Wednesday, November 13, 2019


11/14/2019 Book Tour and Review: 

FRANKIE The Woman Who Saved Millions From Thalidomide



Frankie: The Woman Who Saved Millions from Thalidomide
PUB DATE: 6/24/2019 by THE HISTORY PRESS
Paperback 288 pages
Thalidomide: patented in Germany as a non-toxic cure-all for sleeplessness and morning sickness. A wonder drug with no side-effects.
We know differently now.
Today, thalidomide is a byword for tragedy and drug reform – a sign of what happens when things aren’t done ‘the right way’. But when it was released in the 1950s, it was the best thing since penicillin – something that doctors were encouraged to prescribe to all of their patients. Nobody could anticipate what it actually did: induce sleeping, prevent morning sickness, and drastically harm unborn children.
But, whilst thalidomide rampaged and ravaged throughout most of the West, it never reached the United States. It landed on the desk of Dr Frances Kelsey, and there it stayed as she battled hierarchy, patriarchy, and the Establishment in an effort to prove that it was dangerous. Frankie is her story.


REVIEW:

Thalidomide is a medication that I will never forget for the devastating birth defects of the babies born due to the side effects of this drug used for morning sickness. It was marketed as a medication that was non-toxic with very little to no side effect. Though many may not even remember this drug given that it had been over 60 years since we last saw these effects, learning about the doctor that saved millions from this is truly a hero and worth getting to know more.

This was an amazing read about Dr. Frankie Kelsey who worked for the United States Food and Drug Administration and questioned the release of this drug despite that it was already approved in many, many other European countries, Africa and Canada. Her scientific mind and very cautious approach to approving medications earned her the Presidents' Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian from none other than John F Kennedy in 1962.

Though it has a lot of amazing researched information about this medication and what was happening all over the world, this was a phenomenal collection of information regarding this devastating human catastrophe. I highly recommend this especially that November is dedicated to Non-fiction reads, this one is a great read to start with.

I highly recommend this book to hail the accomplishment of a strong woman, Dr Frankie Kelsey a hero, who saved millions!!
JAMES ESSINGER is the author of non-fiction books that focus on STEM subjects and personalities, including Charles and Ada (The History Press) and Ada’s Algorithm (Gibson Square), the latter of which has been optioned for a film. He lives in Canterbury.



SANDRA KOUTZENKO is a bilingual writer whose work spans a variety of categories and topics, ranging from French poetry to English non-fiction, focusing on human nature and the conflict between its potential for greatness and its propensity for destruction.  
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