‘Something Is Terribly Wrong’: How a Startup 5G Wireless Company Changed Our Family’s Life

By Lenka Kabilka

Back in late November of 2020, my life changed, my health was taken away and my fight began.

It all started when I noticed construction noise on the roof of our apartment complex directly above my apartment. I have enjoyed living in my rental apartment for the past 30 years with my two sons.

I generally do not pay much attention when construction within our apartment complex is going on. However, this time, since we were in the middle of the COVID-19 lockdowns and my job restricted me to working from home, the loud construction work was something I could not ignore.

I found out that a cell site/base station was being installed right above my apartment by Starry Inc. I had never heard of this company, so I looked them up on the web and learned it was a new startup wireless company deploying its new millimeter wave 5G technology.

I did not think much of it until the site was activated and the horror started. I could hear a nonstop, high-pitched electrical sound, which was most noticeable at night, not allowing me to get any sleep. The sound was so torturous that I developed headaches and ringing in my ears, which did not go away.

The term “brain fog,” previously unknown to me, was constant. There was this unavoidable tension within my body when I was inside my apartment. This tension was accompanied by unusual inner discomfort and pain, signaling that something was very wrong.

I experienced vision issues of white light flashing and extreme dryness of my eyes.

I also developed sharp brain pains lasting for days. I frequently experienced spontaneous facial muscle spasms, even spasms in my legs and arms, not due to any physical activity.

I also experienced heart palpitations, and terrible joint pain started to interfere with my physical activities; just walking became painful. I often felt out of breath and was gasping for air for no apparent reason — something I later learned was oxidative stress.

I could not work out or swim anymore. Often, I felt like I was going to have a heart attack. I called an ambulance on several occasions, and doctor visits became more frequent.

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When my two sons started to complain of bad sleep and dizziness and brain fog, I urged them to seek sleepovers with friends, hoping that my landlord would help soon, as my symptoms were getting worse with each passing day.

My older son started to sleep in his car as there was no other option for him, and I occasionally resorted to sleeping at my workplace on a sofa in a conference room, and at times in my car.

Our family started to be torn apart, we did not enjoy being at home, and our occasional time together was filled with constant worries about where to sleep, where to eat, work, and do homework. I was desperate.

I approached my landlord from the very beginning and expressed my concern over this installation, but was assured that everything is permitted and in accordance with the law and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations.

I became helpless and scared of my rapidly deteriorating health. Before this installation, I was at the top of my health, very active, swimming daily, hiking and exercising. I rarely would see a doctor. Now left with permanent eye damage, hearing issues and electromagnetic sensitivity (EMS or EHS), now known as Electromagnetic Radiation Syndrome, or EMR Syndrome.

Since my landlord did not come forward with a solution, I contacted the city to see if they could help. Upon further research, it became clear that the cell site had no permits on the city’s record and that our local zoning code strictly prohibits these wireless sites from being located in residential areas.

I became hopeful that this would be resolved in no time. I urged the city to take charge and investigate this illegal installation. It took over 10 months for the city to open its investigation. I provided the city with evidence that the wireless company, Starry, operated with an “FCC Experimental Radio License” experimenting in high 37-40 gigahertz.

The company’s transmitting equipment was not even authorized or licensed by the FCC. It was a prototype, and such a license prohibits commercial operation. This unregulated site should never have been allowed to be installed and operating within any residential community.

I hoped this information would speed up the process of the city’s action to stop this operation. My optimism was premature. The city was stalling, ignoring my requests and avoiding any questions due to its ongoing investigation.

After five months of these terrible living conditions, and without any help or resolution, I was left with no other choice but to move out of my home.

After two-and-a-half years of investigation, the city closed its case because Starry went bankrupt and because of a court judgment to cancel the lease agreement at the site. Some of the equipment was removed, but some still remains on site, still operating today and without permits.

Starry went through restructuring and is now back up and operating at the site. The city just recently reopened its investigation. We are approaching the fifth year of this illegal activity with the city’s inability to act on its own laws.

The landlord’s unlawful actions and the city’s inaction and inability to enforce its own laws and regulations to stop such illegal operation and to protect the public from harm for the past five years is just despicable. No one should go through this ordeal.

I am aware of other individuals and families who are going through a similar scenario. It’s appalling to realize that there is no legal justice to fall back on.

When foreign dignitaries experiencing “Havana Syndrome” during a visit to a foreign country are considered victims of a targeted attack, the media pay attention to those affected, and authorities immediately investigate.

Yet when the same thing is happening in our own country, caused by known and identifiable sources, causing victims to suffer the same health issues and worse, we are left with no help or justice, often ridiculed and ignored. Something is terribly wrong.

I filed a lawsuit against my landlord and the city and am awaiting trial.

I hope that soon we’ll get some gratification for those affected, desperately fighting to get their health back and to be able to live in their own homes without any fear and for this broken system to change.

Lenka Kabilka is the mother of two sons. She lived in Santa Monica, California, for over 30 years. She is currently on disability due to electromagnetic sensitivity caused by radiation overexposure from an illegally installed 5G cell site. She used to work as an architectural designer and drafter.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Children’s Health Defense.

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