Could Mold Be the Cause of Your Health Problems? Andrea Fabry Mold Story
This post may contain affiliate links from which I will earn a commission. Learn more in our disclosure.
Mold is terrible. It can make you sick and worse. If you have health issues that are unanswered, mold might be the cause.
Following is Andrea Fabry's Mold Story and it's a doozy. It's a story of sickness, discovery, and recovery. It's excruciating and scary to read, but it just might save your life, or of life of someone you know.
{I have “known” Andrea Fabry for a long time. She and her husband are radio personalities and I have listened to them on an off for [ahem] many years. We even went to the same university (but at different times). One of the most memorable stories I have heard is Andrea's – of her family's battle with black mold symptoms, how they found out where it was all coming from, and what they did once they knew.
Now you can hear it as well. I hope this helps someone out there get the relief they need.}
We were a relatively healthy family prior to moving into the home of our dreams the summer of 2000.
It was a 5500 square foot home, triple the size of our first house. We could see Pikes Peak from the upstairs window.
The home was perfect for our family of 10.
We knew little about medical problems.
We had been to the emergency room only once in our 15 years of parenting.
Within six months of our move, however, things changed.
The Fabry Family Was Changed Forever by Black Mold
Here's how:
– Our 6 year-old daughter was diagnosed with a seizure disorder
– another daughter’s food allergies escalated
– a bird died
– our dog developed diabetes
– I felt some slight neurological changes.
– Respiratory illnesses, fevers and ear infections became routine.
– Our ninth child was born in 2001 and immediately placed in neonatal intensive care for lung issues.
We thought nothing about the increased health challenges.
After all, health is random. Some people get sick and others don’t.
At least that’s what I thought.
The Mold Discovery
Two days before Mother’s Day 2007. I found a spot on the carpet in the corner of my daughter’s room.
We pulled up the carpeting and found some black-colored mold.
We called a mold remediator and he assured us that mold is harmless, and admonished us to not heed any of the mold “hype.”
We believed him.
Without testing, without masks, without any type of containment the workers tore into the wall, exposing massive amounts of mold – well beyond what we anticipated.
Mold had also been growing behind the bathroom wall, though we couldn’t see it.
Fans were blown directly on the exposed walls.
Black Mold Symptoms Progressed in the Fabry Family
Six Weeks Later
– Our 7-year-old son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
– Three months later our 11-year-old developed debilitating tinnitus in his left ear.
– His tinnitus soon developed into full blown vomiting and vertigo.
– By November he was in a wheelchair.
Six Months Later
Six months after the remediation:
- our 10-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a serious vision disturbance.
- the convergence insufficiency led to intense headaches.
- her personality changed.
- she could no longer read and was forced to withdraw from fourth grade.
Soon everyone in our family was struggling. Our issues included the following black mold symptoms:
- Brain fog
- Digestive problems
- Migraines
- Abdominal pain
- Rashes
- Memory loss
- Mood alteration
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- Nosebleeds
- and even Black Tongues
In all, we saw 60 doctors in that one year.
I begged for help – especially for my son with vertigo. (Read Reagan’s unbelievable story here.)
We visited pediatricians, neurologists, ear specialists, ophthalmologists, and gastroenterologists. As specialists they showed little interest in my other children’s symptoms.
My role as a parent was questioned.
I heard statements like:
- “Your child needs tough love.”
- “She needs attention.”
- “Your child is just stressed.”
- “Don’t make your child’s illness about you.”
I was fighting for my sanity as well as my children’s health. Something was terribly wrong.
Finally, a friend asked if I was familiar with the term, “Sick Building Syndrome” and the thought began to nag me.
I called an environmental hygienist. However, he dismissed our symptoms saying mold only causes respiratory problems.
The New Mold Spot
In May of 2008, one year to the day after our first mold discovery, Colin, who was 8, pointed to a spot on the ceiling and asked, “What’s that?”
It was a water mark in a completely different part of the house.
Unknowingly and still believing our declining health was unrelated to our home, we called the same mold remediation company.
The workers tore open the ceiling and blew fans on the mold yet again.
I began to feel increasingly unsettled.
My husband, drowning in escalating medical bills, agreed to my request for a second opinion.
We called a new remediator who was shocked by the fans and the exposed walls. He encouraged us to call a hygienist to test the home.
We got our air samples back and found: astronomical levels of stachybotrys, otherwise known as “black mold.”
I knew nothing about “stachy” (pronounced “stakee”) but I now had a specific term to research.
It was immediately clear our symptoms were consistent with mold poisoning and mycotoxicosis (mycotoxin poisoning). They were black mold symptoms.
At last the dots were being connected.
We called a qualified company to undo what had been done. They wore masks and contained the areas properly.
We replaced virtually everything in the home, anticipating an end to this horrific chapter in our lives.
– We sought alternative health strategies.
– Our bodies responded.
– We were able to wean our 14 year daughter off of her seizure medication.
More Problems
However in the fall of 2008, when we turned on the heat, our health deteriorated again.
I made contact with a leading toxicologist in the field, Dr. Jack Thrasher, and he explained that even with remediation, a systemic mold problem like ours was virtually impossible to eradicate.
On October 4, 2008 we vacated our home. As advised, we treated the home like a fire: bringing nothing with us.
We found a smaller rental home close to our vacated home and started over.
While the loss of our home and possessions was devastating, I felt renewed hope.
– The kids would be back in school
– We would return to our life of activities, graduations, school plays and sporting events.
No more worrying about another trip to an emergency room.
Two months later, that dream died and our most challenging chapter began.
Make sure you are subscribed so you don't miss the next installment — Could MOLD Be the Cause of Your Health Problems? – Part 2.
Would you like to read our family’s story in full? See Timeline of Events
Interested in learning more about toxic mold and black mold symptoms? See A Beginner’s Guide to Toxic Mold.
Affordable Mold Tests
If you are concerned about mold in your home there are a bunch of tests available, but there are only a few that I would personally use after talking with friends who are true experts on the topic. They are the following:
1. Got Mold
Got Mold uses the same technology that mold inspectors use when they do air tests, but this system is more affordable. Plus you don't have to worry about conflict of interest or trying to figure out who you can trust.
2. ERMI Dust Test
The ERMI is really thought to be one of the best tests out there. You can get it at Momsaware and use code MOMSAWARE to get a discount.
I personally prefer the Got Mold system as I think there are a lot of things that can go wrong with the ERMI. And you really should clean the area you are going to be testing well and then wait weeks before you do the ERMI – otherwise you are getting a lot of historical information and not necessarily current data.
Use code WHOLENEWMOM10 to get 10% off at Got Mold.
3. ImmunoLytics Diagnostic Tests
MicroBalance
If you are on a tight budget, then the ImmunoLytics Diagnostic Mold Test Kit is an option, but it does have drawbacks.
Petri dish testing doesn't test anything that doesn't fall into the dish. We did this kind of testing in our home, and it showed no real problem, but we had mold that actually gave me RA symptoms!
However, if you want to start with this, you can and for an even more inexpensive option, this 6 pack of testing petri dishes is great to see what kind of mold growth you might have going on in your home.
Micro Balance Health Products also has Mold and Mycotoxin Cleaners that will help keep the air healthy for your family. I've personally used these products and love them! Use Code wholenewmom to get 10% off your purchase.
CitriSafe
CitriSafe has the same tests at a lower price point, plus loads of other great products as well.
Moisture Meters
A meter like this one can be super helpful when checking your house for mold. You can check surfaces like walls and floors and ceilings to get an idea of what might be going on behind them.
We've used this meter often in our home and actually I think having a backup is a great idea too. It's been that helpful!
Dealing with Mold In Your Home
One thing that was super helpful to me when we had mold the second time, is fogging. Fogging with a good product that mitigates the effects of the mold and mycotoxins can greatly reduce your exposure and reactions.
Here are some products that I use and love.
Superstratum
This is a new impressive brand to address mold that we've used in our house for a few remediations, on the recommendation of a mold expert friend. Superstratum has a whole house system and chlorine dioxide bombs that you can even use to address areas when you can't get to them otherwise. As always, remediation is best, but you can only do what you can do in some situations.
Their HOCl is specially formulated to penetrate some surfaces more than the HOCl listed below. Use code WNM for a discount.
CitriSafe
CitriSafe has a great Mold Concentrate that is very effective. You can buy it and use it in any quality fogger. Use code WNM for 10% off.
Micro Balance has a good fogger that produces a 5 micron spray.
HOCl
HOCl is stronger than bleach and it's non-toxic. It's even used in hospitals.
Ecoloxtech is a great device for making your own HOCl at home without needing to buy pre-packaged ingredients. All you need is salt and vinegar.
HOCl kills mold. We spray the inside of our washing machine, shoes, clothing that's been in a moldy place (bags too), and sometimes bedding, and it's great for cleaning. So many options! Just be careful to keep it at the right strength because it can stain some things.
Force of Nature is another option for making HOCl. Most people use their pre-measured capsules but some find a workaround for that.
Toxic Mold Help
THIS book by Neil Nathan is thought to be THE best book on how to deal with mold toxicity related health issues. I'm reading it and it has superb information including ways to get started addressing this issue and the things that have worked best for his patients.
Do You Suspect Mold Could Be the Cause of YOUR Health Problems or
Have You Had an Exposure to Mold that Affected Your Health?
Andrea is a former journalist and the mother of nine children ranging in age from 28 to 12. Following a toxic mold exposure, Andrea and her family discovered the wonders of natural living. Andrea is the founder and president of momsAWARE, an educational organization designed to empower others to live healthy in a toxic world.
To whom ever,
I am in need of special answers to special questions regarding my friend who may be dying from black mold. Her son and her are very ill and the landlord won’t address the problem. I have personally provided a safe and clean place for them to live in the next two weeks, but an investigation needs to be conducted of her apartment and documented as having black mold. She is presently in Lucernce, CA., with out any means of income or medical help. She may be dying as we speak, along with her 17 years old son and 8 year old brother. The other brother joined the Marine Corps to get out of the unsafe environment. He too was affected.
Andrea, please help me with information I can use to notify the proper authorities to test the apartment and document the black mold. I am begging someone to help this family as I am disabled myself with a bad heart in Mississippi. I just bought airline tickets for the family on borrowed money to get them OUT of DANGER. Please respond to the following email address. Thanking anyone in advance for their help. Please pray for them.
Hi there. Please contact Andrea at her site – there are several links in the post. Hope she can get help.
Please post the site.
I can’t find her site now. I am not computer skilled.
Here you go – best wishes! https://momsaware.org/
Here is another good one: https://hybridrastamama.com/need-to-detox-from-mold-exposure-heres-how-i-did-it/
My fiance, my three boys ages, 6, 9, & 11 years old & i live in a 2 bedroom apartment. We r having black mold issues in our bathroom since there was a leak up above us. They sprayed it once with bleach, but is coming back. We live in a bottom floor corner apartment & in our bedroom there is black mold in the corner on the carpet under my fiances dresser. I’ve took pictures of the mold & sent it to the apartment manager, still waiting 2 get something done about it. Is there anyone i can get a hold of 2 get something done? Tired of paying rent & not getting anything done.
You need to not spray – tell your landlord this is a big problem and you need a new apartment. If you can afford it get a test on the post author’s site and take it to him.
Last year in April my wife gave birth to a 9 lb 3 oz boy 10 days later he passed in his sleep a week ago my apt complex was having repairs done and it was discovered we have mold could this have possibly contributed to my sons death?
I can’t make claims about that but mold can have horrible consequences. Of course I would think if a child has respiratory issues then any allergy could contribute to breathing issues. I would talk to a mold expert about your concerns.
Last week my basement got flooded and the same day we find out black mold, yellow mold, and like pebble looking things in the insulation. I have serious respiratory problems and I called and independent mold inspector and he told me that the mold had been in the insulation for long time but was not able to test it because my landlord have to approved the test and she is in another country. I fell very frustrated and don’t know what to do. I collect the different type of molds and put them in a plastic bag but I don’t know where to take it so it can be tested in a lab without my landlord consent. I need help, any ideas,?
You need to get a good quality test. Moms Aware has one: https://www.momsaware.org/mold-testing.html Hope you can get it taken care of soon!
Hi, Lowe’s sells a test kit for a few dollars, you send in the sample and pay the testing fee of $40 dollars and you’ll have your answer. Hope it goes well. Take care
Hi Danette. I have heard from numerous people in the industry that those tests aren’t accurate. The ERMI test on Momsaware is apparently a much better way to go. Hope that helps.
Thank you
OMG!! IM literaly terrified at this point. For starters unfortunately at age of 46 i am a light smoker but a smoker none the less, that said my nick name was speedy cause i could out walk or run a anyone in sneakers wearing 3in heals. Always in a hurry to go no place. Goung on 5yrs ago me n my partner moved into my current apartment. I was always out barley home and he works from 5am til 9pm 6days a week driving. Tjis past year i lost my license n became a couch potato. That said ive noticeced mold around kitchen sink n til now what i thought was bird crap n my brdroom window ac constantly returning. The mold outside the 4 family house wall always sat in back of mu mind. I literaly sleep in front of my ac my room is ftont of house my partners rm is back of house. I cant walk two blocks to store or up a flight of stairs w out loosong my breath. (Everyone blames my smoking) but after reading these stories im scared to death. My depression my weesing my aches n cramps my head aches. N my alwYs having a foul taste in my mouth. ISNT N MY HEAD. KUST REAF ALL TO MY BOYFRIEND WHOM WALKED OUT SAYING WELL KEEP READING YOU THINK YOU HAVE EVERYTHING. implying im a hypochondriac. What to do now
I’m so sorry Tara! Can you find another place to live? It’s not good to live where there is mold. You can get a test done as well – This is a good resource. https://www.momsaware.org/mold-testing.html
Wow. Everyone that has conquered black mold has a STORY. Not religious, but I pray for those fighting the unknown illness. In my house, me and my roommates began to be getting sick. It was very hard to locate the cause of the sickness as we are all in college and drink and do drugs. I almost never drink or do drugs. The problem began in january after a series of heavy rains and foggy/humid days with the windows closed. When I moved out this morning, I noticed black mold lining the corners of all the walls. I had originally thought the cause of my illness was the weed I was smoking. I quit weed and immediately felt better. I began taking the concentrate dabs, and have been happily high as shit since. Watchout, there is a moldy/fungus weed epidemic in california. I can hardly find non-rancid bud at dispensaries. Even a guy in Northern California died from an unknown fungal infection, although, he had a suppressed immune system. In march I had moved out of the house because I was convinced that mold or something in the house was the cause of all of the illnesses. I slept on the beach for a combined total of probably 50 days. Those were a great 50 days… I surfed all day, studied all night. My relationships with everyone I knew improved. I did not experience any of the: Sore throat, puffy throat, migraine, tunnel vision, itchy eyes, brain fog, weird sinus headache, nostril constriction, queasiness and nausea, dizziness, anxiety and depression, feverish, shakes, agitation, fatigue/jitteriness. The above symptoms were mild when I stopped smoking the bad weed and when I just resided at the house. I tried to convince my roommates and desperately shoved the thc concentrates down their throats, but they keeped smoking the rancid shit and living in the rancid house. All of them constantly complain about anxiety and they all chug beers every night. I believe this is making it harder for them to distinguish the symptoms and is just further damaging their poisoned brains. I almost never drink. My roommates don’t understand… They think the sickness is being hungover or just “part of growing up”. Honestly, I am most haunted from this whole experience not from my own damaged state of mind, but hearing others discuss their lives in a horrifically hopeless manner. I have needed no psychological support because everything negative I felt during the time period, I can assign to the illness. However, my roommates truly believe their own minds created those thoughts and feelings. Gnarly existence….
I lived in the rancid house for the last month of my time. Honestly a bad decision… I was losing tons of sleep and could barely keep myself awake after sleeping on the beach, but when I took my finals, I would rather be tired as shit from being woken up by a seagull than have a pulsing migraine. Got a C- in one of my classes. Somehow got A-‘s in the other 3 classes. So happy to moveout. I have a decent headache right now after clearing out some shit. Will wash off everything before moving into new place. Will also keep windows eternally open and everything clean. Will be moving into a tile-floor, no insulation house. Will also get a testing kit or hire somebody.
It seems that it takes quite a lot of black mold to have a response. I remember having a carpet with a few black mold spots in my room in high school. My parents cleaned it immediately when they saw it and warned me. I never was all that sick and already had seasonal allergies. Maybe the seasonal allergies were caused by it, but no migraine or any other horrid symptoms like this time around. The house I live in now is caked with black mold. Fuzzy layer on all of the corners. I believe the real problem originated in the leaky wooden walls we have and the vast majority of spores are hidden.
Good Luck to you all. If I have any advice that would have saved me and my roommates from months of being sick, it is: listen to your body. You are likely a normal healthy person. If you suddenly feel the above symptoms, you and others will convince yourself it something else because of the lack of scientific knowledge on the subject. The worst part for me was when doctors were of no help and told me I had anxiety. I don’t know how I didn’t punch them in the face in that moment. I didn’t know doctors could be so ineffective. I guess that’s what happens when you are told to only think about what other people have practiced and told never to make decisions on your own for your patients. I am getting a masters in economics and I am forever changed by this event for the better. I am happy and motivated to commit myself to fighting these hidden killers by action and public policy. This is a stretch, but I do believe that much of the drama and issues people have is caused by mold. I think that entire civilizations have fallen and gone to war primarily because of toxic brain damage. The Nazis and North koreans have provided excellent examples of where your mind goes when exposed to toxins.
Good luck adrienne. Good luck the rest of you. You are very lucky to be reading this right now and possibly avoiding this issue for the rest of your life if you take the right precautions.
My daughter and her family have recently moved into a house with her husband and twin girls! They have been there several months now he has been getting very fatigued and having chest pains lately which is very out of the normal! One of the twins has had a bad rash soon after they moved in all over her and both have had nose bleeds and allergy like syptoms they can not seem to get rid of! My daughter has had bad headaches and respiratory problems and been very fatigued! I believe this is possible due from black mold??
Oh so sorry. Yes, this is all possible and it doesn’t have to be black mold, I don’t think. Many molds have health complications connected with them. If you look on Andrea’s site there is a recommendation for a mold test. It’s not that expensive and she doesn’t make any money from it.
House has black mold in insulation and black mold in basement walls. Walls were cleaned with bleach, but black mold remains in insulation. What health problems can this cause?
All kinds of problems. Have you had it tested?
Black mold is one of the most toxic of all molds. It produces mycotoxins, which in turn produces the chemical known as trichothecene., ochratoxin and aflatoxin. If you are allergic to mold then you are at a higher risk of complications. The top symptoms associated with mold exposure are fatigue and weakness, light sensitivity, vision problems, headaches, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, brain fog and difficulty concentrating, appetite swings, increased urinary frequency, shortness of breath, mood swings, depression, suicidal thoughts, metallic taste in mouth, tingling sensations or numbness of your skin, vertigo, and increased thirst. Your body absorbs it through the skin, inhaling through the nose and orally through the mouth. The spores can be absorbed into your gums causing your teeth to break down. It can lead to epilepsy, fibromyalgia, alzheimers, dementia, multiple sclerosis, leukemia, hemorrhaging of the lungs, brain and other organs, liver and kidney toxicity, and cancer. I am sure that I missed some, but our main concern is your health! If it can’t be properly removed, then you need to move to a different home.
What about lupus
I have been having the same kind of of thoughts that this molds causes severe health problem that can not be linked to a particular thing or place. This was after I move to a building full of them. Immediately I started having skin problems that could not go away so easily or they kept re-infecting me. Then I started having cold and flues that were on and of. Eventually I had haemorrhoids. I DICOVERED than whenever I was away from the house the condition alleviated. That is when I decided to search online to find if there is a connection, I will say I’m surprised. This is one medical area that need serious research and documentation. I’m thankful for your help on the site I hope more people are going to get this information .
I hope so too!
iam in canada, we lived in a mold infested home for 16 mths i suffered painful headaches,
and aching eyes, there wad a leaking ceilings flooded basement, the land lord did abldolutely
nothing to clean up the problem, i thought i was having bad migraines until the doctor sent me to the
nurologist who ordered a catscan and an MRI results showed bleeding on the brain, that
exsplained, my painful headaches i was always tired and a numbness in my leg, i saw the allergy doctor
who ordered mold testing cost me 1.100& to be done in the U,S because canads doesnot aknowledge
mold pisioning, results came back 4 different types of mold present now i tske 6 charco pills a day
and a drink cholestyramine 4 times a day for 4 mths, if you have mold run, get away before it cripples you
Oh no!!!! So sorry! Can you get out of your home? So terrible!!!