Forced Out of Home by Mold: Help Lauren Heal
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TLDR:
This fall, Lauren was forced to leave her parent’s home due to a severe toxic mold issue, leading to debilitating chronic pain and a host of other issues that are keeping her from working full time.
She needs a mold-free environment to recover but it’s impossible for her to afford rent and medical treatment without a full-time salary. 85% of homes have water damage which leads to mold growth so this has been an exhausting and difficult journey. Donations and/or shares are much appreciated!
To read more about her story:
For those of you that donated to the last two fundraisers, we are so grateful for your kindness and generosity! The Dec 2021 fundraiser was used for treatment for Lyme disease, Mold Illness and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). This was needed as treatment is not covered by insurance and Lauren's health declined greatly after 2 years of misdiagnosis. Unfortunately, Lauren deteriorated rapidly this last year due to continued toxic mold exposure. She is part of the 25% of the general population genetically predisposed to mold toxicity, therefore her body can't process mold.
Despite her parent's best efforts with an extensive, timely and costly professional remediation, Lauren was still highly sensitive and reactive to her parent's house and had to leave. The Sept 2022 fundraiser had the same intention as this fundraiser. Both needed to be deleted to protect Lauren's last name from apartment background checks. Finding safe housing is extremely challenging for MCAS patients. It wasn’t until this fall that a new specialist offered guidance with very specific criteria for housing that is as chemically and as mold free as possible.
More about this fundraiser:
As you know my best friend Lauren has been struggling with Chronic Lyme Disease, MCAS, and Mold Illness for the past 4.5 years. These diseases have inhibited her from living life like a normal person in their 20s. While we have all been lucky enough to focus on growing in our careers, working out, going out with friends, dating, getting engaged, getting married and living healthy relationships, Lauren has been fighting just to get out of bed every morning due to extreme nerve and bone pain.
Lauren, a brilliant engineer, has not been able to work a full time job for more than two years now as her illnesses inhibit the use of her hands, her ability to be on her feet, and even her concentration. Over the last few years, she was stuck living in an environment rampant with toxic mold that deteriorated her health and function rapidly. She experienced unbearable full body bone and nerve pain after she ate, even though those foods were deemed safe for MCAS patients.
Her MCAS symptoms were so severe that she could only eat 4 foods without having unbearable pain. Due to the toxic environment, her mast cells viewed everything as a threat, making her choose hunger pains over bone and nerve pain. It was a nightmare no one should ever have to endure.
Lauren recently found safe housing; however, it is expensive and unsustainable without a full-time salary. On top of that, all her diseases are not covered by insurance and without support, her costs are crushing. Until her health recovers sufficiently to work full-time again, Lauren cannot afford safe housing alone.
One cannot recover from mold illness unless they’re able to eliminate their exposure to mold. She really needs our help to be able to afford basic rent in a non-toxic environment, health care, and food. Please, place yourself in Lauren’s shoes and imagine what it feels like to lose the life you love so much to these devastating diseases. Please, find it in your hearts to donate! Any contribution or share is highly appreciated! Thank you so much!
About Mold Illness and MCAS:
Mold affects every person differently. While some people may be completely unaffected or experience minimal symptoms like congestion, it’s been estimated that 25% of the general population has a genetic predisposition to Mold Illness, aka Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). Lauren unfortunately has this genetic mutation. Not only is Lauren afflicted by CIRS, mold has also triggered severe MCAS in her. Mast cells are a type of white blood cell that play a key role in signaling the immune system, and they’re present in almost all tissues in the body. Due to Lauren’s exposure and sensitivity to mold, Lauren’s mast cells are hyperactive, reacting to almost everything.
Both CIRS and MCAS are driving inflammation in every system of Lauren’s body. To learn more about CIRS and Mold: https://www.townsendletter.com/article/mold-related-illness-and-mycotoxins-a-unique-opportunity-for-functional-medicine-practitioners/
To learn more about MCAS:
To learn more about the connection between Mold and MCAS: https://www.moldillnessmadesimple.com/mast-cells-and-mold-illness-with-dr-jill-carnahan/
https://mastcell360.com/mycotoxins-and-mold-one-of-the-biggest-root-triggers-for-mast-cell-activation-histamine-intolerance/
To learn about the HLA-DR gene aka "the moldy gene":
Coorganisateurs (2)
Lauren Elizabeth
Organisateur
Brooklyn, NY
Daniel Cisek
Coorganisateur