Linde Schulte-Hillen can remember the exact day she took Contergan (Thalidomide). It was one single pill and she only took it once. Linde was 21 at the time and it was the night her father died (Aug. 10, 1960).
Everyone in the family took a single Contergan pill that night so they could all get some sleep. She had a suspicion that she might be pregnant, but didn’t worry too much about taking something, since Contergan was available over-the-counter.
Her son Jan was born nine month later with two short arms.
Source: Interview for film “No Limits” with Linde Schulte-Hillen, January 24, 2015.