Re: More misconceptions Homeowners Against Deficient Dwelling

[Guest guest]

Mr. Kruger,

Sharon Kramer passed the position paper on to me this week and, as a mold

victim and victim's advocate, I'd like to take a minute to speak to you from

that

perspective.

My family built a new house several years ago when my boys were ages two and

four. They had developed normally to that point and when we moved into the

house, their development came to a screeching halt and even regressed in

many

ways right before my eyes. Both were in special education classrooms last

year.

My youngest will remain in one for some time. His symptoms look like autism.

They've suffered more than I can convey. If I hadn't seen it myself, I would

never have believed what happened to them.

When we won our lawsuit, our story was covered by local television and

newspapers and is can be found on the web. I was BARRAGED with phonecalls.

They were

so sad and so frequent at first that I couldn't answer my phone some days. I

continue to receive calls one year later. I have lost COUNT of the number of

people who have cried over the phone to me as they tell me their stories.

One woman in Texas gave birth to twins while in her moldy house and one baby

died of respiratory problems. Another woman in Washington state living in a

camper behind her moldy house finally took her own life she was so depressed

by

her ruined health and hopeless financial situation. A woman in California

had

five different abdominal surgeries before being properly diagnosed and

treated

by one of the handful of doctors who understand this. MANY of the people who

call me have children near the ages of mine displaying the exact same

neurological symptoms. Frequently I've crossed paths with people in other

settings,

our furnace repairman for example, who is knowingly living in a moldy

environment and had no idea it was connected to his son's problems at school.

These people are physically and financially devastated and the vast majority

have no recourse. They can't live in their homes, they are sick and many

can't

work, they are unable to afford an attorney. Their children are sick and

their physicians are doing the worst possible things to treat them because

the

don't have accurate information about how mold effects children or how to

treat

it. PEOPLE DON'T KNOW because the truth is suppressed by very powerful

people

with a lot to lose. It's wrong that I, a layman, have more useful medical

information for them than their own pediatrician.

I spent many nights, as my children slept, researching their health problems

and the very limited resources for treatment. I'm happy to report that my

oldest, being treated by people who understand mold, has gone from being

unable to

hold a pencil or identify his letters and numbers at age six to the best

reader in his 24-person classroom at age seven. THERE IS HELP, if people

just

receive the right information.

I implore you, don't make it so hard for people to find. If what I've

witnessed firsthand is even a fraction of the suffering in this country, it

is

epidemic. I firmly believe the cost of mold UNTREATED is much higher than

the cost

would be if it were acknowledged and treated. But there is no time to waste.

Last week the Oregonian ran an article about autism rates in our state

rising

exponentially. They suspect environmental causes. I know in our case, our

self-composting house was the cause. I watched it happen. Oregon is

obligated to

educate all children to the age of 21. For an autistic child, the pricetag

is

$2 million. We're already paying in dollars. The human cost is beyond

measure.

Sincerely,

Haynes

Haynes, Oregon Representative,

Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings INC. (www.HADD.com)

A National Not for Profit Organization

" Because Sick Buildings Make Sick Children "

Whether you've been a victim (yet) or not, please sign this petition

requesting

a Congressional hearing concerning accountability of the home building

industry

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/322833272?ltl=1110496374