Driven from home - Sheboygan family homeless over mold problem

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Driven from home

Sheboygan family homeless over mold problem

Sheboygan Press - Sheboygan,WI

By Janet Ortegon

Sheboygan Press staff

http://www.sheboygan-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20070220/SHE0101/702200447/1973

Brad and Veenendaal are caught in a perfect storm of

misfortune.

Their daughter, Makenna, was born two years ago with 's

Syndrome, a rare chromosomal abnormality that affects her heart and

kidneys. Brad, 36, was diagnosed last fall with Hodgkin's lymphoma,

for which he is finishing chemotherapy and will soon begin

radiation.

And a month ago, the family fled its Sheboygan home because of an

insidious intruder the couple discovered inside their walls, under

the floors and everywhere else they looked: black mold.

Brad, , Makenna and their dog, Ridge, moved into Brad's

parents' house in Sheboygan Falls while their own home at 1418

Camelot Blvd., is gutted and chemically treated to make it safe

again.

If the Veenendaals were only dealing with the health problems, no

one outside their own circle of friends and family would have heard

their name. But because the mold left the Veenendaals essentially

homeless and will cost approximately $50,000 to eradicate — and

their homeowners insurance company has denied their claim — they and

a group of dedicated volunteers are trying to raise enough money to

pay the bill.

The volunteer group — including members of First Reformed Church in

Sheboygan Falls, and other friends — has scheduled a string of

benefit fundraisers, beginning this weekend with a two-day brat fry

at the Piggly Wiggly store, 3124 S. Business Drive, in Washington

Square. The group also meets at the house on weekends to tear out

mold-covered walls and floors.

" It's humbling, " Brad said. " I don't know how to we'll ever be able

to pay them all back. "

" There's no way to repay them for the kindness they have shown to

us, " said , 31. " No way. You can't put a value on that. "

The Veenendaals believe the mold in their house, which they

purchased a few months before their 2001 wedding, is at least partly

responsible for the health problems they've suffered.

" I really do (believe it), " said. " That would be a hard

thing to prove only because there really isn't enough medical

research out there to prove the health effects mold can have on

people. "

Kappers, a friend and member of the fundraising committee,

said people are rallying around the Veenendaal family because their

story is so moving.

" That their health has been affected by this is a very strong

point, " she said. " People need to find out how bad mold can be. "

In the Veenendaals' case, they called Gobbel of Mold Spore

Technologies in Cascade and found out just how bad it was.

" They opened up their baby girl's closet — the pink insulation was

entirely black with mold, " Kappers said. " They had to leave the

house immediately. "

Gobbel said he hopes to get the family back into their home in two

or three more months, but in that time the entire house has to be

gutted — meaning the floors and walls have to be torn down, the

shell has to be chemically treated and the siding has to be

replaced.

" I'm going to do as much as I can, " Gobbel said. " My people will be

paid but my services will be free. "

Gobbel has also gotten involved in the Veenendaals' efforts to raise

money, and it was his suggestion that the family go public with its

problems.

One of the Veenendaals' goals is to make other people aware of the

danger mold presents and encourage people to have their houses

tested if they're buying or selling.

" I just hope, one thing at least, is if once people know this,

before they buy a house that they'll kinda look into the mold, " Brad

said.

The Veenendaals considered razing the house and rebuilding, but they

opted to get it fixed because of the years of loving care they put

into it.

And in the end, they trust that it'll be safe for them and for

Makenna once Gobbel finishes his work, although admits to

wondering how she'll feel that first night in her own home.

" Would we just be better off tearing it down? " she said. " If we

would miss a spot and then five years down the road we have another

problem— I have that fear in the back of my head … but I want to go

home. "

Reach Janet Ortegon at jortegon@... or 453-5121.