Mold takes over family's home

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12/15/01

Mold takes over family's home

It's not that and Nick Trolli don't want to buy toys for their two

small children this Christmas, it's that they don't have a home or a tree to

put them under.

The couple and their 2-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter

Cecelia, have been forced out of their Sandune Avenue home in North Port due

to biological mycotoxins or mold spores.

The home sits empty with red tape on the doors and windows warning,

" Danger -- Do Not Enter. "

The couple were told by Dr. Doggin, a biological expert in molds

based in Minnesota, there were more than 20 different species of molds and

bacteria growing in their home.

Doggin tested samples sent to him by Trolli.

The problem has been compounded this holiday because both children had to be

hospitalized after suffering asthma and other respiratory problems.

" We were told by a Ph.D in Minnesota that, after reviewing samples of things

in our house, that we were living in a catastrophic level of mold and

bacteria growth in the house. It could have killed us, " said Nick Trolli,

adding that his son verged on respiratory failure and required an oxygen

tent.

Unfortunately for the family, this was not the first time they have had to

move due to bacteria and mold infestations.

The family lived in Port Charlotte for 18 months before moving to North

Port. During that time, had become pregnant with their son Nick. After

he was born, he began experiencing frequent respiratory illnesses, high

fevers and infections.

The family sought help from Charlotte County authorities.

" We wanted the air quality in our home tested, " Trolli said. " We were told

Charlotte County couldn't do it, so they brought in an expert from Sarasota

County. They found nothing and told us the house was not sick. "

Trolli said he wasn't convinced and began doing online research. That's when

he learned about Doggin. He said he also contacted the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency.

" Both Doggin and the EPA found that we had been living in a contaminated

home for 18 months, " Trolli said. " Our son was born into this mess. Our

daughter was healthy when we moved in but after a while she too was always

sick. Their immune systems don't work well in fighting the bacteria. "

spent all day Friday at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte

with one of the sick children.

Almost three years of living with mold took its toll on Trolli, he said. He

suffers from headaches, fatigue, memory and vocabulary loss and liver

problems, he said.

Trolli said the air conditioning unit in the Port Charlotte home was too

small to cool the house. It sent the bacteria throughout the air into the

furniture, clothing and other areas of the home.

When the couple moved to North Port, they brought all of their belongings

and started life again.

" What we didn't realize is that the spores were hidden everywhere, " he said.

" We didn't know we had to destroy our clothing, bedding and furniture before

coming into the new house. But the problem happened all over again in the

North Port house. The spores were even in the car but we can't get rid of

it, we just keep vacuuming and cleaning it out. "

Realizing this was the problem, the family abandoned the home they lived in

for the past year last week. 's mother works for a hotel chain in

Naples. The chain has agreed to help the family with lodging for now.

With the clothing on their backs, a cell phone, a car and the will to beat

this problem, the couple became desperate and began asking for help. They

told their story to a Fort Myers television news station.

" We went to the Red Cross in Port Charlotte and they told us that if our

house had burnt down they could have put us up in a hotel for three days, "

he said. " Social Services (in North Port) is helping us with toy vouchers. "

According to Social Services, if the couple asks them for help, they will

refer the couple to the Sarasota County home improvement loan assistance

program. The couple can be placed on the waiting list of about 100

applicants to qualify for a 0 percent home improvement loan paid over 30

years or when their house is sold.

Because Trolli's income does not exceed the income limit, the family will

likely qualify due to their circumstances, according to the Sarasota Office

of Housing & Community Development.

" We have to start all over again for a third time, " he said. " Our insurance

company said it will not cover mold. They refused to help us. People should

read their policies because it's amazing that in a state like Florida mold

is not covered. "

The family has set up an account at West Coast Guaranty Bank in North Port.

You can e-mail Elaine -Emrich at eallen@...

By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH

City Writer