Musty smell and cross contamination

3 comments
Two more stories have come my way this week. The first is a woman in Colorado who contacted me after seeing our story on the news. She left her rental home in the fall of 08. She began researching mold illness soon after she became sick and determined the consistent "musty" smell in the house must be mold. She knew to leave everything behind, moved to a townhome, and quickly began the quest for medical help. She has purchased her own air sampler from Environmental Monitoring Systems. She will now be able to monitor air quality in future home and work environments.
When I talked with her this week she emphasized the strong smell that was her first clue to the presence of toxic mold in the home.
The second story involves a woman who re-located to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands in 2006 for a 6 week work project. Within the first 3 weeks of arriving she found herself in the Emergency Room two times. When a co-worker came to see her in her residence he saw mold and told her to leave immediately. She packed up her belongings and moved to a different rental. Her husband and 6 year-old daughter soon joined her and within days her daughter became ill. The 3 of them went back to Alaska where the illnesses continued. Her clothing had cross-contaminated her home in Ketchikan Alaska. At this point she was unable to work, had 5 undiagnosed mini-strokes due to vascular inflammation, and both she and her daughter had MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity). They both became ill every time a cruise ship passed by. She sought medical help and within months had re-located to Benson Arizona. We talked this week and shared our stories. "Four months ago I could not have had this conversation with you", she said. "My brain wouldn't function this late in the day".
Both of these women are recovering. Not as quickly as either would like. But their determination has been an inspiration.

3 comments :

  1. Andrea, you and your family have been and continue to be in my prayers. Thank you for making the effort to share your experiences with others. Who knows how many lives you are touching and helping? For many people, sitting in the corner and having a pity party is all they can do. Praise God you are letting others know and sharing the answers you find. You continue to minister, even through this dire circumstance. Bless you all!

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  2. Hi Andrea,

    I have a little boy named Luke and I absolutely love him.
    I just want to tell you -mom to mom- that what you are doing for your family comes from a mom's heart.
    "If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your father Who is in heaven give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking him"
    God Bless you.

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  3. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. I listen to Chris the days I don't work and look forward to the up-dates on your mold journey. I can't imagine the nightmare that you are going through. I just hope you will find a safe house to settle in. Hang in there! Charlotte from Illinois.

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