Letter to Dr. Whitcomb

     Following is an e-mail that I sent to Dr. David C Whitcomb, Professor of Medicine, Cell Biology &         Molecular Physiology, and Human Genetics at University of Pittsburg. His professional career has             focused on understanding the origin and nature of pancreatic diseases for the purpose of providing             effective preventative and therapeutic interventions. I am hoping for a prompt response.

     Dear Dr. Whitcomb,

I just finished listening to your presentation on the mission cure website about genetics and pancreatitis. It was an excellent presentation and very insightful. I cannot thank you enough for your dedication to this field and your enthusiasm for changing the history of this horrible disease process.

My husband, Larry started having recurring acute pancreatitis in 2013 at age 47. To date he has had 34 hospital stays and 49 documented attacks (does not account for all of the mini attacks). After about a year and a half of being what we thought was attack free, he started having what we thought were GI problems last September, which eventually resulted in a complete inability to eat or drink and a 40 lb. weight loss.

When he first started having the symptoms last September he went in for a colonoscopy and everything checked out to be ok. I had to convince him to go to the ER a few months later when he was still struggling and his enzymes were a little bit elevated and they indicated that on the CT scan his pancreas looked a little inflammed, but nothing alarming. FINALLY at the beginning of January we ended up in the ER again when he couldn't keep anything down, had lost so much weight, and was throwing up and in constant pain. At this visit the ER doctors were very alarmed at his pancreas on the CT scans and said that it looked like it had been run over by a freight train. Other doctors that have reviewed these scans have described the image of his pancreas as looking like somebody had ripped it out, thrown it on the sidewalk, and beat it over and over again with a baseball bat.

For the first time since this whole process had started, Larry was put on an NJ tube and a couple of weeks later he had a stent placed in his pancreas because his pancreatic duct had completely dissolved. He has also currently on blood thinners, and spent a good month on 24 hr. high doses of antibiotics through a pic line due to his high risk for infections. The stent was placed on January 21st and since that time he has still only been able to eat very soft foods, such as pudding or soup, and he is not even able to eat all of those all of the time. Thankfully, even though he has learned to absolutely hate the NJ tube, he is usually able to tolerate the feedings.

On March 9th Larry had a repeat of the CT scan and met with Dr. Braden his gastroenterologist. Dr. Braden said the pancreas is healing, but it seems to be much slower than he would like. Last week we were also FINALLY able to meet with a genetic counselor and Larry's genetic testing was sent to the lab last Monday, March 13th which we are all anxiously awaiting the results for, especially because his paternal grandmother died an incredibly painful death of pancreatic cancer at the young age of 49. It is my understanding that she started having stomach pains at the age of 48 in March and she essentially starved to death for 1 1/2 years and passed away in December of the following year at 65 pounds.

All facts would indicate that Larry's pancreatitis started because of a toxic mold exposure that our family had. In 2012 we moved to a new house in November and by February of 2013 our family started having some very severe health problems--pancreatitis, Bell's palsy, asthma, chronic coughs, and my 13 year old son, Spencer, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. All of these symptoms came on in a very short amount of time and once we left the environment we stopped having the intense health problems minus the pancreatic damage that had been done in my husband and son. We ended up going to Dr. Hope, MD in Santa Barbara, CA who specializes in environmental toxicity. ALL of our urine was positive for tricothecenes (some of the most deadly mycotoxins in existence) which I suspect was the culprit behind all of our problems.

In regards to my son, Spencer, he has mostly done an amazing job at managing his Type 1 diabetes. I know few people who are as disciplined at healthy eating and determined to have optimal health. Having Type 1 and his frustration with the lack of good information (specifically nutrition) has motivated him to become a doctor and he is currently in his 2nd year of his Undergraduate studies in Nutritional Science at BYU. My heart is absolutely broken, however, as I continue to watch him battle for good health on a daily basis despite his incredibly good health habits and lifestyle.

In the Summer of 2017 he served an LDS mission in Washington state. The first year his health was relatively good, but the second year of his mission something changed and he started having health problems that included headaches, stomach pains, malaborption, brain fog, and weight loss. They tried to diagnose him with depression, but we were both convinced it was more than that. Amazingly, he muddled through his mission and crawled to the finish line. During this time period he tried several supplements, was treated for hp palori, and adopted a gluten-free lifestyle. Looking back I suspect that he had possibly started having pancreatitis.

A few weeks ago I finally convinced him to go to the ER and get checked out when he had been unable to eat and drink for a few days and was having stomach pains. Because his enzyme levels came back normal they treated him for dehydration and sent him home. Unfortunately, this experience just solidified in Spencer's mind that the doctors are not going to be able to help him.

As Larry and I are the parents of seven amazing children (ages 7-23), three of whom have also been diagnosed with a rare genetic disease, ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), we need our husband and father! I am writing you out of sheer desperation that you might be able to offer me some insights and direction as to where to go from here. 

As a caretaker of all of these people, I am exhausted, tired, and I could really use some expert advice. I have spent countless hours and sleepless nights doing research, contacting experts in various fields, trying to keep the bills paid, making and going to doctors appointments, and negotiating with insurance companies. Any insight or direction that you could give to me would be so greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Jill Ward

P.S. One other thought in regards to three of my children have A-T. This disease is caused by two recessive ATM genes. As Larry is one of the parents it is pretty much a given that he carries the ATM gene. The ATM gene is know for high rates of pancreatic and breast cancer in people that carry it. Is it possible that his pancreatitis could have been triggered because of this gene?

---

Frustrating Medical Experiences

Some of the frustrating experiences that we have experienced on our journey:

1. Hospital stay in Ogden. Got home from the hospital and ended up back in the hospital. We were sent home sick and had been given insufficient fluids.

2. Hospital stay in Malad. After 4 days of fasting was given a liquid diet the first night and waffles and egg for breakfast and Chicken and rice for lunch. Was readmitted to the hospital that evening.

3. ER visit in Malad. Dr. took 30 min. to come into the emergency room for pain control and walked in pronouncing "are you going to listen to me this time?" We were essentially bullied into having his gall bladder taken out and were held "hostage" at Portneuf. There would be no peace for us until we had this surgery. This is the same doctor who had my normally non-emotional husband call me crying and in tears when he tried to explain to her that we thought we had been poisoned by toxic molds and that was the root of our problem and she basically called him a stupid idiot and told him that he needed to get his gall bladder out.

4. Tried telling doctors about our exposure to toxic mold and my suspicion that that exposure was the root of Larry's pancreatitis. Everytime we were admitted to the hospital I would bring all of my papers and documentation and not one doctor would look at this information. I had one doctor run an aspergillus test that came back negative. They would sometimes listen to our story to be nice, but never asked further questions, asked to see our paperwork, or did any kind of investigation.

Larry's Mycotoxin Test Results

 We have received some of the happiest news that we have received in a long time. After 22 pancreatic attacks & 16 hospital stays and 2 1/2 years of fighting for Larry's life, we have finally received the test results that we have been working towards. His mycotoxin (mold poison) test finally came back negative! He has been able to return to work full-time and we are finally able to live a relatively normal (if that is possible with 7 children) life once again. We are so grateful to God and all of the angels who came to our rescue during this very difficult time in our lives and we are doing the "happy dance" at our house!!!

Fabry Family Toxic Mold Experience

This is one of the closest stories I have found that mimics what our family has been through over the past couple of years. I have come to love Andrea and thank God for placing her in our lives during one of the most trying experiences we have ever been through. I have to agree with her that the real healing journey is bringing us closer to God.

Timeline of Events

The following timeline, written by momsAWARE founder and president Andrea Fabry, chronicles the Fabry family's experience with toxic mold exposure and also details the events that occurred during the year after they vacated their Colorado home. 
 

· June 2000 Chris, myself, and our 8 children move from a small 1800-square-foot home in suburban Chicago to an expansive, relatively new 5500-square-foot home in Monument, Colorado. We choose Colorado for its beauty and close proximity to Chris’ writing colleagues.

· June 2001 through May 2007 Our 9th child, Brandon James, is born in June of 2001. We begin to see some medical issues arise. Our oldest daughter develops a severe nut allergy. Our 4th daughter is diagnosed with complex partial seizure disorder. Other issues arise in the family, such as mild hearing loss, heavy menstrual bleeding, rashes, nickel allergies, swollen adenoids, and a dog with diabetes. We make no association with our home.

· April 2007 Our 11-year-old son, Reagan, has skin biopsy for mysterious rash in the form of small bumps on his elbows and other joints. Dermatologist cannot diagnose the cause.

· May 9, 2007 (the day before Mother’s Day) In the process of preparing for carpets to be cleaned in our downstairs, I notice a brown spot in the corner of our oldest daughter's room. It is located directly behind a bathroom. After uncovering the spot and cutting into the wall we discover black mold. We learn much later that cutting into the wall caused the spores to be released, thereby putting the family at risk. We call a mold remediation team to diagnose and treat it. They do not wear masks and do not ventilate the contaminated air. They assure us there is no risk or danger. We believe them.

(14 months later I would read this: Remediators who are not wearing any face, mouth, hand, or body protection in the midst of visible mold or moldy odors are untrained and should be asked to leave. You will be hurt by their lack of training. From the book "Your Guide to Mold Toxins" by James Schaller, M.D. and Gary Rosen, Ph.D.)

· June 26, 2007 (7 weeks from the date of exposure) Our 7-year-old son, Colin, is diagnosed with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. Research suggests a "toxic trigger" for onset. Colin slept in a room with little to no ventilation, which could explain his predisposition to diabetes (with toxic fumes in the home). His adenoids became swollen soon after moving to Colorado. "Usually, enlargement of the gland indicates increased working of the gland, i.e. reaction towards the disease or infective agents (bacteria or viruses or fungi)." With no family history and little experience with medical issues, we are launched into a new world.

· July 2007 We learn from our insurance company that slow leaks and/or mold are not covered.

· September 11, 2007 Reagan calls from school to say his ear is ringing. I take him to a top neurotologist in Colorado Springs.

· October 1, 2007 Reagan’s ringing is debilitating. MRI and blood work scheduled.

· November 1, 2007 Reagan wakes up dizzy. A few days later he is up all night with vertigo and vomiting. His last day of 6th grade will prove to be October 31.

· November 6, 2007 We seek a second opinion at Children’s Hospital in Denver. Because of the severity of the vertigo attacks we are admitted to the Emergency Room. The senior neurologist determines there is nothing neurologically wrong. ENT doctors at the hospital are mystified.

· November 10, 2007 As the violent vertigo continues, the neurotologist gives the diagnosis of Meniere’s Disease and performs shunt surgery. Reagan recovers well and begins vestibular rehabilitation as walking has become labored and difficult.

· November 22, 2007 Vertigo returns with a vengeance. Phenergan and valium are prescribed. We are now carrying Reagan as his balance is clearly disturbed.

· November 28, 2007 Reagan is admitted to the hospital for an injection of gentamiacin with the hope of killing the 8th nerve on the left side. Following surgery he is admitted to the rehabilitation unit at Memorial Hospital, as he is only able to walk with the help of a walker. His balance is restored on day 7. He is perpetually dizzy and crying at night, the dizziness is so intense. The rehab people seem mystified that he is chronically dizzy. Rehab doctor assumes it must be psychological.

· December 7, 2007 Reagan comes home from the hospital. Vertigo comes back within days. Perpetually dizzy 24 hours a day. Awake until 2 a.m. most nights until exhaustion overtakes him. I have to hold him and sing to him until he finally falls asleep.

· December 21, 2007 Second gentamiacin injection. Outpatient surgery.

· December 22, 2007 Vertigo intensifies.

· December 25, 2007 Christmas. Reagan is terribly dizzy. Bangs his head against the couch to try to get rid of it. He’s trying to cope with the lack of progress.

· January 3, 2008 The neurotologist says Reagan needs tough love. I sense there is nothing more he can do.

· January 2008 Our son with diabetes (now 8 years old) continues to complain of headaches and blurred vision. Says he is seeing double. After ruling out complications from diabetes, glasses are prescribed.

· January 2008 I notice unusual rashes on our 6-year-old son, Brandon.

· January 2008 I call an environmental hygienist in Denver and talk with him at length about my children’s illnesses and the mold remediation in May. He does not believe the illnesses are related to last year’s exposure. He is aware only of respiratory illnesses related to mold. He says we would be wasting our money to have our air tested. He comments on the fact that the remediation team wore no masks. He calls it poor business practice and unprofessional.

· February 2008 Our 10-year-old daughter Kaitlyn continues to complain of headaches, double vision, and dizziness. She has difficulty riding in the car. The optometrist diagnoses her with convergence insufficiency and diplopia. I take her for 3 other opinions including an ophthalmologist, who concurs. All agree she needs vision therapy. We begin a home therapy program for Kaitlyn. She is clearly debilitated and asking to come home after just 3 hours of school.

· February 13, 2008 VNG testing for Reagan shows the left ear has recovered to almost normal caloric activity. This is amazing in light of the toxicity of the drug gentamiacin. Meniere’s Disease appears unlikely. Reagan’s hearing in the left ear returns to the level it was on Sept. 11th. Denver neurotologist introduces the idea of migraine. I feel a need to pursue another opinion as this is a brand new idea.

· March 3, 2008 Through an e-mail to the University of Michigan, the head of the vestibular department at the Mayo Clinic hears about Reagan and calls me. Tells us that we created a separate vestibular disorder with the gentamiacin and we are in truth dealing with vestibular migraine with some adult presentation. We begin periactin and watch for trigger foods and other common migraine issues including weather changes and light sensitivity. His vertigo begins to make sense. But we are still not linking any of this to the mold exposure in May.

· March 2008 Colin complains of abdominal pain. A stomach X-ray shows that something is clearly creating a disturbance in his intestine.

· March 2008 Kaitlyn worsens. We begin vision therapy in Denver in hopes that the convergence issue will resolve and her symptoms will dissipate.

· March 2008 Our 17-year-old son Ryan’s acne has become severe. He has had chronic cold/sinus congestion/sore throat since February.

· April 2008 Kaitlyn is unable to return to school. Her motion sickness and vertigo are escalating. We see a dramatic shift in her personality. She is negative and irritable. She lies on the floor many nights and says she wants to die. The vision therapist notices a major head tilt in Kaitlyn. Suggests that there may be more going on than the convergence issue. Advises us to see a chiropractor.

· April 2008 Colin complains of numbness in his right hand. He has significant rashes on both hands. The blurry vision and headaches continue. The abdominal pain continues. He cries at night, asking if he will feel like this forever since diabetes is forever. We see a gastrointestinal specialist. He suggests stress but agrees to do further testing. Colin leaves school early most days.

· April 2008 Our 6-year-old son, Brandon, complains of blurry vision and abdominal pain. His teacher sends home a note saying he appears to be urinating frequently. Brandon is diagnosed with dysfunctional voiding. Stomach X-ray shows he is constipated.

· April 2008 I become extremely fatigued. Develop ringing in both ears. I assume this is due to stress of these last 11 months. I also begin to notice some memory issues but dismiss it quickly.

· April 2008 A pediatric neurologist at Children’s Hospital in Denver skeptically prescribes topomax for Reagan’s migranious vertigo. With no family history of migraine he expresses disbelief that a child can be dizzy 24 hours a day. With the lack of support I decide to pursue alternative/natural care. Reagan is suffering with each weather change. Because of this and Kaitlyn’s head tilt, I consider a chiropractor with a head/neck specialty.

· April 25, 2008 I reach the point of desperation and despair. Chris is doing his best to continue to pay the mounting bills. 3 children are out of school completely and are not improving. I determine to see a chiropractor with the specialty of orthospinology. As I would come to learn, orthospinology focuses on the atlas bone and its intersection with the spinal column. Misalignment inhibits the brain from sending its messages to the body, creating neurological/immune system issues. One of the primary causes of misalignment is toxic exposure.

· May 10, 2008 (the day before Mother’s day) Colin notices discoloration in his ceiling. Unaware of the dangers of mold exposure, we cut into the floor area around the master bedroom shower area and notice a mold-like substance. Assuming there is no connection with our children's illnesses from the previous mold, we call the same remediation team. They begin work the same day.

· May 16, 2008 I become increasingly uncomfortable with the remediation process. The workmen still wear no masks. Black mold is visible in the room where we are sleeping. The owner of a second remediation company comes to review the work. He is shocked at the fan which is re-circulating contaminated air through the house. There is no ventilation and black mold is clearly exposed. We call the hygienist and schedule air sampling for the following Tuesday. We tell the remediation company to remove their equipment immediately. They assure us our air in the affected areas is the cleanest in the house. Once again we hear from the insurance company that mold and slow leaks are not covered.

· May 2008 Reagan is suffering massive nosebleeds each night.

· May 2008 Chris experiences numbness in his right hand and lower arm.

· May 21, 2008 Following atlas adjustment, Colin becomes feverish and gray in color. He begins vomiting. His fever climbs to 104 degrees. Visibly shaking. Diarrhea begins. This continues for the next 4 days. There is black substance with each bowel movement. By the 5th day his abdominal pain has subsided. The numbness is gone and his vision has improved.

· May 22, 2008 The hygienist calls with the results of our air samples. The lower level of the home has a reading of 120 mold spores. The count outside our house is 790. The count in the boys’ room is 293,000. 207,000 of these spores are stachybotrys. 86,000 of these spores are the type chaetomium. The count in our master bedroom is 321,987. 250,000 are stachybotrys. 71,000 are chaetomium. The hygienist indicates he has never seen counts this high in either residential or commercial structures. The mold in this area of the house is significantly less than the area downstairs which was improperly remediated last year. The magnitude of last year’s exposure has to be much greater.

· May 22, 2008 We call for an emergency remediation. The new remediation team recommended by the hygienist contains the affected areas and seals off the rooms by midnight. They are in full protective wear. We schedule carpet steam cleaning throughout the house, and vent disinfection for the next week. Our clothing, linens, and bedding are put in sealed bags and are later disposed of. Neither the hygienist nor the remediation team suggest vacating the house.

· June 2008 Brandon’s rashes diminish following the remediation. His frequent urination is improving. I learn that frequent urination can be a sign of a low MSH (Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone). Dr. James Schaller writes, "The most common cause of a very low MSH in my patients is exposure to biotoxins."

· July 2008 I begin extensive research on the subject of Toxic Black Mold Syndrome. I read this on the website Mold-Help.org:
"The most dangerous mold strains are: Chaetomium (pronounced Kay-toe-MEE-yum) and Stachybotrys chartarum (pronounced Stack-ee-BOT-ris Shar-TAR-um) as they have been proven to produce demylenating mycotoxins among others, meaning they can lead to autoimmune disease. Under certain growth and environmental conditions, both of these fungi release toxic, microscopic spores and several types of mycotoxins that can cause the worst symptoms which are usually irreversible such as neurological and immunological damage."

· July 2008 We continue taking de-toxifying supplements. I read about the prescription medication Cholestyramine which has been proven to successfully bind biotoxins. I consider blood testing as outlined in "Your Guide to Mold Toxins." But with the children improving, I decide to wait.

· August 14, 2008 The children return to school. 2 of the children become sick the first week with cold symptoms. This is disturbing but I assume it is their compromised immune systems.

· August 18, 2008 I obtain Colin’s blood tests from May 5. I look for evidence of toxic exposure. His Gliadin IgG f is high: a level of 105.6. Anything higher than 55 indicates positive, anti-gliadin IgG antibodies which can occur after indoor mold exposure.

· September 18, 2008 Colin gets a palate expander due to the mouth breathing that developed from the swollen adenoids.

· September 29, 2008 I study Reagan’s blood tests from October 1, 2007 to search for clues to mold exposure as the cause for his hearing loss and tinnitus. (Vertigo had not set in at the time of these blood tests. They were taken 4 months after initial exposure.) His Hgb level was elevated at the time as was his Alk Phos level, which was elevated to 309 with the healthy range 37-250. In addition, his Potassium level was low and C-ANCA level was equivocal for antibodies, and a re-test was suggested by the lab but not ordered by the neurotologist.

· September 2008 Our dog Pippen seems unusually sick. His eyes are redder than they have ever been. Brandon becomes sick again with cold symptoms. I notice my tongue is black, my foot joints hurt, and 3 bumps appear on my right hand 2nd knuckle. I take Ryan to the doctor for a herpes-like rash around his mouth. Brandon’s rashes are back, as are Colin’s hand rashes. Colin’s blood sugars become elevated.

· October 4, 2008 I seek the counsel of a toxicologist due to recurring symptoms. He explains the seriousness of the 320,000 spore count and explains that mold hides behind walls and in crawl spaces. He advises us to vacate the home. We leave Saturday night at 8:45 pm.

· October 5, 2008 Chris and I conference call with toxicologist and leading environmental physician Dr. Michael Gray. They explain the seriousness of the spore count and the bacteria which synergize with the mold spores creating a general contamination in the home. We throw away all remaining clothing and begin the process of creating a new, clean, environment.

· October 25, 2008 Colin’s previous symptoms reappear. We wonder about re-contamination of the new environment. The toxicologist suggests chemical sensitivity. This commonly occurs in individuals exposed to high levels of mold. The de-toxifying capability of the body is compromised and therefore is unable to cope with normal, everyday toxins such as pesticides, fragrances, carpet chemicals, etc.

· October 29, 2008 Colin’s symptoms intensify. He complains of headaches, numbness in his hands and feet, pain in his chest and abdomen. He writes in his journal that he is the sickest boy in the world and there will never be anyone who can help him. His hands are bloody from the rashes. I call the toxicologist once again. He suggests bacteria from our contaminated house may have colonized in his nasal cavities and digestive track. X-ray reveals mass in his upper left nasal cavity. We intensify probiotic and immune boosting supplements.

· November 2008 Reagan continues to suffer from migraine headaches, chronic dizziness, sore throats, and nosebleeds. Ryan still struggles with his rash. Kaitlyn asks to leave school due to headaches. Brandon complains of dizziness and nausea. I am struggling with memory loss and depression as well as compromised ability to multi-task. I sense the need to seek medical help through Dr. Michael Gray in Benson, Arizona.

· December 3, 2008 First appointment with Dr. Gray. UV light shows numerous fungal colonies on Colin and Reagan’s bodies. He finds polyps in their nasal cavities. He explains more about the reality of our mold exposure and long-term effects. I begin to think about relocating to Arizona to have the other children seen and begin the intensive treatment protocol.

· December 2008 Our 3 oldest daughters begin to connect their long term symptoms with the mold exposure. All of them lived in the home at some point during and after the first remediation. Connections are made with symptoms beginning as far back as 2000. Symptoms include: mood disorders, thyroid issues, anemia, memory loss, depression, inability to focus, rashes, sore throats, endometriosis, hair loss, and more.

· January 2009 5 of the children and myself begin intensive treatment in Arizona. 2 more children join us mid-January. All 11 of us test positive for the presence of aflatoxins.

· February 1, 2009 Chris drives a U-Haul full of mattresses and radio equipment to Tucson. We move into a furnished rental home with the hope of recovering as a family. Within hours we have trouble breathing. Several of us develop rashes and Brandon has 3 nosebleeds. Something is wrong with the home.

· February 2, 2009 Most of us sleep outside. We hear from the owner that pesticides were recently used for termites. We vacate the home and flee to a nearby hotel. We begin a search for a safe home free of pesticides and mold.

· February 16, 2009 We move into a tiny 3-bedroom home in a remote area of Tucson. The home is new and never been sprayed. We buy air mattresses. 7 of us sleep in one room. We begin again.

· February 17, 2009 We begin the regimen of nasal sprays, supplements, diet changes, and exercise. We consider staying in Arizona for another year.

· August 14, 2009 We move into a larger 4-bedroom home, determined to continue the rigorous work required to recover.

· September 15, 2009 We receive mold testing results which show the house is clear and safe for our family. We did thorough testing upon learning of numerous plumbing/mold issues in the neighborhood.

· October 4, 2009 We "celebrate" our one-year anniversary of vacating our home. We reflect as a family on our progress and our remaining health issues.

Mold Story in Michigan

 

Posted at 11:24 PM, Sep 14, 2015

MONTAGUE, Mich. – The house that Colleen Weesies described as her family's "dream" has turned into what she now calls her family's nightmare.

After mold was discovered inside walls on all three levels of their home, the Weesies have had to uproot their lives and move into their garage and two in their driveway.

“Frankly, I almost wish we had never moved here,” said Brad Weesies.

The family moved 10 years ago to be closer to Brad’s job. And the home sits directly across the street from the home where Brad grew up. The first sign of trouble came in the first renovation when the family tore up some carpet in the basement. “When we pulled it up, the pad was completely black,” said Colleen. “We just thought, Oh, it’s wet. We need to get this out of here. We didn’t think anything of it.”

A later renovation to the main floor bathroom revealed more signs of mold and the cause of the problem. “We did see little black rings,” said Brad. “We just assumed it was a common mold you spray and take care of.”

But it wasn’t.

The family was dealing with black toxic mold, and a lot of it.

Typical house inspections do not check for mold below surfaces for mold, only for visible signs on ceilings, walls, and floors. After the discovery in the bathroom, a specialist told the Weeises the mold had been there for somewhere between 20 and 30 years, long before it showed visible signs, and long before the family had moved in.

Living in the home no longer became a viable option, because the mold exacerbated many of the children’s previously existing health issues and presented some new ones, including Colleen’s diagnosis of lupus.

Because their insurance wouldn’t pay for the renovations because the mold wasn’t caused by a specific event like a burst pipe or ice dams, moving into the trailers was the only feasible decision the Weeises could make.  They couldn’t default on their mortgage; their credit just couldn’t take the hit. They could sell the home, but then they would lose the land, too. So they moved just feet away from a home they couldn’t live in. a painful reminder of a life now changed forever.

Many of the family’s belongings had to be thrown away, too affected by the spreading mold.

“It’s almost like we had a fire,” said Brad. “We go in, and we see it all. And it hasn’t been burned up, but we have to leave it.”

Wedding pictures, bibles, birth certificates, family furniture – all gone.

The family has been living under these conditions for roughly eight weeks, and they say they are running out of options.

Amazingly enough, the one thing the mold couldn’t touch was the Weesies’ unflappable faith.

“Instead of looking at the big mountain to climb, we’re just going over little mole hills right now,” said Colleen, “just getting over each mole hill. That’s helped me put that into perspective, that we don’t have to climb the mountain. God’s going to move the mountain for us. We just have to climb the mole hills.”

If you want to lend a hand to the Weesieses, donations are being accepted through Laketon Bethel Reformed Church in Muskegon. Visit the church's website for more information on how you can make a donation.

Jennifer's Toxic Mold Story

SINCE DECEMBER 8TH, MY LIFE HAS BEEN ONE GIANT NIGHTMARE.

The blows seem to keep coming and coming. Bad news piles upon bad news. MOLD LITERALLY RUINED MY LIFE AND THAT OF MY FAMILY. Since my then husband and my father were convinced there must be a mistake, I hired a hygienist and also a toxicologist (who is also an immunologist) to come in and do further testing, inspections, and evaluations. I knew there was no mistake. The mold problem explained the years of health issues my daughter and I have been battling. They explained the recent health issues that were honestly debilitating me. More on that later. The hygienist found water damage in our living room and bedroom. Yes, the bedroom. MAJOR water damage. And here I was convinced that this room was the one that was totally cool. The water damage wasn’t from a recent event either. This was something that had been happening for a long time. 

The toxicologist (Dr. Jack Thrasher – one of the nation’s leading mold experts) did further ERMI testing which also looked at the breakdown of mycotoxins being produced by the molds present. While costly, and I mean COSTLY, this test helped us better understand our exposure and what this might mean for our long term health, both from a treatment perspective but also from a permanent damage perspective.

Basically, our home is overrun with the mycotoxin Trichothecene. It is what is used in biological warfare to give you some perspective. 0.2 is considered “toxic”. We had levels as high as 5.97. That is deadly. Plain and simple. Our home was killing us. Dr. Thrasher also tested for moisture throughout our home. Every single wall in our home had high levels of moisture. Every. Single. Wall. And yet, there was not an iota of visible mold. That scared me. How did we not know that our house was literally a breeding ground from top to bottom? The most eye-opening portion of Dr. Thrasher’s initial visit was the preliminary neurological testing he conducted on my husband and I. My husband pretty much passed which wasn’t a surprised to Dr. Thrasher. Since Rasta Daddy isn’t home 22 hours a day like my daughter and I are, he wasn’t breathing in as many mold spores. So what about me? Well, I failed the test. It wasn’t the worst failure Dr. Thrasher had ever seen but he did give me a hug.

My heart sank. My job as a mother is to protect my daughter. And here she was living in a toxic pit. Here I was living in a toxic pit. There was a lot that happened in a one week period once we met with Dr. Thrasher and we really got an understanding of the situation. It was a whirlwind of phone calls and meetings. Of decision making. Of tears. Of frustration. Of anger. Of worry. Of blame. Of regret. Of denial. Of confusion. SO HERE IS A QUICK BREAKDOWN (WITH MORE DETAILS TO COME IN FUTURE POSTS TO HELP YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THE SEVERITY OF TOXIC MOLD) OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO US AND WHERE WE ARE HEADED IN THE FUTURE: 

On December 12, 2014, my daughter and I vacated our house, leaving our pets and Rasta Daddy behind. Since our health issues were the worst, we needed to leave. We left with nothing. We even took off our clothes we were wearing and threw them away. We invaded my parents’ house as a temporary shelter. I quickly purchased a couple of days’ worth of clothes and some other essentials.

SO WHAT ABOUT OUR HOUSE? WHAT ABOUT OUR POSSESSIONS. Well, technically we are homeless right now with next to nothing. We have a very short term place to stay and a few things such as clothes and toiletries and a few toys for my daughter but really, we have nothing.

Our house basically needs to be torn down and rebuilt. It has structural issues that are not an easy fix. The house cannot simply be remediated. We have to fix the structure itself. We are already upside down in our house due to the downturn in the economy. Therefore, we already owe more than it is worth. You do the math. We obvious have no choice when it comes to the house. It make no sense to sink several hundred thousand dollars into rebuilding. All our earthly belongings? Gone. All of them. Important tax records have been sealed up and put into storage but beyond that, we had to leave it all. Mold is a nasty living creature that intrudes upon and in every crack and crevice. It can lie dormant for 50 years. Even if you do not have the right conditions for it to grow, mold spores can continue to cause all kinds of health issues. The mycotoxin levels in our home alone preclude us from taking anything. It would be disastrous for our health. Dr. Thrasher along with many other leading ...

LOSE YOUR EYES AND PUT YOURSELF IN MY SHOES FOR FIVE SECONDS. CAN YOU FEEL MY PAIN? CAN YOU FEEL HOW IMPOSSIBLE THIS ALL IS? 

There is however one light at the end of the tunnel and that is our health. For the past six months I have been feeling increasingly lousy physically despite doing a ton of work to heal myself. If you will recall, I had an intense surgery in January 2014 and I committed myself to healing ALL of me once I was through the first six months of recovery. For the past few months, I had been experiencing feelings that I can only equate to being drunk. I was having horrible headaches all the time. Headaches that never went away. I was moody. More than moody. I was an ass. The mold explains everything. In case you are skeptical, I haven’t had a single headache since leaving our home. I haven’t felt drunk. When you sleep closed up in a mold infested room it shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that you wake up with a severe headache from mold exposure. 

Getting out of a toxic environment that was basically killing us slowly is a blessing. But we have a lot of work to do before we are healthy again. My daughter and I are no strangers to hard work and dedication when it comes to our health. So I am up for the challenge no matter what it takes and how far we have to travel to get help. Rasta Daddy might not need as much help as we will health wise. That remains to be seen. However, he is starting to have some insight into what he thought we “small” health nuisances. He realizes that he does indeed have mold related health issues. 

Our biggest struggle right now is building a life from nothing. I homeschool. I need stuff to do that with. I have to cook 100% of what I eat from scratch. I have nothing for a kitchen. We have no beds to sleep in. No table to eat at. No blankets. No towels. I lost my entire library. It was extensive with a lot of unique and rare books. All my resources for this blog are gone. All of my natural health resources.

Thanks for sticking it out through this rather long story. I plan on writing more about the mold testing we did in the event that you ever need those resources. I also plan on sharing more about health issues related to mold as well as why we couldn’t save any of our possessions. This is the area that most people just cannot wrap their brains around. But it is important NOT to take anything from a home with toxic mold. So it is worthy of its own post. Please pray for us on this journey. While words can’t ease our pain, prayers and positive energy can lift us up when we need it most.

Read More at https://hybridrastamama.com © Hybrid Rasta Mama

Thank You Health Well Foundation

Below is a testimonial that I wrote for the Health Well Foundation. A foundation that I will be forever grateful to.

"The Health Well Foundation has been such a HUGE BLESSING to our family of nine. In Dec. 2012 our family moved to a new home on five acres to start living a more "healthy" lifestyle. Within a few short months, our once healthy family developed Type 1 diabetes, asthma, chronic lung problems, chronic coughs, headaches, Bell's Palsy and recurring pancreatitis. After investigating, we discovered that the house we had moved to had toxic mold in it and we found ourselves running for our lives. We were lucky enough to get out of the environment within only 7 months and had high hopes that our "hellish nightmare" would end. 

Unfortunately, we have continued to suffer the devastating effects of these poisons. Having the heart of a mother, I agonized over how to pay to get my family the medical help that we so desperately needed. The testing we needed to have run to check for the presence of these toxins is $700 out-of-pocket per person, the initial visit with the environmental doctor is about $500 per person out-of-pocket, and the monthly treatments run between $400-$700 per person out-of-pocket for 3-12 months. The ability for our family to afford the medical help that we so desperately needed was IMPOSSIBLE, especially with my husband, our main breadwinner, off of work for more than half the year either in the hospital or recovering from 11 pancreatic attacks.

After exploring several different avenues, I found myself banging my head against the wall. I was finally referred to the Health Well Foundation. I e-mailed them our story not really knowing what response to expect. I was elated when a week later I received an e-mail empathizing with our story and informing me that they were going to try to get us the help that we needed. To say I was elated and felt great hope is an understatement.

Within a few weeks we were all approved for a grant and we have been able to move forward in healing our family. Unfortunately, we have learned that all 8 of us have these poisons present in our body, but we have great hope as we have the funding that we need to pay for necessary medical visits and treatments. These treatments are making a tremendous difference in the health of our family, especially in my husband, who is having fewer pancreatic attacks now and recovering A LOT quicker. The traditional doctors had done all that they knew how and had given up on him, but thanks to the funding from the Health Well Foundation we were able to afford to see the right kind of doctor, have the necessary tests run and afford the medication. We still have a long road ahead of us, but we feel so much hope. God bless this wonderful foundation and the donors that have made it possible for people like us to receive the help that we need!"

6 Week Celebration!

Today we celebrate 6 weeks (42 days) since Larry last had a pancreatic attack! This has been such a physical, emotional and financial ride for our family.


1st attack  4/22/13-4/25/13; Lasted 3 days--did not go to doctor
2nd attack 5/07/13-5/10/13; 3 day hospital stay in Malad; 15 days from last attack
3rd attack  6/06/13-6/08/13; 2 day hospital stay in Malad; 30 days from last attack
4th attack  6/18/13-6/20/13; 2 day hospital stay at Portneuf; 12 days from last attack
We get moved out of house where our family has been so sick
5th attack  8/11/13-8/15/13; 4 day hospital stay in Ogden; 30 days from last attack
6th attack  12/28/13-1/4/14; 7 day hospital stay at Portneuf; 142 days from last attack
Gallbladder is removed
7th attack   3/03/14-3/07/14; 4 day hospital stay in Malad; 65 days from last attack
End of April we see environmental doctor, Dr. Hope, who prescribes us Glutathione, binders, and several other supplements and lifestyle changes
8th attack   5/16/14-5/17/14; overnight hospital stay in Malad; 74 days from last attack
9th attack   6/05/14-6/05/14; day stay in Malad hospital; 20 days from last attack
10th attack--6/25/14

Update On Larry's Health

After Larry's recent pancreatic attack about two weeks ago, I was sure that we were headed downhill and I was emotionally geared up for the worst.

Miraculously, I went to see him the morning after the attack and he had made an amazing turnaround. Out of all 8 attacks this was the quickest he has ever recovered. It usually takes him 3-5 days to even be able to tolerate food and then he would be down for 2-4 weeks regaining his strength. He also lost 20-30 lbs. after several of his attacks and lost nothing with this last one. His recovery only lasted about a week and he was back to eating almost normal and had regained most of his energy. What a miracle!

I am really trying not to get my hopes up too much because this has been such a roller-coaster ride, but things are looking hopeful. We know that our prayers are being answered and also believe that the treatment plan that Dr. Hope has us on for toxic mold poisoning is making a significant difference. We are so grateful for miracles.

Larry's Treatment Plan

On April 25th we had a 4 hr. doctors appointment with Dr. Janette Hope M.D., President of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine and toxic mold survivor. All aspects of Larry's life (childhood, work environment, home environment etc.) and symptoms were taken into account.

We have now been on the treatment plan for almost a month. When we first walked away from Dr. Hope's office our heads were just swimming with an enormous amount of information including a 6 page treatment plan. Even though this treatment plan sounded overwhelming at first, we are starting to wrap our heads around it and believe we are having great success with the aspects of it that we have been able to apply thus far.

Following is a brief summary of his treatment plan and a few other inclusions that we have learned along the way. It is important to understand that most people that experience mold poisoning also develop chemical sensitivity. Larry has already had 3 severe bouts of this where he was like the "bionical" man of smells and was very sensitive to smells that could not be sensed by the normal person. These bouts of his when on for as long as a week and can become permanent.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS
     A. Avoidance of exposure to water-damaged environments and/or moldy environments, including home, work place, school, car and other settings and items that have been exposed to these settings.
Note: We were fortunate to get out of our water-damaged environment in only seven months. Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to completely rid ourselves of all of the items that were in the water damaged environment. It is very interesting that a large majority of the "experts" in our society do not believe in "toxic mold poisoning", but the insurance companies all have exclusions for it. We were renters at the time of damage and we paid to have our things protected by renters insurance, but we have no coverage because of this exclusion. Larry has been camping out since his last release from the hospital and I have been working hard to get our house cleaned out (mostly the bedrooms at this point) of most of our belongings except for the essentials so that he can come home to a clean environment.
     B. Avoidance of exposures to: pesticides of any sort, solvents/VOCs, smoke of any kind, plastics including eating or drinking from plastic, heavy metals, dry cleaning or locations near dry cleaners and most importantly any environment that makes you feel ill or unwell!
Note: The pesticides one is a tricky one for us with us owning a feed store.
     C. Use non-toxic items like baking soda, vinegar, Bon Ami non-chemical abrasive cleaner and 20 Mule Team borax for cleaning and laundry.
Note: We were already in the process of switching over to non-toxic cleaning items. One product that I also use for cleaning is colloidal silver (a natural antibacterial). If you go to norwex.biz they make cleaning rags, wash cloths and towels with the silver already in them. They also have a really neat window cleaning and mopping system.
     D. Organic diet to minimize exposure to pesticides and other contaminants.
Note: I buy as much as I can organic and I also do a lot of my cooking out of Sally Fallon's book "Nourishing Traditions". I HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone. It is full of so much valuable information.
     E. Evaluation and control of any documented excess EMF exposures.
Note: A book could be written about this whole subject. An excellent book that Dr. Hope recommended that I have ordered is called "Prescriptions for a Healthy House" and they have a lot of good info. on EMF exposures.
     F. Glass (corning visionware) or ceramic-lined cast iron cookware. Avoid non-stick/Teflon coating and aluminum. Stainless steel may leach nickel which can be problematic for some with allergies and autoimmune conditions.
Note: These are very similar recommendations to Sally Fallon's cookware recommendations. I also bake with stoneware.
     G. Triple element air filter including HEPA, carbon and zeolite to minimize expsure to particulates and VOCs, especially in the bedroom (NO ozone).
Note: A great place to order a good one of these is on Dr. Ray's website toxic-black-mold-syndrome.com. They are about $650 each and I need two for my house so I am trying to get some money together to pay for them. We have ordered one for our feed store to help reduce the toxic load at work.
     H. Create a "bedroom sanctuary". Uncarpeted room with healthy, non-contaminated bedding and knick-knacks, or keep these items primarily in solid wood or glass cabinets.
     I. Filter drinking, bathing and washing water.Whole house water filter with additional drinking water filter is best. Alternatively, drinking water filter and chlorine water filter for shower.
     J. If outdoor air quality is good, spend as much time possible outdoors.
     K. Spend time daily in the sun without sunblock. If a sunblock is needed, use a barrier non-nano particle sunblock such as zinc, rather than a chemical sunblock.
Note: I ordered some of this off of badgersport.com

2. SEQUESTERING AGENTS
     A. Cholestyramine (by prescription--this is also available with no additives, but it is very expensive and most insurances will not cover it)
     B. Charcoal

3. GLUTATHIONE (glutathione protects cells against free radicals that cause oxidation damage, neutralizes/removes toxins and enhances immune function)
     A. Readisorb Glutathione in glass bottle. This is liquid medication and can be ordered directly by going to readisorb.com
     B. Nasal glutathione
     C. Nebulized glutathione
     D. Transdermal glutathione
Note: The last 3 forms of glutathione are by prescription only and have to be made in a sterile compounding pharmacy. Unfortunately, our insurance only covered $13 of our $500 bill (Grrrrrr!)
Also, our family has had great success with "protandim" an all natural herbal supplement that upregulates glutathione in the body (visit abcliveit.com to view a dateline that aired about this product). If interested in ordering please visit my website at lifevantage.com/jillward.

4. UPPER RESPIRATORY CARE
     A. Saline nasal rinse with Neti Pot 2-4 times per day.
     B. Nasal Itraconazole (this is another prescription only med that is made at the sterile compounding pharmacy).

5. SKIN CARE
    A. Collective wellbeing Charcoal body wash
Note: We really like this soap, it just takes some getting used to washing in black soap.

6. SAUNA/EXERCISE
     A. Exercise as tolerated. Exercise to sweat if able to tolerate.
     B. Sauna therapy (I believe that this type of therapy will be beneficial to our family for many reasons. When I have the money, I plan to order one off of the heanenlyheat saunas website).
     C. Warm epsom salt baths with filtered water.

7. DIET
     A. Trial of gluten-free diet
     B.  Trial of dairy-free diet
     C. Fermented foods (homemade yogurts or kefir, sauerkraut, kimchee)
     D. Increase consumption of foods with natural anti-fungal properties such as garlic and coconut.
     E. Increase consumption of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage)

8. SUPPLEMENTS
Dr. Hope has him on 15 different supplements:
1. Vitamin C
2. Fish oil (Carlson's brand oil or Nordic Nturals Capsules)
3. Magnesium
4. Vitamin D3
5. Coenzyme B Complex (Country Life)
6. CoQ10
7. Zinc
8. Acetyl L Carnitine
9. Phosphatidyl serine
10.KPAX
11.Hydrolyzed Whey Protein
12.Probiotics
13.Sacchromyces boulardii
14. Methyl B12
15. Freeze dried Acai powder

At first all of this information seemed so overwhelming. It has taken reading the treatment plan over and over and doing some of my own research to make sense of everything.

One of the most helpful things that I did was go and get a pill sorter so that I could organize his medicines. This treatment plan has taken a lot of dedication and work on both of our parts, but we are seeing some amazing results that I will write about in my next post so it is very worth the time and effort!

Letter To Our Family

Update: This letter was written yesterday with the intent of sending it out last night. Larry went back into the hospital with another pancreatic attack earlier this morning. Looks like we will be making some drastic changes sooner rather than later.

Dear Friends & Family:

My purpose in writing this letter is to give you an update on Larry's health, to share our story with those who have heard bits and pieces about what we have been going through and to most importantly ask for your continued loved and support as we make very difficult decisions that not everyone may understand or agree with. Some of you may think we are crazy and we have wondered that ourselves as we have went through these very trying experiences.

About 18 mos. ago our family moved out to a house on 5 acres. We made this move with the vision of having a more healthy, carefree lifestyle. Our kids would have plenty of land to run on, we could raise and grow our own food and we would have good, clean well water. Little did we know that this was just the beginning of a “hellish nightmare” for our family.

Shortly after moving into this home our family started getting very sick. Spencer was rushed to Primary Children's hospital and diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Larry started having potentially deadly and excruciatingly painful pancreatic attacks and to date has had seven, Enoch developed asthma, had stomach aches and often complained of headaches, Ben, Bekah & Rachel developed chronic coughs and when they were seen by John's Hopkins Hospital was very alarmed by these coughs when we visiting them for their 3 year check-up for A-T. Rachel would cough so hard that she would start throwing up mucous and stop breathing. I finally took her to Primary Children's hospital because we weren't finding any answers. She was diagnosed with chronic rhinosinusitis (which I now know is a common symptom of mold poisoning). During this time I also came down with Bell's Palsy and suffered from severe brain fog and depression. In one year we had 9 hospital visits and 11 drs. visits for illness. This was very unusual for our family.

The one other major trial that was thrown into the mix at the time was the very unexpected news that we were expecting another baby. I was already feeling so overwhelmed because we already had six children, three of whom had been diagnosed with the rare degenerative disease A-T. We also had no maternity insurance and I was told after my last pregnancy that having another baby would be potentially life threatening for me because of my previous 3 c-sections.

After much research, ruling out other causes and some inspiration we tested the house for toxic mold. There were several toxic molds present in the house and we were advised by one of the worlds' top toxicologists to vacate the house. Thanks to divine intervention and many kind family members and friends, we were able to get back into our old house two weeks before our baby was born. In retrospect, this house was the perfect breeding ground for toxic mold growth. It had a leaky roof and had sat empty for two years.

After moving back to our old house a lot of our symptoms disappeared, but Larry has continued to have pancreatic attacks which will eventually lead to diabetes or pancreatic cancer. He went from being such a strong man and in overall excellent health to becoming so weak and unhealthy. He even fainted in my arms at one of our hospital stays and to this day continues to suffer a variety of bizarre symptoms, including the constant fear of another pancreatic attack. Last August he tested positive for having mycotoxins (bi-product of exposure to toxic molds and some of the most toxic substances known to man). His recent test still tested positive for mycotoxins. Some people are very sensitive to these poisons and have to take extreme measure to regain their health.

The events of last Sunday were very alarming to me. Friday and Saturday Larry was not feeling well. He was kind enough to take me out for a Mother's Day dinner even though he was feeling miserable. By Sunday afternoon he was still not feeling well and broke down and ask me what I was going to do if he didn't make it. Even though I have thought about this a million times over the past year, this is the first time he has ever ask me that and we have openly discussed it. I knew that it was time to reexamine the things we needed to do to get him healthy.

A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to go to Santa Barbara, CA and visit with Dr. Janette Hope MD, President of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine and mold survivor. We came home with 6 pages of protocol for his treatment plan. The very first item on this treatment plan is “avoidance of exposure to water-damaged environments and/or moldy environments, including home, work place, school, car and other settings and items that have been exposed to these settings.” We were also given some pharmaceutical treatments that have seemed to be helping, but I am afraid that they are not going to be enough to get him well.

This first request on her treatment plan is so devastating and seems like such an overwhelming task, but I have known for quite some time that this day might be coming. I have often reflected on the lives of our pioneer ancestors who gave up all of their worldly possessions and often not just once. I have often ask myself why I am any different?

At this point in my life, I would give up all of my earthly possessions to get my family well. There are people who have lived in tents to get their health back after being poisoned by this stuff. If that is what is required of me then so be it. We can replace all of our earthly possessions, but we cannot replace our health or a family member. At the end of the day I have to be able to look my children in the eyes and tell them that I did EVERYTHING I could to help their father get well.

I have been through A LOT of trials in my life, but the events of the last year and a half have absolutely broken me. We are faced with devastation on so many levels. We are faced with an illness that is not well known about or accepted in society and the treatments and testing we need are only partly or not at all covered by our insurance. We are also looking at having to give up everything we own, including his ability to work around the grains at the feed store that he has worked so hard to build over the past 7 years. Unfortunately, Larry is not the only one that needs this medical help as there are many of us who still struggle with different ailments very possibly related to toxic mold poisoning. I am not sure how things will work out for us, but I have learned in my life that the Lord always provides a way even if it is at the last minute.

I don't know how we will need to go forward from here, but I am writing to ask for your continued support, love and prayers. If we make choices that do not make sense to you please do not judge us and criticize us because you don't understand what we are having to go through. Toxic mold poisoning is like the “leprosy” of our day and it is often very difficult for people on the outside to understand what people suffering from toxic mold poisoning are being forced to go through. After much research and visiting with people that have been through this, the advice that sticks in my head the most is that “most people do not do what they need to do soon enough” Unfortunately, they either die an untimely death or are forced to live a very secluded life and struggle with chemical sensitivity because they become allergic to everything around them.

I do not know the Lord's full purpose behind this incredible trial that we are going through, but if it serves as a tool to bring us closer to Christ and to each other then it will be worth it. I also hope that we can be pioneers for others around us to bring awareness to the prevention of this horrible sickness and help others who may be suffering from it as others have done for us.

Thank for your continued love and support.

Love,

Jill