Inverness City Councilwoman Jacquie Hepfer Forced Out by Mold

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Councilwoman forced to move

05/19/02

Jan Witherspoon

Inverness City Councilwoman Jacquie Hepfer began moving out of her Inverness

home Wednesday, leaving behind everything that wasn't metal, glass or

plastic.

" It's really bizarre, " Hepfer said of the black mold that is causing her to

leave her home.

About a year ago, Hepfer said she reached into the back of the cabinet under

her kitchen sink to get a cleaning product and her hand landed on something

wet, black and disgusting.

She said she didn't know how long the plumbing might have been leaking, but

it must have been a slow leak. She's been sick for about one year and

believes it coincides with about the time she discovered the thick growth of

mold, she said.

Hepfer fixed the leak and washed everything down with bleach. Since

Hurricane , she said her homeowners insurance required a $500

deductible, so there was no question about turning a claim into the

insurance company.

Instead, she went to the hardware store. She had no idea that the mold would

continue to grow after the bleaching.

For Hepfer, finding the diagnosis for her illness meant going from her

family doctor to her gynecologist. The doctors suggested everything from

allergies to menopause.

Her symptoms include aching joints, depression, absent-free seizures and

falling asleep in inappropriate places.

" It's awful to be so sick, my hair is falling out, " she said. " I wake up

tired. I alternate between insomnia and sleeping too much. I've almost

fallen asleep in court. I have wheezing and sinus infections. "

Hepfer describes the seizures as a brief mental blankness. " It's scary, " she

said. " You're looking at people you know and you can't recall their name. It

's like a record that skips and then you go back to normal. "

As executive director of the Family Visitation Center, Hepfer is frequently

in court testifying before a judge. She said she makes sure she has copious

notes with her so she will have a reference after she has a seizure.

" It kept getting worse, " she said of the symptoms that include suicidal

tendencies. " It's not a joke; the seizures are getting more frequent. I find

I feel better and breathe better when I'm not home. "

Dr. Lipsey, a ville toxicologist, tested the house for toxic

mold and reported back that three toxic molds were found within Hepfer's

house. His advice was to move out so she could start feeling better. He also

suggested that the backside of the house be torn down and rebuilt.

" Dr. Thrasher came to the house with Lipsey, " she said, " and he said I

exhibit all the symptoms of classic toxic mold poisoning. "

Not long ago, Hepfer said she had a small gathering at her house with seven

women.

" Five of the seven ladies that came were sneezing, wheezing and their eyes

were swelling shut after they had been there for a while, " she said. " They

all left, everyone of them, and they called the next day and said they were

sick. "

Hepfer suspects that her two cats are also affected by the mold. Since last

June the cats won't come inside the house.

" I wonder if it bothers them too, " she said.

Hepfer, like Morelli who also has severe symptoms believed to be

associated with toxic mold poisoning, is wondering why there isn't more

information available to the public about the dangers of mold.

" People need to know what this is and that it is out there, " she said.

" There needs to be more information available to the general public. What

about employees who work in sick buildings? What about people who can only

afford to rent old trailers and houses? How many people are forced to live

in toxic places and don't understand why their kids are sick all the time?

" Bleach and Lysol doesn't fix this stuff. There needs to be more public

awareness about this. "