SLUDGE VICTIMS

One day, I was in the local Co-op purchasing fencing supplies. The kind ladies were showing me what they had when at the checkout I began gasping and trying to breathe. One of them asked me if I had an inhaler. I managed to get out the reply of no, that I did not know what was wrong, but that I was going to the doctor the next day. I could not continue my conversation, got out to put the stuff in the van and that I would just go home. I continued choking all the way home.

The next day, the fever was back and the doctor visit showed that I had Pneumonia in the right lung. I was thinking, you have got to be kidding me, pneumonia in July? I stayed at my parent's house for another week. I had to be close to the doctor should I need to get to the hospital. The only thing that kept me out of the hospital was my blood oxygen, which was surprisingly normal. I still say to this day that it was due to the fact that I kept on working outside with the chickens and pony even while sick.

Since the first round of antibiotics did not work, they put me on a stronger one, the type that they give intravenously in the hospitals. It was hard to breathe. I was afraid that I was going to die. I had never had serious breathing difficulties in the past and was not sure of how to handle this. I stayed on the couch at night since laying down flat made me choke. I coughed up clear liquid like water. The only way that I could breathe was to take short, shallow breaths.

The second round of antibiotics worked. I began to feel better, the fevers stopped and my breathing slowly became normal again. Throughout the fall, I caught a cold and flu more easily than normal, but my health was slowly returning and I was feeling better again.

I have been asked to put an ending on this story. However, as it stands right now, there is no ending. I wish I could say that all is well, but it is not. The Virginia State Supreme Court found Amelia County's ban to be inconsistent with state law. Therefore, our ban in Rappahannock County is now in jeopardy.

I live with the fear of KNOWING what I am up against. You see I DO exist and I DO know how this by-product of the wastewater treatment process can affect others and me. However, I also know how victims are turned away by the very agencies empowered to protect us.

Thank you,

Lori Handshy
PO Box 258
Flant Hill
Virginia 22627

VIRGINIA - CULPEPER - VICTIM SUFFERS SEVERE HEADACHES, CONSTANT COUGH, NAGGING FATIGUE, NAUSEA, SEVERE DIARRHEA, RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS INCLUDING CHOKING, INABILITY TO BREATH. STATE AND FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY "NO DOCUMENTED CASES OF ILLNESS (FROM SLUDGE)"... YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE "PSYCHOSOMATIC"