DuBois, Pennsylvania family fighting toxic mold

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Fund set up to help family

March 21, 2009

It may be the beginning of a long fight, but there is a ray of hope for a

family forced to leave their home.

In a phone interview Thursday, Wildauer said a fund has been

set up with First Commonwealth Bank in DuBois to help her family.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to help the family can send donations

to The Wildauer Home Repair Fund, PO Box 895, DuBois, Pa., 15801.

According to a previously published Tri-County Sunday article,

and her husband, , who is an Iraqi War veteran, bought their

first home on Street in DuBois. His status as a military

veteran qualified the family for a VA-guaranteed loan for the home.

The Wildauers closed on their home Sept. 11, 2007. They noticed a few

spots where water had previously leaked in their young son's room and

some in the kitchen, but thought nothing of it until the family started

coming down with mysterious illnesses.

, who was

pregnant, and her young son became seriously ill with respiratory

ailments, rashes, dizziness, lethargy, headaches, and flu-like

symptoms. While Wildauer remained healthier than his wife and

son, he still developed asthma and other respiratory troubles.

When

Wildauer gave birth to her daughter, the infant was also stricken with

the mystery illness and spent her first few months of life seriously

ill.

The Wildauers discovered that a water leak before the family purchased the home

had caused toxic mold to grow in the home.

The family moved out of the home and moved in with relatives. Their symptoms and

illnesses abated.

Removing the mold will cost between $20,000 and $30,000. After the mold

is removed, the house must be repaired. The cost of the repairs will

not be known until the extent of the infestation and what work will

need to be done is determined. The family will have to replace walls,

ceilings, floors, window hangings, furniture, carpets, carpet padding,

bedding and any unfinished wood in the home.

The family cannot sell

the house while the mold is still there. Because of the VA loan, if

they default on the mortgage or deed back the home, Wildauer said her

husband will lose his military benefits.

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