Superior Restoration

In 1999 a family moved into what they thought was their dream home. The sprawling 22 room mansion on nearly 72 acres of land in the country seemed ideal for raising their young family. Until now they had enjoyed the city life, so this new prospect was something they both thought was an adventure and fantasy. However that dream come true would soon become a waking nightmare.

A toxic mold has crept into their home, and within little over a year the family was forced to leave their home. Almost like a grotesque still-life dishes were left in the sink, and the toys of their young children still set up in the living room. What had happened, and what lead up to this terror?

After moving into their new home, the couple’s four year old son began coughing blood. In addition he could not stand on his own, and suffered from debilitating stomach issues. With symptoms that ranged across the board the child was admitted to the local hospital for observation and fluids. After rounds of tests the doctors were stumped, what could be making this once utterly healthy young boy so ill? Worse yet was that his symptoms improved once he was in the hospital, but after a merry-go-round of home to hospital nothing was getting better.

That was until the husband got sick. It started first with dizziness and losing his short term memory: something a investment banker simply could not afford to lose.. However it didn’t stop there, soon he too was coughing blood, and experiencing the same stomach problems.

It was then that the wife who had been researching on the internet for months discovered that the family’s problem matched the descriptions of an insidious mold called Toxic Black Mold or Stachybotrys. In light of his revelation she sought out the services of one of the world’s leading mold experts: Dr. David Strauss. The son and husband were given a battery of tests, and the home was finally tested. What was found was nothing less than shocking.

The home was a loss. This dream home had nearly ten times the normal level of Black Mold a case normally sees. Dr. Strauss theorized that the family was getting so ill from the mycotoxins the mold releases which effects the nervous system and lungs. It was also found that the mold probably came from a water damage that was not properly fixed, or disclosed in the final sale. From the level of damage there would be absolutely no way to eliminate every trace to mycotoxin from the home. He ordered the family to evacuate.

The doctor in an interview with CBS news said the disaster was in all ways like a flood, the family had lost everything they owned. They could not take a single piece from their old home for the risk of carrying spores. Wedding photos, baby shoes, everything gone.

By this time the husband had to resign from his high paying position. His memory was gone. His wife recalls him going to the grocery store and coming back without groceries, while his coworkers recall coming into his office and watching him stare at the wall like he had “had a stroke”. He was now on disability.

Upon leaving the house the wife’s milder symptoms disappeared. However her son developed asthma and a difficulty concentrating in school. The young boy saw a doctor who specializes in mold exposure cases who saw a low level of antibodies, which likely means a prolonged exposure to mold. He stated most assuredly that the family should never be exposed to mold again. The husband’s condition only marginally improved. While they still could recover, for now the family still suffers from a creeping killer that made what should have been the happiest days into ones that would forever scar them.

In some ways the family was lucky, Stachybotrys can kill. Especially in infants the mold can cause hemorrhaging in the brain resulting in fatal pressure on the brain. Since this finding was found there have been over thirty cases of hemorrhaging in infants alone, and over five deaths.

Black Mold is not terribly common in our neck of the woods. Most cases occur in the southwest, to mid-west due to their high heat and low humidity, however it is not unheard of. Mold is not the first thing most doctors will think of, as when you see stripes on a horse you think zebra. If you think their may be cause to have your home tested do so. It could mean the difference between an unlucky chapter in your life, or the end of it.

If you have questions about Mold, Toxic Black mold, or the effects mold can have on your health leave a message in our ask box, or contact your doctor for more information on the symptoms.

Sources:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/01/31/health/main327526.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stachybotrys

http://www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm

With so much news circulating this week about the wildfires burning out of control in Colorado we at Superior Restoration wanted to discuss wildfire prevention, and safety tips should one occur around here. Wildfires can happen anywhere there is vegetation, which obviously includes us here in New England. Earlier this year we faced a serious threat of this with a red flag warning which essentially means: chances are there are going to be fires. There were several small brush fires over the two-week course of the warning, but none reached the scale that we now see in the Midwest.

Wildfires can occur from many sources man-made and naturally. Sometimes it can be the result of a discarded cigarette, a campfire, but then other times it can easily be a lightning strike or a combustion of gases built up in decaying plant matter. With any of these sources we must all do our part to remain vigilant, and report fire if we see it.

Lets say you’re driving on the highway and you see a small area of brush going up in flames. Well it’s not exactly big, but someone must have reported it. You keep driving. Suddenly you turn on the news and dozens of acres have been consumed with heavy smoke and flame. You realize what you saw was the beginning of a wildfire, and if you had just called the proper authorities it could have been contained so much sooner.

We’ve all seen those terrible public service announcements saying “if you see something, say something.” Well that phrase doesn’t just apply to unchecked baggage, or something suspicious but natural problems as well. You see a fire? Report it. You see wires down on the road? Report it. Just five seconds of time could mean the difference between a little blip on the evening news, and a nationally covered tragedy.

Our hearts go out to those who have been evacuated in Colorado, and those poor souls who have lost their homes. We can only pray that this fire is contained soon so your lives can return to some sense of normalcy.

If you are compelled to help aid the relief efforts in the Midwest, donate to the Red Cross today. Every dollar helps, and they are going to need it.

We’ll try our best to keep you updated on the situation unfolding in the Midwest as information becomes available.

Sometimes the thing that threatens our family can’t be seen, can’t be tasted, or even smelled. It threatens and kills nearly 170 people in the US each year. Is it the fault of human error? Intentional exposure?

By now most of you are probably thinking I’m talking about a virus, but it’s not. Today we’re talking about carbon monoxide: a colorless, tasteless gas that poisons you just by breathing it in. This deadly gas is a byproduct of exhaust from cars, generators, stoves, lanterns, and even burning wood and charcoal. Each year we hear about people dying from exposure to this deadly fume but how? How do we prevent it, and protect ourselves from it?

How do you protect you and your family from this gas? For starters have all heaters and major appliances like the furnace checked each year by a qualified service technician, and if there is a problem fix it immediately. Never use chemical heaters in the home, they are meant for outdoor use only. Another tip is to make sure all gas operated appliances like stoves are well ventilated, and make sure gas using items like cars or generators keep their fumes outside. Don’t run your car in the garage with the garage door closed, that’s a great way to suffer from CO2 poisoning.

How does CO2 harm us? Essentially CO2 bonds with oxygen molecules in the air, as a result breathable air becomes harder to get. Our body needs oxygen for out red blood cells to work properly but in a CO2 rich environment the red bond cells will bond with the CO2, meaning your body is not getting the oxygen it needs. If this exposure goes on too long the brain will shut down and result in death. Nearly 20,000 people each year visit the hospital for CO2 poisoning, 4,000 are hospitalized for acute exposure, and just about 170 people die from this gas. Can you even gauge that number?

Now all this is pretty scary, how do you know if there is a CO2 contamination in your home if you can’t see, smell, or taste it? Easy. CO2 detectors exist and are slowly becoming more and more popular. Place a carbon monoxide detector in every room, a battery operated one (we’ll get to why batteries in a minute) and let them do their job. If you hear one of them sound leave the area and call the fire department.

Now, why battery operated? Last fall we saw a snow storm that knocked power out for a week or more in Connecticut. Many people used generators if they had them, and thought they were fine with their wall plug in CO2 detectors. They brought the generators inside, and sadly people died. They relied on an electric detector while the power was out forgetting there was not a battery backup. In recent years this has become the key word before carbon monoxide detectors and should definitely be the ones you look for.

Some basic common sense and understand of what causes CO2 contamination can help reduce the risk of exposure. If you have questions there are many helpful sites like the CDC which have full explanations, ideas, and diagrams showing what to do. As always though if you have questions we would be happy to answer them. If you have questions about Carbon Monoxide or any other threat to the home please leave a message in our ask box.