Brown family benefit

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Tuesday, May 16, 2006 — Time: 3:03:55 PM EST

Brown family benefit

By JILL SCHRAMM, Staff Writer jschramm@...

http://www.minotdailynews.com/news/story/0516202006_new16news1.asp

Brown thought he'd caught a touch of the flu last January.

A lot of sickness seemed to be infecting the family over the winter,

but Brown figured he'd be back to normal in a few days.

Instead the loss of appetite, fever and nausea became worse.

By the time he and his wife, Deidra, realized he needed medical

attention, he was dehydrated, unable to eat and suffered pain in his

side. Results of his blood work alarmed the doctor. At risk of

kidney failure, would have died had he postponed getting help

for another couple of days, the doctor later told the Browns.

For , who had always been healthy, life changed dramatically.

His eight days in the hospital included dialysis, blood transfusions

and calcium-lowering medicines.

" He went from being perfectly healthy to deathly ill in two weeks

time, " Deidra Brown said. " But they couldn't figure out what was

causing it. It wasn't all the normal things. "

Hoping for a clue to the mystery, physicians asked what major event

might have happened in the Browns' lives in recent months.

Nothing had changed, except for a persistent problem with mold that

developed in the basement from a sewer backup the previous October.

The basement had been professionally cleaned twice. Brown spent many

hours working to restore the basement in the weeks before he became

ill.

No clear link between the mold and Brown's illness was ever

established. The two might be connected ­ or not, the Browns say.

The Browns knew, however, that they couldn't take the risk of

returning home. They also look back and recognize symptoms in family

members of a mold problem, including headaches and susceptibility to

viruses. Brown had experienced a metallic taste in his mouth, a

sign of toxic mold exposure.

Since Feb. 11, the Browns and their five children have found

temporary housing in local hotels.

Mold testing in their house showed unacceptably high levels of a

toxic mold, the Browns said.

They have had difficulty finding a contractor certified in toxic

mold cleanup who is willing to tackle the job. While working on

remedying the mold problem, they are looking for another house that

will enable them to move out of their hotel. They initially stayed

in the Comfort Inn and now are living in the Sleep Inn.

Friends have rallied to host a benefit Thursday to help the Browns

get back into a home of their own and to alleviate the pressure of

medical bills.

Brown has been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome. In his

case, the syndrome involves red blood cells that don't use iron

normally. His body fails to produce the red blood cells he needs,

which can lead to anemia.

He receives a weekly shot of a synthetic hormone to increase his red

blood cell production. His doctors anticipate that he'll need the

shots the rest of his life. The shots are particularly unpleasant

because they burn and leave him feeling ill for a time afterwards.

Brown's condition is associated with certain cancers. In all

the testing, though, doctors haven't discovered any cancer.

" So that's a good thing, " Brown said. " But since I am supposed

to fit in that box and I don't, they still don't understand why or

what's going on with my body. "

Brown has recovered well enough to return to pastoring at Abundant

Life Community Church. He said his memory still is foggy at times,

although it has improved. February was a total blur to Brown.

The greater burden of family responsibility has fallen on Deidra

Brown over the past few months. The Browns are parents to Michaiah,

a ninth-grader, Salem, a sixth-grader, and ael, a third-

grader, all at Our Redeemer's Christian School. Twins and

Josiah are both 5.

" You just do what you have to do, " Deidra Brown said. " We had a lot

of friends step forward and help. I spent my nights going to sleep

praying for strength and wisdom to get through it. "

The Browns appreciate the accommodating attitude of hotel staff and

the support of friends.

The many offers to help wore down their resistance to a benefit

event. Brown's calling is to minister, so being ministered to

feels out of place. But both he and Deidra said they have been

overwhelmed as they watch friends organize the benefit.

" To see all these people come together from all these churches and

nonchurch backgrounds, I am in awe, " Brown said.

THE MINOT DAILY NEWS

PO Box 1150

Minot. ND 58702