Member-only story
Canary in the Coal Mine: This “Safe” Modern Comfort Nearly Killed Me
A visceral warning about the invisible poison that’s polluting your spaces, too
My heart sagged heavy in my chest, rolling back in forth like a boulder that couldn’t build momentum. With every breath, I drew less air. I was inhaling, but my lungs felt punctured, like they couldn’t inflate.
Gasping and hyperventilating, I could feel my bodyweight overcoming my dwindling strength, and collapsed onto the bed, using my feeble exhales to scream into the pillow.
Every cell in my body was begging for air. It felt like I needed to claw out of my skin just to get enough oxygen…
…I knew I was dying, but didn’t know why. And no one could help me.
18 Months Earlier
With baby №2 in tow, my husband and I had just settled into our new rental home. Nestled in an energetic suburban limb of a sprawling city, it boasted all the amenities of walkable restaurants, parks, and basic shops.
All from my little kitchen window, I glimpsed condo behemoths, neon signs and and cell towers piercing the skyline. Though it was busy for my tastes, I couldn’t deny the convenience was thrilling. Besides, as a healthy 27-year-old, I was eager to open…
