Tainted: My Personal Account of the Canadian Blood Disaster

"Tainted" is a gripping tale that delves into the devastating true events of the Canadian Blood Disaster, exploring a mother's courageous battle to save her son's life. Set in the late 1980s, the story follows Leslie, a loving and resilient mother, and her young son, Jarad, who has been diagnosed with a rare medical condition. Entrusting the healthcare system to help her son, Leslie's world is shattered when she learns his illness is due to contaminated blood supplied by the hospital...and he's not the only one. As the ominous shadow of the tainted blood scandal looms over Canada, Leslie finds herself thrust into a heart-wrenching fight against time, bureaucracy, and corporate cover-ups. With every passing day, Jarad's health deteriorates, and Leslie becomes increasingly determined to unearth the truth behind the tragedy that has befallen her family and countless others. Driven by an unwavering love for her son, Leslie joins forces with other affected families and activists, navigating a treacherous landscape of political corruption and medical negligence. As the scandal's scale becomes apparent, Leslie must summon her inner strength to confront the powerful institutions responsible for the catastrophic human loss. "Tainted" is a poignant tale of maternal love, resilience, and the pursuit of justice in the face of insurmountable odds. While it is about the Canadian national health tragedy, this story is a clarain call to anywhere bureaucrats decide how taxpayer dollars will be spent at the expense of public health and safety. It's an inside look at backroom government failures and cover-ups, shedding light on the harrowing real-life consequences. This hauntingly powerful narrative serves as a stark reminder of the importance of accountability and the indomitable power of a mother's love.

Review :
"I just finished this ebook. I actually read it in just a day. I only stopped to eat and do chores. Otherwise, I found myself totally drawn into this true story. This is the tragic story of the tainted blood crisis and scandal of Canada and the wide-spread harm to its innocent victims like young Jarad and his family. The well composed true story will have you cheering one page and slamming your fist down in anger the next page. There are invaluable lessons held within the pages; the love and determination of a mom to find a cure for her ill child, the immeasurable struggles of the family, and heartless response from the government, agencies, and organizations that were focused on cover-ups, denial, and withholding responsibility and compensation. You will be forever changed after reading this book." - The Kman "The author's direct experience living with extreme uncertainty over her son's health and then fighting large institutions and the government is an important reminder, as the Anthropologist Margaret Mead said, to "Never ever depend on governments or institutions to solve any major problems. All social change comes from the passion of individuals." In this case institutions and governments meant to protect people were in fact harming them. Someone needed to stand up and hold them accountable. This author's story illustrates how this was done in a dramatic and inspiring fashion." - Daniel O'Leary "Terrific book. Wonderful read for everyone. A must for parents especially with children. The strength of a mother's love for her kids to succeed and overcome adversity. Also important for those needing to know more about Hep C, a first hand view of life with a child infected from birth. Great happy ending too !!!" - RJ "I was a reporter when the tainted blood scandal was at its height in Canada, and I actually lived in one of the towns where the author lived back then. What I liked about this book is that it tells the story from a personal point of view. The writing is not that of a professional author, but it is authentic and really outlines the nightmare that many people lived when they were infected with HIV or Hepatitis C through a blood transfusion. In this case, the victim Jared Gibbenhuck was literally a newborn baby when he contracted the disease while having open heart surgery shortly after being born. This book is a worthy addition to the history of Canada's tainted blood scandal." - Poddio "I couldn't put this book down. The lengths that the author went to in order to protect and save her son are heart wrenching. It's beautiful to see that from such a horrible journey, an amazing outcome came. Leslie embodies what a Mother's love truly is through unimaginable circumstances." - Amy R. "This book takes readers on a rollercoaster along with Leslie and her family. You get so wrapped up in the story that it's hard to put done. A must read!" - Ashley R.