Kirkland, Sally
From Make Me Heal
Now Kirkland works as a minister in the Church of The Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness, an artist, and teaches yoga and meditation and drama. In addition, Sally is also a health activist including advocating for women harmed by breast implants. Kirkland founded the Kirkland Institute for Implant Survival Syndrome in August of 1998. In October of 2006, Kirkland joined Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, in marching for Peace in Los Angeles. In January of 2006, on the deathbed of her Godmother, Shelley Winters, Sally performed a spiritual marriage as a last wish of Winters. The following is the story she had to share about her breast implant experience:
"I first got silicone gel breast implants in 1986. Three years later, I began to have health problems which got progressively worse the longer I had the implants. Before I had them removed, I was in crippling pain, particularly in my arms, chest, back and neck. I had shooting pains down my legs. I had constant infections and inflammations. I was always sick with viruses. Over the years I was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr, rheumatoid arthritis, borderline MS and borderline Hepatitis. I went from being a Yoga master and aerobics instructor to a very ill woman – at a very young age. I had the silicone implants taken out and replaced with saline in 1995. After several unsuccessful saline surgeries, I had the saline implants removed in 1998. When the silicone implants were removed, there was silicone all over my body - in my blood, joints and organs. I literally saw test tubes of my blood that looked like it had glue in it. The silicone was causing me terrible joint pain and preventing my organs from working correctly. My pancreas, gall bladder and kidneys were not functioning properly.
Since being explanted in 1998, the inflammation has miraculously improved. But I still have silicone in my system. I undergo constant treatments to detoxify myself and boost my immune system.
The FDA should NOT remove restrictions from the sale of silicone gel breast implants, especially after reviewing less than three years of data. I didn't get sick until 1989 – three years after having implants – and continued to get sicker every year after that. The FDA should protect American women. No one should have to live through the nightmare I've been through and continue to endure."
