PACE is unique in that true empathy is expressed through shared experience. PACE volunteers have truly experienced the grief of betrayal by pesticide manufacturers, applicators, state and federal regulators, politicians, doctors, and attorneys. Often even our families and closest friends fail to recognize our suffering and injuries and thereby compound the pain. PACE volunteers know the shock and consequent depression and anger felt when pesticides have wrecked our lives and we discover there is no social service agency to help. Families can become homeless and disabled over night.
Marriages often end in divorce.
Chemically disabled children can no longer attend school. Few doctors can even diagnose pesticide effects. There is no effective treatment for pesticide injuries. Families become more and more isolated. If Social Security does approve the chemical disabilities of the pesticide survivor, but most often it does not, Medicare and Medicaid do not provide necessary support or care.