Family's dream home becomes a nightmare

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Family's dream home becomes a nightmare

KVOA.com - Tucson,AZ,

http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=5727062

MESA, Ariz. -- Instead of living inside their dream home, the Kanes

live behind it in an RV. From the outside, the two-story stucco home

on Lynwood Drive in the Citrus Del Ray neighborhood looks like many

others in this comfortable east Mesa area.

But a lingering mold problem in the house has turned Tom and

Kane's dream into a nightmare of sickness and dwindling finances.

The mold irritates a defective cell condition that plagues the

Kanes' two sons, Connor, 10, and , 11. So they live in a 30-

foot, 2000 Winnebago Itasca, which also serves as a school for the

boys and their 6-year-old sister.

" We need help, " Kane said. " We don't know where else to turn

except to the community. We've tried it all. We're not foreclosing

or filing bankruptcy. We're fighting back to rebuild our lives.

Right now, we're homeless homeowners. "

Flooding in their house was caused by a cracked drain line from an

improperly installed dishwasher by a department store's

subcontractor in April 2005, they say.

The Kanes claim the problem caused them to lose their personal

possessions, and it worsens the condition of their sons' genetic

cell disorder.

Mitochondria is the element that produces energy in cells, but when

the structure of the cells is defective, the mitochondria cannot

function properly. In the case of Connor and , the structure of

the cells in their lungs is defective, causing respiratory problems.

The high mold level makes breathing even more difficult.

In an effort to combat mounting medical bills for Connor, the Kanes

and their close friends are hosting a golf tournament and fundraiser

Dec. 2 in sdale. The Kanes estimate their losses total more

than $400,000.

Tom Kane, a detective with the sdale Police Department, and his

wife hope to raise enough funds to soon purchase equipment for

Connor such as a sauna and other detoxifying breathing apparatuses

that can improve his condition.

Because of their respiratory problems, the boys' digestive systems

aren't as strong as they should be and they can only eat certain

foods.

In Connor's case, his condition has worsened. He's lost weight and

40 percent of his lung capacity in the last year. He has lesions on

his lungs, Tom and said.

" When I eat, I get pain, " Connor said. " Sometimes it hurts so bad,

it feels like I'm caught in a web of needles. I just want my room

and Legos back. "

Because of their disorder, the boys can't attend public schools.

said, " You just don't know what it's like until you go through

it. "

Their sister, Mikayla, echoed her brothers' sentiments.

" I want my princess room back, " she said.

Earlier this year, the Kanes filed a civil lawsuit in Maricopa

County Superior Court against the department store company, claiming

fraud, breach of contract, consumer fraud and punitive damages for

improperly installing the dishwasher.

In the lawsuit, they also claim the mold problem irritated their

sons' condition.

The home cannot be repaired while the litigation is pending, Tom

Kane said. Their homeowner's insurance didn't cover mold damage, he

said.

Connor's condition was discovered after he had a stroke when he was

18 months old. Since then, he has required the full-time care of his

mother, who quit her job as a registered nurse to take care of him.

The Kanes, who are members of the Gateway Bible Church in Mesa, said

they have turned to many organizations for help, but to no avail.

Because of Tom Kane's salary, the family doesn't qualify

for " Extreme Makeover, " the reality television show that receives

20,000 requests a week from families trying to renovate their homes.

The Kanes said they also sought help through nonprofit organizations

to help with any equipment that could help Connor, as well as from

larger churches throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area, but they

were turned away.

In addition to being a detective, Kane also works two other jobs _

as a floor tile layer and a fire inspector.

He said he is willing to trade any work for anyone who is willing to

help with Connor's medical needs.

" I once wrote to a builder for help and told him of our situation, "

he said. " He wrote me back and said I was lying. He said there was

no way that anybody could have that many problems.

" We just see the American dream slipping farther away, but we will

get out of this somehow. "