Welcome to Canary Refuge
Welcome to Canary Refuge, a 501c3 non-profit with the goal and mission of serving “Human Canaries” through education, improving access to appropriate and effective healthcare, safe housing and shelter, advocacy, creativity, the arts, and creative advocacy.
Human Canaries are people struggling with Complex Chronic Illness, Chemical Intolerance, MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities), MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome,) Allergic Hypersensitivity, CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome), Environmental Illness, Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity, Migraine, and Fibromyalgia.
Frequently these medical conditions are comorbid and develop, worsen, and are compounded over time through a process of repeated injury or “TILT” (Toxicant Induced Loss of Tolerance.) Sadly, a Human Canary can suffer from all of these conditions and have little or no access to effective (or even safe) medical care in addition to an essential requirement for healing: safe housing.
This non-profit and its website are under construction. Please join our mailing list to stay updated, and please consider donating and/or volunteering to help grow this endeavor.
Important facts & Statistics
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The University of Texas San Antonio Health, Hoffman Program for Chemical Intolerance has found that 1 in 5 people have Chemical Intolerance. Obviously in our toxic times, the prevalence will continue to increase.
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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) describes Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) as an immune disease resulting from dysregulation, with an estimated prevalence of 17%, and “mast cell chemical mediators lead to heterogenous multisystemic inflammatory and allergic manifestations.”
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So called “sensitivities” to toxic chemicals such as petrochemicals can be genuine allergies, which can become-life threatening and involve anaphylaxis. They can also trigger autoimmunity. The prevalent misinformation that Chemical Intolerance, or MCS, is not an allergic response is often incorrect.
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In relation to immune dysregulation, COVID 19 infection has resulted in increasing numbers of people experiencing Mast Cell Activation Syndrome MCAS, Chemical Intolerance CI, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities MCS.
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Early on in the study of migraines it was noted that in many sufferers or “migraineurs,” chemical odors were prevalent on the list of triggers. In many individuals, the diagnosis of so called “idiopathic” MCS/CI with headaches and migraines as a symptom, is backwards. Migraine is the underlying cause. Especially since “Silent Migraines” (migraines with any or all of the common symptoms except the pain level 10+ head banging and brain crushing headaches) frequently go undiagnosed.
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There are complex relationships between the immune system and Migraine.
- See “CI-MCS is a Symptom”
Understanding Human Canaries
Human Canaries are individuals who are seriously sensitive (hyper-allergic) to pollution. If it’s toxic, often they know it before anyone else does. They are the modern “canaries in the coal mine” and could provide life-saving warnings if the wisdom of their bodies was appreciated, and they received the respect and support they deserve.
The Original Canaries in Coal Mines
Before modern technology provided air quality monitors, coal miners carried canaries into the mines. When the canary stopped singing (or sometimes dropped dead), the miners knew they had to get out of the mine quickly or die.
Sadly, Human Canaries are an “endangered species” that often face and have to flee from conditions that are truly life threatening. Life becomes an exhausting struggle to survive escalating toxic injuries in a world that becomes less and less habitable with rock-and-a-hard-place choices with no good solutions.
Human Canaries as Bellwethers
A bellwether is someone or something that leads or indicates a trend. Human Canaries are an important bellwether for environmental health and many other things (including awareness of toxic materials in manufactured products). Too often, as is revealed over and over, the limits for toxic substances regulated by the EPA, CDC, and other organizations are too high, or the toxicity of a substance is unknown or is purposely hidden until widespread harm occurs. A recent example is the revelations about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have been linked to cancer and other serious health issues. Too often, the combined “Standard of Care” mainstream medical and insurance system offers sick Human Canaries few or noneffective, or even safe, medical treatment options.
The Importance of Listening to Human Canaries
The warnings of Human Canaries need to be heeded. Unfortunately, their warnings are often ignored, dismissed, or silenced. Many injured Canaries have been forced to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to receive compensation for their chemical injuries. This silencing prevents crucial information about toxic chemicals from reaching the public, as evidenced by numerous cases involving large corporations.
Recognition Without Protection
Despite the fact that the Social Security Administration recognizes Chemical Intolerance or MCS as a disability, and the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) supports many sufferers as qualified individuals with specific rights, those with CI, MCS, and allergic hypersensitivity frequently find themselves without civil rights protection. Silencing (and endangering) also occurs when government organizations tasked with safeguarding these individuals often fail to do so because the illness, and what should be considered “reasonable accommodations” that may be necessary for a qualified disabled person’s survival, can require a paradigm shift or threatens the status quo of those corporations, organizations (including government), and lifestyles of people who have a comfortable relationship with, or directly profit from pollution. As stated earlier, the limits set for toxic substances are far too low or are completely unregulated. In terms of habitat and housing, wild animals often receive more protection via government regulations than people with CI and MCS .
From the Founder
Olivia di Khetaa
Founder of Canary Refuge
I too am a "Human Canary." I am also a multimodality holistic health therapist and coach, as well as a multimedia/recording/performance artist.
My medical licensure, certifications, and degrees include: Licensed Medical Massage Therapist (LMT), Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Certified Hypnotherapist (CHT), Certified Nutritionist, Yoga Instructor, Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Master of Arts (MA), and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA).
I hope to return to client work, coaching and consulting soon. Faulty contractor work and related damages to my home, work space and health has presented me with some challenges.
I am assembling a team at Canary Refuge, and we have a lot of projects in the works, including showcasing the creative work, art, music and stories of Human Canaries.
If you want to become directly involved in this endeavor as a volunteer, or if you are a professional or related business and want to affiliate, please contact us.
Photo credit: Victor Kallay