 In 1985, while studying pre-med in Seattle, WA, Cindy was severely poisoned by a misapplication of pesticides in her apartment.As a result of this contamination or intoxication of an insecticide (against fleas) she eventually developed an Autoimmune disease.She directed and founded the Environmental Access Research Network (EARN) which merged with the Chemical Injury Information Network (CIIN) in 1994.