Children Play Soccer while Crop Duster sprays

On a bright August morning in 1999, my 15 year old daughter's soccer team began a day of tournament play.  Throughout the day, crop dusters sprayed the cotton fields surrounding the soccer park.  I recall at the time saying, "What are we doing to our children in the name of athletics?", but, naively, I thought that there were strict regulations regarding dangerous chemicals being used in populated areas.  

Exactly ten days later, while playing soccer, Brandi collapsed on the field.  She couldn't feel her legs.  The numbness passed after several minutes, and we blamed it on the heat and dehydration. Little did we know that we would be in for a fight for the next 6 months. 

She began having seizures that started with numbness and tingling in her extremities.  This escalated into severe pain throughout her body, and an inability to walk or to move.  Her vision began severely blurred and she suffered from extreme headaches.  She suffered an unexplained weight loss, until she carried only 96 lbs. on her 5'8" frame.  She had difficulty breathing and her skin took on a gray pallor.  We began taking her to doctors and specialists who ran a gamut of painful tests.  

Finally, a doctor in our area asked us if she had been exposed to any industrial chemicals.  I thought back to the day of her first attack and remembered the soccer tournament.  He told us that we would need to treat her for toxic poisoning immediately, or she would suffer permanent neurological damage.  

Since that day, we have learned so very much about chemicals and chemical poisoning, and I have come to realize the truthfulness of my question at the soccer tournament. Thankfully, Brandi is almost back to normal now - 18 months later.  She still suffers headaches and fatigue, as well as severe allergies and turning grayish when under physical stress.  

However, this town continues to host this soccer tournament each August, and the crop dusters still fly overhead. I told Brandi's coach that she would not be allowed to return to these fields.  He attempted to have the tournament moved to another location, but failed.  He was only able to have the crop dusters not spray while the children were playing.  I only wish that every parent was aware of what we are exposing our children to and the lasting and possibly deadly effects we are visiting on their young lives by our ignorance and naivete! 

Thank you. Lori Crowe Columbus, MS  email:  jbbmmon@aol.com    

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