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The Community News column of the December Issue of MCSA News contained an article "Toronto Jew Living in Her Car" that we are retracting as it is no longer available online.
The article "Toronto Jew Living in Her Car" was not written by anyone in our organization. The Community News column is an collection of articles from mainstream media. The article was a newspaper article from the Canadian Jewish News and was meant to foster support for a Jewish woman with MCS from their other readers. Therefore, the term "Jew" in the titles was not meant as a slight.
We will pass on a suggestion for a better title to the Canadian Jewish News. It is unfortunate that this title may have influenced an otherwise informative article about a woman made homeless by MCS. It is my understanding that the woman has money to rent a place and simply needs to find a safe rental. We hope that the title and Jewish affiliation will not affect the community coming together in support for this woman for the common cause of MCS. We wish this woman, and all people with MCS, well in their journeys.
We appreciate the reader feedback that alerted us to the confusion and unavailability of this article. The full article has been pasted below from our MCSA Feeds archives for your reference.
We apologize for the confusion.
Sincerely,
Lourdes Salvador
Chief Editor, MCSA News
A Toronto Jew is living in her car
Thursday, 22 November 2007
Here in Toronto, possibly around the block from you, a Jewish woman is living in her car. She needs our help quickly. Here is what she told me.
I was born in Montreal and am in my late 40s. I moved to Toronto in the early '90s after graduating as a health professional. I am Conservative and as a child went to B'nai Akiva and Jewish camps. I have volunteered at Baycrest and SickKids.
One day, in the mid-'90s I was stopped at a red light and a cab drove into my car at a high speed. I sustained multiple injuries, and it took me years to recover so I could speak and get around. I also lost many of my gifts. I used to play the piano and don't anymore. I sketched but can't anymore.
Two years after the accident, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) kicked in, a condition whereby I am incredibly affected by the smell of pesticides, chemicals, perfume, cleansers, hairspray, shampoo, room freshener, carpet deodorizers and deodorant.
When I am exposed, I feel like a board has been thrust it into my forehead. Over the next 12 to 24 hours, I will be in extreme pain, vomit violently and experience dizziness. It can be very dangerous.
For the last year and a half, I have "lived" in my car as it is the only place I can control the smells. It is impossible to be in a building as my situation got worse with more exposure to the smells.
My life has been so affected by this condition that I will never be able to have children. Perhaps one day I will marry someone who has MCS.
My mother has been amazing. My family has been supportive, but thought I would grow out of it. I haven't, as my situation is not of a psychological nature. My father passed away before I developed MCS.
Eventually, after feeling physically and emotionally worn down, I approached a rabbi who arranged for me to attend a shul at which I not to affected by the smells. I also began opening up to friends. A while ago, I got to the point where I did not care whether I lived or die. Then a dear friend took me in for two months, adjusting the smells in her home for me. I remember the first night I stayed indoors -my birthday. It was an enormous gift.
I am looking for a house where I can control the environment. I can't live in an apartment because the smells come from all sides. An older bungalow would be the best (stairs are difficult. I also have severe arthritis). I can also watch a (winterized) cottage or house-sit (perhaps for a senior who is willing to adjust her perfumes/chemicals, etc.).
I can afford some rent and know if I find a place where I can sleep six to eight hours a night, versus the two hours a night I get now, I will be able to work.
The car is always cold nowadays. It's hard to breathe when the windows are closed and bitterly cold if they are open. I never get the darkness I need to sleep because of the street lights. I don't feel safe. Every day is a struggle to find a good location. In the morning, I try to park facing the sun so I can warm up.
The nights are long. It gets so lonely. I need to hear somebody else's voice. My life breaks my heart. There is nothing in life I enjoy. I feel like a leper in my own community. This article is the only thing giving me hope.
Please e-mail Avrum at avrum@veahavta.org This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it if you have a creative way of helping a Jewish woman living in a car. (Sderot/Sudan)
Thursday, 22 November 2007
Here in Toronto, possibly around the block from you, a Jewish woman is living in her car. She needs our help quickly. Here is what she told me.
I was born in Montreal and am in my late 40s. I moved to Toronto in the early '90s after graduating as a health professional. I am Conservative and as a child went to B'nai Akiva and Jewish camps. I have volunteered at Baycrest and SickKids.
One day, in the mid-'90s I was stopped at a red light and a cab drove into my car at a high speed. I sustained multiple injuries, and it took me years to recover so I could speak and get around. I also lost many of my gifts. I used to play the piano and don't anymore. I sketched but can't anymore.
Two years after the accident, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) kicked in, a condition whereby I am incredibly affected by the smell of pesticides, chemicals, perfume, cleansers, hairspray, shampoo, room freshener, carpet deodorizers and deodorant.
When I am exposed, I feel like a board has been thrust it into my forehead. Over the next 12 to 24 hours, I will be in extreme pain, vomit violently and experience dizziness. It can be very dangerous.
For the last year and a half, I have "lived" in my car as it is the only place I can control the smells. It is impossible to be in a building as my situation got worse with more exposure to the smells.
My life has been so affected by this condition that I will never be able to have children. Perhaps one day I will marry someone who has MCS.
My mother has been amazing. My family has been supportive, but thought I would grow out of it. I haven't, as my situation is not of a psychological nature. My father passed away before I developed MCS.
Eventually, after feeling physically and emotionally worn down, I approached a rabbi who arranged for me to attend a shul at which I not to affected by the smells. I also began opening up to friends. A while ago, I got to the point where I did not care whether I lived or die. Then a dear friend took me in for two months, adjusting the smells in her home for me. I remember the first night I stayed indoors -my birthday. It was an enormous gift.
I am looking for a house where I can control the environment. I can't live in an apartment because the smells come from all sides. An older bungalow would be the best (stairs are difficult. I also have severe arthritis). I can also watch a (winterized) cottage or house-sit (perhaps for a senior who is willing to adjust her perfumes/chemicals, etc.).
I can afford some rent and know if I find a place where I can sleep six to eight hours a night, versus the two hours a night I get now, I will be able to work.
The car is always cold nowadays. It's hard to breathe when the windows are closed and bitterly cold if they are open. I never get the darkness I need to sleep because of the street lights. I don't feel safe. Every day is a struggle to find a good location. In the morning, I try to park facing the sun so I can warm up.
The nights are long. It gets so lonely. I need to hear somebody else's voice. My life breaks my heart. There is nothing in life I enjoy. I feel like a leper in my own community. This article is the only thing giving me hope.
Please e-mail Avrum at avrum@veahavta.
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