My anthrax survivor's story

[Warpy]

NEW YORK - Every September, like many, I feel sick and frightened around the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. But it was the weeks following September 11th that would forever change my life. During that time, I was the victim of terrorism when I opened a letter containing a lethal amount of anthrax.

You may remember hearing about Tom Brokaw’s assistant who got sick after coming in contact with a letter containing a deadly amount of anthrax. I was the person who first opened that letter, before Tom's assistant became sick. You have not heard my story.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14785359/

Much more at the site. The article very carefully fails to mention that it was traced back to the CIA and then the investigation stopped. She also failed to mention that only Democrats and media people were targeted.

Still, it's an interesting story and I'm glad she's reminded people of that other terrorist attack in 2001.

[Hugin]

1. Nice find...

Too bad there were never any investigations.

BTW, I voted up the story over there at MSNBC.com

[Virginia Dare]

2. Another mystery about the whole thing that has never been

resolved. How did the woman in New York (not with the media) and the woman in Connecticut contract it? I believe it was theorized but never proven they got it from their mail contacting anthrax in the postal facility, but it's strange that those were the only two people affected this way if that was the case.

[kaygore]

3. I agree with you--the CIA was testing a theory and you were a

unwitting guiana pig.

Thanks for sharing your story and making sure we don't forget that few governments put people first.

[Ganja Ninja]

4. Here's why I think this was a government plot.

"The events over the next few months changed my life. I had carried anthrax back on my clothes and had contaminated my home. I chose to have all of my things destroyed. I lost my most personal belongings. All my precious pictures and mementos. I worried I might die. I’ll have to see doctors the rest of my life."

The same thing would have happened to anyone handling the letters. That means they had to be prepared for mailing in a laboratory and sealed in a container in order to mail them. You couldn't prepare them at home without contaminating your house and everything you came in contact with. And you couldn't prepare the letters in a government lab without someone seeing you do it unless you had some sort of special access.