C. Jean Grover, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio - which she would later come to know as the hub of thalidomide distribution in the US - is a graphic designer, marketer, and filmmaker. In the Rochester, NY area, she is the Marketing Manager for a not-for-profit human services agency by day; but in her spare time, she serves on the board and as Communications Director of US Thalidomide Survivors. This 501(c)3 entity has a mission to promote public awareness, advocacy, information exchange, and support for survivors in the United States.

Seeing the need to bring to light the true US thalidomide story, she embarked upon this film wholeheartedly, and with no budget. Born, herself, with all four limbs affected by thalidomide, she was quickly struck by the depth of devastation this drug had caused in our country, not just for her, but for others she met for the first time in the past few years; some born in the same year as she had been, in the same city and even in the same hospital, with strikingly similar limb loss, but never with an opportunity to meet until now.

She has spoken with fellow survivors from across the country who live at the poverty level, many unable to afford disability-related medical services that are not covered by insurances. Across the board, survivors live with mounting medical and disability-related debt, and most never received compensation for their injuries caused by in-utero thalidomide exposure.

Jean collaborated on this project with her sons, Andrew Penner, Director of Photography and Associate Producer, and Jake Penner, musical composer.

Professionally, Jean has won several awards in the Rochester area, including an RCTV “Creative Use of Media” award, and an Excellence in Broadcasting award from the NYS Broadcasters Association. In 2019, 2020 and 2021, she won Pinnacle Awards from the American Marketing Association, and in 2021, Marketer of the Year for her work for Villa of Hope.

Jean is mom to 3 grown children and one teenager.