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Naked and Caged: A Nightmare Come True

Right this moment, former professional concert pianist and music teacher, Maha Laxmi, is sitting naked in her bed somewhere in Canada, under a Faraday cage — a structure that blocks wireless signals. She sits there because she is suffering from severe chemical and electrical sensitivities after being electrocuted while using an electric footbath three years ago. The electrocution came right after a pesticide application in her apartment, and she became severely environmentally ill overnight.

If Laxmi ventures out of her cage even for just a few minutes, she will experience burning on her face and stomach and other severe symptoms from exposure to neighbors’ WIFI and cell phone signals.

If she puts on clothing, her face will swell and turn red, she will feel pain behind her head, in her stomach and liver, and become nauseous and disoriented. Eventually she will become severely agitated, and start to shake and cry uncontrollably. She reacts to all detergents and materials in sheets, blankets, seeping bags and clothing, even organic cotton and hemp.

To most reading about this, the situation will seem freakish and unbelievable but to people like me it is frighteningly familiar. Both Laxmi and I are in our 40′s. I, too, was electrocuted (by a shoddy electric blanket, in a small town in eastern Turkey) during my descent into severe environmental illness. I, too, do not tolerate clothing or bedding and am two outfits away from being naked myself. I, too, am tortured by other people’s wireless habits.

The difference between Laxmi and I, however, is that Laxmi has been homeless for eight months and is staying at a friend’s house in Canada while I live in a “safe” (non-toxic) home in rural Arizona, far from any polluting neighbors. And because she does not have one or two tolerable outfits like I do, searching for safe housing is nearly impossible.

With winter approaching, Laxmi is making an appeal for help in finding her an appropriate living situation in Canada. She is looking for an apartment that has:

* hardwood floors that have not recently been refinished, and/or tile floors (no carpet, vinyl or laminate flooring)

* wooden cupboards (no press board or malamine)

* electric or hot water heat (no gas, wood, oil, forced-air or propane)

* not had pesticides sprayed in it

* is not near the laundry room or drier vent

* has not had insecticides sprayed in the garden

* has not had incense, Glade plug-ins nor any other strong chemicals used in it

* is not in close proximity to other places that have wireless technology

She says:

The usual medical and government organizations have not been able to help me with a housing search, funding for housing appropriate to my needs, any other essential needs, nor medical help, although I do have a diagnosis from my doctor.  My needs do not fit the mandates of the organizations I have approached, so I am appealing to individuals who understand my situation to help me.

I am unable to stay in homeless shelters, because of the pesticides and other chemicals they use there. Unless i have a place to go soon, I will be in my car, without clothing, in a Canadian winter, unable to go into grocery stores or restaurants to get food.  I suppose drive-thrus could work, but I need to eat or organic or I react!

I urgently need help to find appropriate housing.

And at present, I need food delivered to the place where I stay in the Faraday Cage, from the few places in town whose food I am able to eat.  I am unable to cook, because I need to remain in the Faraday Cage set up over my bed to avoid severe electromagnetic sensitivity reactions.

My bed is made up of pillows and sterile table paper, from my doctor’s office.  I am allergic to all sheets and blankets I have tried, and do not have a laundry facility I try to get some clothes and bedding that could work for me, so I am cold.

I have become unable to work, because I cannot wear clothing and so, cannot go out. i need financial help from people who understand my situation, help looking for accommodation, and help with food delivery and costs, until I am able to get into appropriate accommodation.

I would also like help to produce media stories — help from people who are familiar with this world would be deeply appreciated. I would love to hear from you if you would like to help me or know of someone who might. My story is perfect for raising awareness about environmental illness, how challenging it can be, and about the current lack of services available for people with this illness.

Please contact me by leaving your telephone number on my message service number:  Canada (250) 384-3030.   I almost never use the computer, because of my electromagnetic sensitivities.”

Soon Laxmi will have to leave her friend’s home and if she does not find appropriate housing, she will be forced to live naked on the street in Canadian winter temperatures. If taken to a hospital against her will, it could kill her, according to Dr. William J. Rea, a specialist in environmental medicine, she says.

Her friends and family do not understand the illness or the urgent nature of her situation and so far have not been willing to accommodate her needs to welcome her into their homes. So she appeals to those in the chemically sensitive community. Can we help Laxmi survive this winter?

Please leave her a message on her phone service in Canada if you’d like to help: (250) 384-3030.

Please note: Some of the information in this article was taken from Guy Dauncey’s feature on Laxmi in September ’09 on earthfuture.com. Thank you Guy!