinogen and an ingredient that is in many nail strengthener formulas. Just as you wouldn’t want to use a product with harsh substances on your face or body, the same goes for products you put on your nails.     

Second, stop using abrasive emery board nail files. These files can be damaging, as they cause microscopic tears at the tips of the nails. Instead, look for glass or crystal files that will give your nails a smooth edge and won’t cause snags or tears.   

 Lastly, always wear gloves when doing wet work around the house or garden, such as washing dishes. Nails are like little sponges, and over-saturation will weaken the nail, making it prone to breakage.     

To promote nail health and help consumers take care of their nails at home, Dr Dana developed  the Nail Renewal System, which uses plant-based science to combat brittle, ridged, weak and over-processed nails. Hailed by celebrities as a nail miracle, the system produces healthy, lustrous nails within minutes of the first treatment.     

“Skin care products have progressed in line with scientific advancements, so why haven’t nail care products? It is time for a nail care brand that does more than merely mask the issues -- that revolutionizes the way people care for their nails,” says Dr. Dana.   

“In the same way that exfoliation improves the health of your skin, the Nail Renewal System is designed to remove damaged, superficial nail cells and promote hydration to improve the health of your nails,” she explains. “I like to call it a buff with benefits.” The Nail Renewal system is the first nail treatment with glycolic acid for essential exfoliation, and the product is free of formaldehyde, parabens, artificial fragrance, dyes and other toxic ingredients often found in nail care products.     

Another key ingredient is in the hydrating formula of the Nail Renewal System. Pistacia Lentiscus is a natural nail strengthener derived from the sap of a unique evergreen tree in the Mediterranean.     

The biggest myth Dr. Dana hears in her practice? “Nails do not need time to breathe in between color applications -- they don’t have lungs.” Actually, nails receive oxygen from increased blood flow resulting from exercise. So cardio is not only good for your heart, but also for your nails.     

Need more incentive to show your neglected nails some love? A nail trend that’s sweeping the fashion runways and featured in magazines is  “#TheNakedManicure.” In the same vein as the “no makeup” makeup look, it features shiny, clear nails you can show off with confidence without the pitfalls associated with polish and time and money spent at the salon.     

Dr. Dana’s Nail Renewal System is distributed through Rare Beauty Brands, a global brand platform of purpose-driven beauty brands.  

Visit drdananails.com for more information.

(NewsUSA) - Sometimes an egregious wrong gets righted.     

Such appears to be the case for military members and their families who’ve been seeking justice in the courts for exposure to contaminated water that sickened generations at the Camp Lejeune Marine base in North Carolina.     

Public outrage over their treatment heated up after victims’ lawsuits were dismissed in 2016 because of a state statute prohibiting plaintiffs from launching cases if more than 10 years have passed since the contaminating event. But last March the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 that essentially overrode that legal hurdle  -- “Thirty-four years of people were exposed to toxins in the drinking water,” one congressman raged -- and the Senate seems poised to follow suit.     

Now one of the nation’s most experienced tort law firms, Weitz & Luxenberg, has announced that it’s preparing to file lawsuits against the government in U.S. federal court on their behalf.     

“We believe they deserve compensation, especially because they and their families became sick while serving our country,” said Robin Greenwald, a partner at the firm and co-chair of its Environmental and Consumer Protection Unit. “They drank the water, they bathed in it, and they used it to cook their food.  And that water was contaminated with toxins at concentrations anywhere from 240 to 3,400 times the levels permitted by safety standards.”     

The 156,000-acre Camp Lejeune, with 11 miles of beach capable of supporting amphibious operations, is used for military training purposes primarily by the Marine Corps but also other branches of the armed forces.  Some of the most damning evidence comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s own Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR): “It is ATSDR’s position that exposure from the 1950s through February 1985 to trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, vinyl chloride and other contaminants likely increased the risk of cancers, adverse birth outcomes, and other adverse health effects” for those on the base.   

The Marine Corps first discovered volatile organic compounds in Camp Lejeune’s drinking water in 1982. However, it was already too late for people like now-retired Marine Corps Master Sgt. Jerry Ensminger, whose 9-year-old daughter Janey died in 1985 after having been diagnosed with leukemia two years earlier.         

“The entire first trimester of (her mother’s) pregnancy was there on the base,” Ensminger told theHill.com on the eve of the bill’s passage. “We’ve got more documented evidence of what happened at Camp Lejeune than they have for Agent Orange.”   

Assuming the Camp Lejeune Justice Act is ultimately signed into law by the president, who would be eligible to file lawsuits?     

Those who lived, worked, or were exposed to drinking water at the base for at least 30 days from August 1, 1953, to December 31, 1987, and subsequently suffered water toxicity-related diseases.  Among the conditions associated with exposure to the chemicals found in the drinking water:       

• Breast, lung, liver, kidney and esophageal cancers     
• Leukemia     
• Cardiac defect     
• Female infertility     
• Miscarriage     
• Parkinson’s disease     
• Non-Hodgkins lymphoma     
• Fatty liver disease   
 • Myelodysplastic syndromes     
• Multiple myeloma     
• Renal toxicity     
• Neurobehavioral effects     
• Scleroderma     

Weitz & Luxenberg encourages those who believe they fit the criteria and have been diagnosed with one or more of those conditions to schedule a free consultation.     

The firm has a stellar track record in handling toxic contamination lawsuits. It won a landmark $423-million settlement against some of nation’s biggest oil companies, for example, in a suit involving the contamination of 153 public water systems with the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether. And Greenwald was co-lead counsel for an $11 billion settlement in 2020 against Monsanto Company on behalf of nearly 100,000 Americans suffering from Non-Hodgkins lymphoma from their exposure to the weed killer Roundup.       

As for Camp Lejeune, the ATSDR has said as many as 1 million military and civilian staff and their families might have been exposed to the contaminated drinking water. The victims who initially stepped forward only to have their cases dismissed in 2016 because of the North Carolina statute -- and they were only a tiny fraction of that number -- had reportedly filed claims totaling nearly $4 billion.