THIS FAMILY NEEDS YOUR HELP!

[Guest guest]

April 13, 2002

THIS MESSAGE IS VERYIMPORTANT. PLEASE READ IN IT'S ENTIRETY. ON THE DAY AFTER MOTHER’S DAY, THIS IS MY MOTHER’S DAY GIFT TO LORETTA GAIERA.

Hello All,

As you all know by now, I'm in Indiana. I have been in contact with this family VERY BRIEFLY reported on in this story below. After just now reading this article it has struck a nerve. You will quickly be able to see why those of us in Indiana many times are not able to get sufficient help in these toxic mold situations and must go out of state for several purposes related to our exposures. First of all, please re-read the story below.

Now, let me tell you of the things that were not reported in this article for which this family is in need of your help. I had been in the process of trying to help Loretta put together her story and get it to all of you to seek help from anyone, but had also had much happening in my own family's situation recently so had not gotten it finished. I really do not have the time to be doing this today, but after reading this, I decided I had to at least briefly (for now) tell you what I know and seek help for this family in desperate need.

First, it WAS NOT reported about this family's children BEING TAKEN AWAY BY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES on more than 1 occasion; and that currently they (CPS) are attempting to take the children away permanently. While I cannot be sure that the lack of knowledge of toxic mold in the state of Indiana, and especially in their town of Elkhart was the total reason for the children being taken...I can at least be fairly certain this is the biggest reason after talking with them (the family) and learning the details. (Plus, I personally went through similar circumstances of being accused of taking my children to the doctor when nothing was wrong with them. Then, later we received all kinds of out of state help and end up finding our home majorly contaminated!)

This family's home has been confirmed with NUMEROUS toxic molds! They have only seen one doctor in Michigan that supposedly was familiar with toxic mold exposure. They currently only have 1 doctor (naturopathic) doctor whatsoever that is supporting them, but they essentially have no toxic mold treatment protocol. Not only have they lost their health, but their home, their family owned business, and most importantly their CHILDREN! She had told me that none of the media they talked with were willing to report on the most important issue for which they need help....GETTING THEIR CHILDREN BACK, ONE OF WHICH IS HANDICAPPED WITH SPINA BIFIDA. The children are not in the same home either...they have been separated by CPS.

The childrens' ages are 6, 12, 15 and 18. They have an attorney in their case that is not doing much to help. This mother has been accused of Munchausen and beyond. Their exposure is suspected to be up to 9 years. The entire foundation on their home has been caving in. As you can see, there are many important issue that were not reported in an effort to help this family….THE WHOLE REASON FOR TELLING THEIR STORY PUBLICLY. No one wants to get involved with Child Protective Services taking their children because they do not believe that the symptoms were related to toxic mold exposure. Here are just some of the symptoms they’re experienced: toenails falling off, coughing up blood, bowel problems, urination problems, sinus infections, ear infections, hives, developmental problems, mental instability, hair falling out, mood swings, fatigue, night sweats, bone infections, seizures, tremors, asthma, strep infections, body ring worm…and much more. Sound familiar?

Believe it or not, this is brief compared to what I could tell. THIS FAMILY NEEDS MEDICAL HELP, PROBABLY A WAY TO GET THERE, AND A KNOWLEDGABLE ATTORNEY TO HELP THEM. If you’d like to help or provide needed support to this family, please contact them at Lgrj14@... . Loretta posted via another group and received nearly no responses besides mine. I will warn you that she has difficulty writing letters and they can be difficult to interpret, but I know she’d love to hear from others going through this nightmare. THIS FAMILY PROBABLY NEEDS NATIONAL MEDIA ATTENTION .

Now, I URGE you to contact the South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana) and tell of your experiences with toxic mold. As you will read in some of the statements made by the professionals within Indiana, our state seems to think this is not a problem in our state…only other states. For instance, take a look at these statements:

“Stachybotrys chartarum is rare, fortunately.” By Dembinski, a consultant who manages jobs for Decontamination Services LLC of Niles. (How rare is Stachybotrys?)

“ , a member of the Environmental Health Services division of the Elkhart County Health Department, cautioned that people should not overreact at the sight of mold. “Mold has been around since the days of the dinosaurs.” (While she said some other credible statements, these are misleading to many making it seem that everyone overreacts.)

tells in this article to use mild detergent and bleach to remove and kill mold. (This is not applicable in all cases.)

Pat says that sensationalizing in TV news magazine shows has partly contributed to the craze. (More like…it has promoted much needed awareness!)

And lastly, remarks by Dr. Thad Godish, whom is touted as the Indoor Air Quality expert within Indiana: “Mold is in its prime right now. Mold is the flavor of the month.” It was “sent into orbit” by the TV show 48 Hours”. (And, THANK GOD IT WAS! or my son might not have been alive right now!…Melinda I will be forever grateful to you!)

So there you have it. Please make your opinions known in the state of Indiana regarding the national toxic mold issue and the downplaying of the issue. The information for contact is at the bottom of the article. Thank you in advance for any help or support you can offer the family and for making your opinions know regarding this article and the issue at hand. This story should tell us that we ALL need to support federal legislation being proposed that is a start in the right direction.

Hope to see many of you in Detroit on June 3rd! I now realize I must be there to speak on this state’s lack of knowledge and belief. Hope we can organize carpools, van-pools, etc.!

Thank you!

Beverly Weikert

Public Relations Supervisor/Board Member,

National Toxic Mold Coalition and Foundation

www.geocities.com/marbme12/NTMC.html

my e-mail: ntmcbweikert@...

Indiana Representative,

Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings

www.hadd.com

my e-mail: weik004@...

National Programs and Promotions Director – Eastern Region

(Consultant to The Environmental Health Research Group)

my e-mail: weik004@...

Message: 4 Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 00:49:52 -0400 From: "Barbara Herskovitz" <bherk@...>Subject: Toxic mold - Media frenzy feeds fearhttp://www.southbendtribune.com/stories/2002/05/11/local.20020511-sbt-MWKA-A1-Toxic.stoMay 11, 2002Toxic moldMedia frenzy feeds fearBy WAYNE FALDATribune Staff Writer Employees of Decontamination Services LLC remove wallboard contaminatedwith black mold from a building in Cass County.Tribune Photo/SHAYNA BRESLINStachybotrys chartarum, shown here magnified, is a rare, toxic form of mold.Photos provided Ralph s and Loretta Gaiera left their Elkhart home after it becameinfested with mold and their children fell ill. The home was later brokeninto by runaways, who set it afire. The house of Ralph s and Loretta Gaiera, on Plainfield Drive inElkhart, became infested with toxic mold, which spread when s pulled outa section of contaminated drywall.Tribune Photos/REBECCA BELLINGMold, one of the most primitive life forms on Earth, has gone about the workof decomposition for millions of years with quiet determination.That anonymity is fading."Like the old asbestos scare ... this is the newest one," said Dembinski, a consultant who manages jobs for Decontamination Services LLC ofNiles, a company that conducts mold cleanups in homes and businesses.Of the thousands of types of mold in nature, the one that goes by the nameof Stachybotrys chartarum is the focus of much of the recent mediaattention.Though many forms of mold can cause allergic reactions in susceptiblepeople, Stachybotrys chartarum produces a mycotoxin that may be linked tosevere lung disorders in children and life-threatening asthmatic attacks inmany others.Stachybotrys chartarum is rare, fortunately.These days, people are not taking chances."You have to treat it just like asbestos," he said. "You have to suit upjust like you do in removing asbestos." , a member of the Environmental Health Services division ofthe Elkhart County Health Department, cautioned that people should notoverreact at the sight of mold."Mold has been around since the days of the dinosaurs," said.But if mold is present and somebody in the family or workplace complains ofhaving headaches or upper respiratory problems, "then that is anothermatter," she said."We are not physicians, so we tell them to see a family doctor," said, who has just finished her master's thesis on the subject.Mold in all forms is nothing to dismiss. "So we recommend cleaning it up,whether it is Stachybotrys or anything else," she said. herself encountered mold when she recently bought a 52-year-oldhouse.Using a mild detergent mixed with bleach will remove and kill the mold, shesaid.But many people anxious of what they have heard about mold, especiallyStachybotrys, are looking for it when they buy or build a house. Some arepressing their cases in court and winning multimillion-dollar lawsuitsagainst builders and insurance companies.Ed McMahon, ny Carson's sidekick, had it in his home. So didenvironmental activist Brockovich, who was the subject of a movie.Not just anyone can spot dangerous molds."You need a certified microbiologist to identify the mold," said .Pat formed ACM Environmental Inc. in South Bend in 1988 and has seenthe number of requests for mold inspections soar."During the last four or five years, our business has really shot up," hesaid. said sensationalizing in TV news magazine shows has partlycontributed to the craze."There has also been some marquee lawsuits where people are winning bigfortunes (involving) millions of dollars in settlements," he said.Mold problems from just humidity are not nearly as bad in the Midwest asthey are in Florida, Texas or other states near the Gulf of Mexico.One Elkhart County couple, Ralph s and Loretta Gaiera, say that a moldproblem caused a series of family catastrophes starting in early 2000 thateventually cost them their home, located near the Elkhart Municipal Airport.It began simply, when a water pipe beneath the house burst.s removed a section of mold-contaminated dry wall in a bedroom of one oftheir children.When he pulled out the section of wall, he released the mold spores alongwith mites feeding on the mold.Later that year, they and their children moved out of the house when, theyclaim, the children started experiencing severe allergic-type reactions.The home was later broken into by runaways, who set it afire."It's a nightmare to say the least," s said.Thad Godish, a professor at Ball State University and an air qualityscientist, said mold in a house "is actually quite common."Laboratory testing is essential, but Stachybotrys has some unusualcharacteristics that can help in its identification.Stachybotrys has an affinity to processed cellulose that has been wet forlong periods of time, he said."It loves the paper facing on gypsum board," Godish said. "It loves thepaper facing on Fiberglas insulation."It won't grow on solid wood, however, he added.Godish, who has been involved in indoor air quality issues since 1980, hastestified in cases involving formaldehyde, radon and sick-building syndrome."Mold is in its prime right now. Mold is the flavor of the month," he said.It was "sent it into orbit" by the TV show "48 Hours."Godish said a fierce battle took place within the Centers for DiseaseControl in the 1990s following famous cases in Cleveland and Chicago, wheremold was linked to childhood deaths.Pulmonary hemosiderosis, or bleeding of the lungs, was reported to havecaused the deaths of six Cleveland children who came to a hospital withnosebleeds.The CDC scientists who conducted a study produced data they thought was thesmoking gun that pointed toward Stachybotrys."But CDC did both external and internal review of that data and basicallyconcluded that the data was not strong enough to support a causalrelationship between exposure to Stachybotrys and hemosiderosis," Godishsaid. "A political battle was waged at different levels. The higher-ups, ofcourse, won. The people who did the studies left the CDC."Godish believes the CDC was right that a causal link may not have beenestablished but faults the CDC for not probing deeper. Stachybotrys needs tobe treated with caution, Godish said. "You don't treat it like any othermold," he said."If you have water damage in your wall, you don't want an average contractorcoming into your home and start ripping things out. He can contaminate yourwhole house."Staff writer Wayne Falda:wfalda@...(574) 235-6326Copyright © 1994-2002 South Bend Tribune