He estimated they've spent more than a million dollars on demolition, repair and reconstruction, along with relocation costs, medical copays and out-of-pocket treatment expenses. On the financial side, the mold nightmare has wiped out the family's savings, Evan Baehr said. They also remain on a strict regimen of medications and therapies to detoxify their bodies. All of their clothing, toys and personal belongings - even the family Bible - are a total loss. The family abandoned it and everything inside to escape the mold. And I nursed him in that house."Īnd that house, Kristina Baehr said, was slowly killing them. Because this is how he grew into the world. Her son Scott, for example, continues to struggle with significant developmental delays. Kristina Baehr said she still develops a severe full body rash with even the smallest amount of exposure, but her biggest worry is how mold exposure will affect the long-term health of her children. "Chronic exposure can lead to a long-term sensitization particularly in sensitive individuals," said Jamie Lichtenstein, a biologist and professor who studies mold at Emerson College. In fact, the health battles can last long after someone leaves a moldy environment. Children who live in damp houses during infancy or early childhood have double the risk of a condition developing adenoid hypertrophy, an enlargement of tissue that often leads to ear, nose and throat issues. Researchers also note there is strong evidence that early life exposure to damp environments, molds and mycotoxins during infancy and childhood can cause developmental delays, reduced cognitive function and immune dysfunction. Other studies have found that chronic mold exposure can have a wide-ranging impact on multiple organ systems, including the respiratory and nervous system, as well as on cardiovascular and reproductive health. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information reported that 4.64 million cases of asthma in the U.S. daughter Madeleine's room, which nobody could see," said Joshua Rachal, CEO of Texas Mold Exposure, which worked with the Baehr family. "The entire time the Baehrs lived here, there was a small leak causing water to drip into the wall of their. It was a perfect environment for microbial growth. The experts concluded a faulty roof repair and improper construction allowed in moisture, and a poorly installed heating, ventilation and air conditioning system exacerbated the problem. The Baehrs hired construction and mold experts to go through their home and investigate their living space. "Scott's mycotoxin score was just through the roof. After almost three years of tests and visits to various doctors, she discovered the entire family had off-the-chart levels of mycotoxins, which is produced by certain types of mold and fungi. "I became committed to getting better."ĭesperate for answers, Kristina Baehr quit her job as a partner at a law firm to focus on the family's health. "I was breaking, I was physically breaking down," she said. Then, Kristina Baehr fainted and doctors found a benign tumor. Initially, Evan Baehr chalked up his wife's complaints to the struggles that come along with balancing a demanding career with parenting four children. But now she hopes to use the knowledge she's gained to help others in similar situations. It took several years for the Baehrs to figure out what was causing Kristina's symptoms. Social media groups devoted to mold exposure have attracted tens of thousands of people, who discuss the ways mold has disrupted their lives. Though the exact number of cases are hard to come by, mold has been identified in all types of residences from military and public housing to dormitories at colleges across the country. It is often hidden behind walls, buried under flooring or lurking in air ducts. I'm losing and forgetting things."Īcross the United States, thousands of people struggle with mold growth in their homes. "I started getting migraines that I didn't understand. "I felt like I had been hit by a truck," said Kristina Baehr. Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score or Lower Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit
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