My name is Keitrah and I have MCS.  While I am sorry, that you or any one else, has this debilitating illness, I thank Jehovah that he has allowed our paths to cross.  For a long time I thought I was the only witness with this.  It is good to talk with others who do truly understand  how we feel  and how each is able to cope.  In the last few years, I have been to dozens of doctors and spent thousands of dollars.   There have been many  allergic reactions to medications that I have had to take to treat infections etc.  Also many emergency  situations  because of being exposed to chemicals, usually fragrances.  Many times the fragrances caused the onset of an asthma attack.

At first I would just move around in the Kingdom Hall  to get away  from those wearing fragrances.  Even though, my nose would burn like  fire  and my throat would get raw and my  air-way would begin to close up, I though I could  handle it, with medication.   I didn't want to offend any one.  When I talked with the C.O.'s wife, she advised me to privately tell my friends because they would not want me to be sick.  Well that was several years ago  and I have been on  an  eye opening ride ever since. I have learned so much about MCS and; about human nature.

As deathly ill as I  have been at times, nothing can compare to the hurt and disappointment caused by rude comments and isolation from my spiritual family.  I am a people-person  and I find this especially hard.  We have had  talks on local needs  about not wearing fragrances to the meetings. It was then suggested we would have one section of  K.H.  to be fragrance-free.   I thought this was the answer to my prayers.

This would not work either. I even had a sister tell me that my illness was causing division in the congregation!   I was stunned and crushed, because to me, causing division in the congregation  is next to sinning against the Holy Spirit.  What an additional burden to carry!  There are those who have stopped wearing fragrances,  for which I am VERY appreciative.  Most though, feel this is just too big of a sacrifice.  Some think this is all in the mind and besides I should just get the meetings on the phone. We have only had this available at our K.H.  for about 6 months and since we don't have to use mikes, no meetings with audience participation are  picked up.

To make a very long story short,  I am able to get the meetings, most of the time, by sitting in the third school.  It does not have an air vent.  My very supportive husband (and Bro.) bought  a large air cleaner  to use during the meetings. Since I have to go through the main  hall to get to this room, I hold my breath and move quickly to get there. Some times, with the aid of an  air supply, I am able to use the rest room at the Hall.   At other times it is so bad, I must leave and drive to a fast food restaurant to use theirs' (and pray that no one has smoked  in there.)  Then I drive back, hold my breath, cover my nose and move quickly to the third school so I can enjoy the rest of the meeting.

Since we do not use mikes except from the platform, we could not hear any comments in this room until my husband bought inter-coms.   He plugs them in for us each meeting.  Now the brothers have allowed us to use a  mike that wasn't  being used and I can comment  and give talks from the third school.   I am thankful  for this. There are glass windows so I am able to see  the speaker and others. I am very appreciative of the few who speak or wave to me. My husband and I work in service together. I can no longer meet for service with the group and I cannot emotionally handle waiting out-side on the steps. 

I try to find something positive about every thing I experience, sometimes it is very hard and at other times I don't have the strength to care.  I have learned  a lot about human nature, and how to be less judgmental, and that while it would be wonderful to have supportive friends, our real strength must come from our dear Father, Jehovah.

Please know that you are in my prayers. Please remember me in yours, as we all work to cope and put Jehovah first in our lives.

Your sister,
Keitrah McAlister