Planet Thrive is Taking a Break

by | Feb 13, 2010 | Featured, THRIVE! JOURNAL | 19 comments

Julie Genser, PT founder



One of the most critical issues affecting those with environmental illness today is housing. My personal struggle with EI has taken me from New York City, to Oregon, to Arizona, to Long Island, back to New York City, back to Long Island, to Florida, and back to Arizona again in the last six years. I thought I had a safe living situation but recent developments have left me frantically searching for a safe place to sleep; to no avail. My situation is so fragile due to my severe sensitivity to clothing, bedding, and heating. So I am stuck living in an unsafe home for now, without adequate heat, and must put my attention to daily and future survival first and foremost so I will not be adding new content to Planet Thrive for the next three or four weeks.

Most of my belongings will need to be replaced, including my clothes and pillow, which I am not sure I can find replacements for. But I am trying to stay positive and hopeful for the future.

Julie at the Indian OvensOne thing I have always been good at is finding the silver linings in challenging situations and this is no exception. Some local EIs have rallied to my side to try to help me deal with this situation and I am grateful for the deepened friendships and connections. My family has seen how serious my situation is and have come to another level of understanding and willingness to help solve my housing problem. I have seen how strong I am mentally and even physically, and have found a deeper trust in my capacity to survive. The situation has also strengthened my resolve to be part of the housing solution for others with environmental sensitivities.

Sending out love to everyone struggling with this disability and also searching for a safe home. Be back in mid-March with more great content and stories from the frontline (fingers crossed)! Until then, you can still connect with your Planet Thrive friends in the community section of our site, our weekly live chat parties will still take place, and you can of course access all the great information and resources available through our website. xxx

Author

  • Julie Genser, founder of Planet Thrive

    Earthwalker is the username that PT founder Julie Genser created for her online interactions so many years ago when first creating Planet Thrive.

    Julie's (Earthwalker's) life was derailed over twenty years ago when she had a very large organic mercury exposure after she naively used a mouth thermometer to measure the temperature of just-boiled milk while making her very first pizza at home. The mercury instantly expanded into a gas form and exploded out the back of the thermometer right into her face. Unaware that mercury was the third most neurotoxic element on Earth, Julie had no idea she had just received a very high dose of a poisonous substance.

    A series of subsequent toxic exposures over the next few years -- to smoke from two fires (including 9/11), toxic mold, lyme disease, and chemical injuries -- caused catastrophic damage to her health. While figuring out how to survive day-to-day, and often minute-to-minute, she created Planet Thrive to help others avoid some of the misdiagnoses and struggles she had experienced.

    She has clawed her way over many health mountains to get to where she is today. She is excited to bring the latest iteration of Planet Thrive to the chronic illness community.

    In 2019, Julie published her very first cookbook e-book called Low Lectin Lunches (+ Dinners, Too!) after discovering how a low lectin, gluten free diet was helping manage her chronic fascia/muscle pain.

    View all posts

19 Comments

  1. jmecrow

    Good for you jules…i’m so glad that you are taking care of yourself.

  2. earthwalker

    Thanks Jamie. Unfortunately it’s not so much about taking care of myself, as being unable to function and focus/concentrate further than my immediate survival needs. Just trying to breathe, eat, and sleep…

  3. jmecrow

    that’s taking care of yourself!

  4. jnanda

    Julie –

    I will be thinking of you and sending light and love, and that you will be given all the support you need, and that your situation will quickly resolve. You are loved and appreciated by many……..soak it up and may it give you strength to face each moment.

  5. donna

    good luck, julie. let me know if u need any help.

  6. Joyce

    Hi Julie, Blessings to you finding the perfect place to live and heal. Peace and Healing Blessings XJ

  7. Christine Weeber

    Julie, Sending you strength and a sensitive intuition as you try to figure things out. Let me know if we can help in any way.
    One breath at a time…

    Take good care,
    Chris

  8. Kris

    OH, Julie, I had no Idea things were so bad for you right now. Please let us know how we can help you. I’ll be praying for you!!!
    Kris

  9. leslie

    Good luck Julie!
    I am looking for a new place too, you will find what you need, just make a clear written list and it’ll show itself… that’s what i have used for the past few years. :)

  10. James Van Raden

    Julie,

    I am so saddened and frustrated that you are in the situation that you are in. You have been so kind to me and my quest for information on the MCS housing issue. I see that what I am trying to develop is not coming soon enough for some and if I could change this I would have 1000’s of safe homes all over the country springing up as there are plenty to fill them.

    I will be participating in the Pepsi Refresh program to try to get some money to get this ever so crucial housing started. It is only $50,000 but it will be a portion of the necessary seed capital to make this happen. I will be posting more information at my Face book group
    “Building the perfect MCS / EI houses and developments”

    http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=app_2373072738&ref=mf&gid=233579801314#!/group.php?v=wall&ref=mf&gid=233579801314

    This is a huge grant competition but it will seed & create something much larger and not only offer a solution for affordable housing but more importantly affordable MCS housing.

    Julie, you have been an inspiration as well as everyone else that I have come into contact with. You are a blessing to this world and for that I thank you for being what you are & doing what you do.

    Take care and please be safe and to you I send wishes and prayers.

    Take care,

    James Van Raden
    “Life is not just about breathing, it is about being ALIVE”

  11. ellen

    Hi Julie,
    My best wishes to you for health, stamina, strength, support, love, uplifted spirit, and anything else you need to cope with this very difficult situation.

    best,
    ellen

  12. Amber

    Good luck Julie! Fingers crossed for you.

  13. seeker

    You are in my thoughts and prayers. Hope the situation gets resolved quickly.

    Take care, Eileen

  14. Mokihana

    i add to all the wishes for your safe space, and blessings for you next deep breath and peaceful moments.

    you are loved.
    aloha,
    mokihana

  15. earthwalker

    Thank you to everyone for all the good wishes!! Sending lots of love back. xx Julie

  16. Connie Morbach

    I applaud efforts and wish you continued success. As an IAQ consultant, I have provided testing and consulting for thousands of clients who have been injured by toxic expsoures. I do find that many of my MCS clients know the precise moment in which they experienced their threshold exposures. Unfortunately, once sensitized, the receptor is changed, which results in hypersensitivities to many allergen, chemicals and toxins. Creating a safe indoor environment for MCS individuals is frustrating. I would love to follow your quest.

  17. Peggy Fogle

    Take care of yourself. Prayers are with you.

  18. Connie Rae

    Julie, You are in my thoughts and prayers….hope all works out better than the best. It is really good you are taking care of yourself. HUGS

  19. jen

    Hope you found your safe home. When you are settled I hope you will share with us how your formerly safe home became untenable for you and even ruined your belongings. It would be good to learn more about how that can happen and how we can protect ourselves.

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