Michaelina Argy
Michaelina "Mikey" Argy[1] MBE (born 26 August 1962) is an Australian born English thalidomide survivor and activist.[2][3] She has chaired the National Advisory Committee of the Thalidomide Trust, advised BBC producers for drama storylines covering thalidomide survivors and was appointed MBE in 2015.
Early life
[edit]Argy is a thalidomide survivor and is from a Jewish family.[4] She was born on 26 August 1962 in Melbourne, Australia to parents who were British immigrants who came to Australia through the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme, known colloquially as "ten pounds poms."[4][5] She had two elder siblings.[4]
Before her birth, Argy's mother was prescribed thalidomide to ease her morning sickness.[6] Due to the drug, developed by German pharmaceutical company Grünenthal, Argy was born with foreshortened arms and suffers from acute back pain.[7] The drug was later withdrawn from use after it was found to harm the development of unborn babies.[8]
By when Argy was three years old, her mother had been admitted into a mental institution and Argy did not see her again until she was 13.[4] When she was six years old, Argy's father moved the family to England and he raised the children as a single father.[4] Her father remarried, then died when she was fifteen years old.[4]
Argy attended Michael Hall, a Rudolf Steiner school in Ashdown Forest, Sussex, with her siblings,[9] then trained as a computer programmer at Queen Elizabeth’s Vocational College for the Disabled. She worked briefly for the Civil Service.[4]
Activism
[edit]Argy is a past chair of the National Advisory Committee of the Thalidomide Trust, the organisation through which British thalidomide survivors receive financial support.[1] She is still involved in the media activities of the trust.[10]
In 2012, Argy was interviewed by Ruth Blue for the Thalidomide: An Oral History project.[4]
In 2014, Argy took a campaign for compensation for the victims of thalidomide to the European Union Health Commissioner.[11] The next year, Argy stood as a candidate for the Independence from Europe party in the 2015 European Parliament election in South East England, but was not elected.[12]
In 2016, Argy advised the producers of the BBC period drama Call The Midwife for a storyline exploring thalidomide survivors.[13] During press for the show, Argy shared that she can no longer carry saucepans or manage zips and buttons. It is common for thalidomide survivors to experience musculoskeletal deterioration as they age.[14]
Honours
[edit]Argy was appointed to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2015 Birthday Honours. She was described as "Campaigner and Member, National Advisory Council, Thalidomide Trust", and the honour was "For services to Thalidomide Survivors".[15][16] She said that she was "astonished but absolutely delighted" to be appointed MBE.[17]
Personal life
[edit]Argy has two daughters, including TikTok content creator and influencer Madeline Argy.[3] Their father left the household when Madeline was 6 years old and divorced.[18][19]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "The National Advisory Council (NAC)". The Thalidomide Trust. Archived from the original on 21 January 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ Kellaway, Kate (24 January 2016). "Mikey Argy: 'I don't blame the parents who rejected babies with thalidomide'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ a b Ryan, Siobhan (12 October 2009). "Compensation calls backed by Sussex thalidomide victim". The Argus. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Thalidomide: Mikey Argy" (PDF). Wellcome Collection. 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ "Post World War II British Migration to Australia". Museums Victoria Collections. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ "Compensation calls backed by Sussex thalidomide victim". The Argus. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ "Thalidomide 50 years on: 'Justice has never been done and it burns away'". The Telegraph. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ "Are the Call the Midwife babies real?". Radio Times. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ "With courage and determination..." (PDF). Michael Hall News. Autumn 2015. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "Media Enquiries". Thalidomide Trust. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ Thomas, Andrea (10 January 2014). "Call for compensation over Thalidomide".
- ^ "Vote 2014: European election candidates for the South East". BBC News. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ Lorraine (22 March 2016). Mikey Argy - Thalidomide Survivor Interview. Retrieved 10 April 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ Fletcher, Martin. "Call the Midwife: Thalidomide survivors on their quality of life and why they're waiting for justice". Radio Times. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ "Michaelina ARGY". www.thegazette.co.uk. London Gazette. 13 June 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "Thalidomide campaigner from Sussex awarded MBE". ITV News. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "Sussex Thalidomide campaigner Mikey Argy becomes MBE". BBC News. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ Montarroyos, Emily. "Madeline Argy's Brutal Honesty & How It Made Her the New Obsession". Strike Magazines. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ "Madeline Argy doesn't get why she's famous". The Face. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2025.