Catherine Roegge

Catherine says:

"The morning of October 1, 1995 started innocently enough for me. I went to my new job (I had been there about three months and was still a newbee), and was working with my boss for a while. Just before ten, I went to the ladies room, still feeling fine. That is when it happened.

As I went to open the bathroom stall, I glanced at my watch to check the time. I noticed that while I could tell there was a band of color on my wrist, I really couldn't see what it actually was. I opened the door, went to the mirror, and tried to see if something was wrong with my eyes. During my three steps to the sink I started feeling extremely dizzy, and of course I couldn't see myself in the mirror. At that point I was beginning to get an excruciating headache, which knocked me off of my feet. I moved to lean against the wall, and remained there holding myself up until someone came to the restroom.

I was taken to the Company's nurse's office, and then by van to the local hospital. While it was clear to myself and others that something was wrong with me, I stubbornly refused an escort and was left alone in an emergency room. At that time the pain was so extreme I was drifting in and out of consciousness. Emergency room nurses kept asking me if I had done any drugs, taken any medications or had I been involved in any illegal activity. I was really angry that no one seemed to be responding to me, but was too weak to say anything about it. I didn't get painkillers for several hours, and then only Tylenol with codeine. After I kept insisting something was wrong with my head, and that the pain had to be stopped, I was given a cat scan, which showed some abnormalities. I was taken back to the emergency room, and left alone, again for several hours. No one contacted my employer, or asked if I wanted to contact anyone about my condition.