The health issues across three generations of the Freese/Kissling family align with known dioxin effects, likely transmitted through epigenetic changes from William Freese's exposure:

• William Freese (F0, Grandfather): A Vietnam War veteran exposed to Agent Orange while loading barrels, sustaining a shrapnel injury that likely introduced TCDD directly into his bloodstream. He developed multiple heart attacks, diabetes (onset in his late 30s), and died of a stroke. These conditions are consistent with Agent Orange-linked illnesses.
• Loriann Freese (F1, Mother): Conceived post-exposure, her health issues include early menstruation (age 8), migraines, bladder issues, neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, diabetes (onset in her late 30s), bilateral knee replacements in her 40s, memory issues suggestive of dementia, and possible Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) characterized by explosive anger.
• Johnathan Freese (F1, Uncle): Also from the F1 generation, he suffered severe migraines and neuropathy, and died by suicide.
• Michael Kissling (F2): Born with birth defects (tongue tie related to cleft lip/palate, undescended testicle), protein C deficiency, May-Thurner syndrome, hyperandrogenic Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), possible MCAS, hypermobile joints, blood clotting issues (multiple DVTs, PE, amputation due to non-healing wounds and lividoid vasculopathy), neuropathy, hypercalcemia causing psychosis and speech pathology, hyperhidrosis, and retrograde renal blood flow. He has a genetic predisposition to type 1 and 2 diabetes (not yet developed) and is genetically immune to warfarin.
• Lily Rain Kissling (F3, Daughter): Born with tongue tie affecting feeding and speech (corrected by ENT, with upper lip separation), protein C deficiency, autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, and neonatal diabetes treated in the NICU. She did not respond well to stimulant medications.

Extensive research connects dioxin exposure, particularly from Agent Orange, to a wide array of health problems observed across generations, often through epigenetic changes that affect how genes are expressed without altering the DNA sequence itself.

• Birth Defects: Dioxins are recognized as a significant factor in craniofacial defects, including tongue tie.
• Cardiovascular and Blood Issues: Studies suggest an increased risk of ischemic heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure in Agent Orange-exposed veterans and an increased risk of blood clots and myeloproliferative neoplasms (a type of blood cancer).
• Neurological and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Dioxin exposure has been linked to memory deficits, brain atrophy, and neuropathy. Perinatal dioxin exposure has a considerable impact on neurodevelopment in infants, and dioxins are considered potential risk factors for autism spectrum disorder. Pesticides, which can contain dioxins, have also been linked to brain damage.
• Diabetes and Endocrine Disruption: Chronic dioxin exposure increases the risk of developing diabetes and can alter thyroid function.
• Reproductive and Developmental Effects: Research shows dioxins can cause reproductive issues and developmental abnormalities. Animal studies show increased prostate disease, ovarian primordial follicle loss, polycystic ovary disease, kidney disease in males, and pubertal abnormalities in females across generations from dioxin exposure.
• Immune System Dysfunction: Dioxins can lead to immune dysregulation and impaired immune function. Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a potential mechanism for chemical intolerance.
• Joint Health: TCDD (the toxic component of Agent Orange) induces cartilage damage, contributing to osteoarthritis.

This robust body of evidence underscores the urgent need for continued research, acknowledgment, and proactive measures to address the profound and lasting impact of dioxin exposure.

After decades of advocacy by veterans and their families, the U.S. government and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have been forced to acknowledge some of the devastating health consequences of Agent Orange. Through landmark bipartisan legislation like the PACT Act, the VA now presumes that a long list of cancers and chronic illnesses are service-connected for veterans who were exposed to the toxin.

The tragic irony is that the U.S. Congress has already acknowledged the science behind this generational crisis in the text of proposed legislation. The Victims of Agent Orange Relief Act (H.R. 3518) included the following finding:

"The Institute of Medicine for the past several years has noted that ‘it is considerably more plausible than previously believed that exposure to the herbicides sprayed in Vietnam might have caused paternally mediated transgenerational effects … attributable to the TCCD contaminant in Agent Orange.’. In recent years, scientific studies have identified likely epigenetic links between exposure to toxins and birth defects and developmental disorders in subsequent generations. Some of the children and grandchildren of exposed persons... who were in southern Vietnam during the Vietnam era likely suffer from disorders, birth defects, and illnesses related to Agent Orange." - H.R. 3518, 117th Congress

Despite this formal acknowledgment, the promise remains unfulfilled. The VA’s current policy on benefits for children is severely limited. As confirmed in a direct response from Congressman Ryan Mackenzie's office, "Currently, these benefits are only available to the children of female Vietnam veterans" who have certain birth defects.

This leaves the descendants of the vast majority of exposed veterans—who were male—without recognition or support. For years, bipartisan bills like the Agent Orange Equity Act (H.R. 326) and the aforementioned Victims of Agent Orange Relief Act (H.R. 3518) have been introduced to close this gap, but have repeatedly stalled. The fight continues today with new bipartisan efforts to expand research and finally provide care for all descendants affected by this poison.