Duke Student - Josh Summers and his mom, Simone...

February 21, 2008

I, too, had the pleasure of meeting Josh and his mom several times,

relative to the Mold issue, in Washington, D.C. and in Boston at my

union headquarters, the Boston Teachers' Union, whom I asked to host

the Mold Hearing in 2004, attended by Segal of Congressman

Conyers, Jr's office.

The Boston Teachers' Union President, Stutman has worked hard

on environmental issues, for both teachers, staff, but also school

children throughout his career; I turned to him, and he " stepped up "

on this tough problem. I am proud of their work.

It is always hard to find a reason why " bad things happen to good

people, " and I remember a rabbi (Rabbi Kushner) wrote a book about

exactly that, but I think sometimes God lets things happen to people

whom He knows are " change agents " - and who will not sit back,

complacently, but work to advance real and meaningful change that

" might " benefit them, but with the selfless intent that it will surely

benefit someone else.

I remember chatting with Josh, who was about the same age as one of my

sons, and how he really understood how his mom was feeling

post-exposure and how it was the " reality " check that my own sons had

to painfully learn. My sons had to get used to a mom who had to

prepare dinner at 9 a.m., because that is when I had energy, that I

had to say " no " if I was " out of gas " (energy) or that my balance was

not strong. Josh " got it, " in a way that a good son would.

It is bad enough being sick, but being sick from an exposure that

people deny, or refuse coverage, or lodge an accusation of

" malingerer " is beyond " below the belt. "

That evening of testimony, Josh " presented " in testimony, in his teens

still, but with an " old " and mature head, that you can almost never

put on " young " shoulders. Josh could have been watching a hoop game,

or anything else, but engaging in being a " change agent. " Josh was a

real man before he finished high school, defining who he is. His mom,

Simone, surely, cultivated that " give back " attitude.

This body of exposure sicknesses, which I liken to an " dig " will

likely " unearth " useful information, because of some of the " digging "

or research, that Josh and his mom have done, with their scientific

backgrounds. And their willingness to share that knowledge of biology

and environmental science with the rest of humanity.

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