The pitfalls of writing and having differing opinions #trolls #ecoli #idiocy

 So far, in the area I live, we have three children (one has been released) in the hospital with E- coli related hemolytic uremic syndrome, which essentially means the kidneys fail. In 85% of cases they heal on their own. In 15% of the cases they do not and the child will have to go into adulthood dealing with issues their parents never dreamed they would have to tackle. 

The suspect is the lake where I live. So far, the CDC/county/homeowners association has said that one park is linked through accidentally ingested water and so far, even though the other beaches have shown high rates of fecal coliform, no one has been sickened, at least as far as I know. 

Since, I am, by nature, a problem solver, and I think it is also because I am a writer, my mind takes off into all kinds of different directions. We ran into this problem on a beach in Maui, where a native told us to beware of the sign that said E. coli infected water. He told us they had had a monsoon blow through and all the feces from the animals had washed down the mountain and into the bay and to not go into the water. We didn't, but watched with envy the other people splashing around in the ocean.

When I received an e-mail from our homeowner's association, I was surprised to discover our lake had the same problem. I started reporting on it, because of my own immune problems and those of a family member. I wanted to let people know they needed to be careful. I also listed the different ways E. coli could have made its way into the lake, from streams, creeks, and even from wild animals. After I discovered a methyl mercury problem as well, they were ready to lynch me. 

After a hailstorm of negative comments from people I don't even know and then onto nasty e-mails from more people I do not know AND a shame on you, I've come to the conclusion that many people are just vicious. Someone called my writing like that of a 5-year-old while another person accused me of being 5, because I thought the explanation of why we have catch and release only at the lake should be explained to people who fish. Otherwise, those who are less fortunate might take fish home to eat. In my world, warning people of toxic methyl mercury is important. Just like the lake being link to E. coli is important. 

It isn't rocket science to figure out that what is happening at our lake is happening at many other lakes as well. I have no idea why this is, except we are having an unusually warm summer. Coincidence? Could be.  I had one person say that the E. coli strain the children received didn't come from the lake. *wipes forehead* Seriously? The kids accidentally drank the water then developed E. coli 0157. The CDC and county say the children got it at the lake and, imagine this, so does the Sacramento Bee!  Good grief. 

Last week, people started getting back into the water. As a concerned resident, I thought I would lend my voice to the issue by warning people. I live with Crohn's disease, trust me here, you do not want to damage your kidneys or your intestines. One day of play is not worth it. And that's all I have to say on the matter or the unknown people will start throwing rocks at my house. E. coli is natural though the strain the children received only came into existence 30 years ago. Still, it's a bacteria that eats waste and we need those little critters. (Uh, oh, did that sound like a 3 year-old?) 

I really came from a good place, but it certainly wasn't taken that way. Because the unknown people are not writers, they don't understand that writers have sources. So let me repeat that: WRITERS HAVE SOURCES. Sometimes the sources get it right and sometimes they don't. You have to go with the person to know whether or not you trust them. If, at the end, it turns out the kids shared the same potato salad with each other on different days and weeks in the month of July then my source will be wrong. So far, my source is dead on. 

But hell, in this world, anything could happen. 

And that's all I have to say in the matter.