Life is hard. Unfortunately, this past year and a half has been full of more hardships than we could have imagined for my family that have tested our resilience and faith. There have been days when simply getting out of bed feels almost impossible. In moments of despair, I have fantasized about escaping, assuming a new identity, and wiping my memory clean, but it is just a dream...

Despite the many trials and tribulations my children and I have faced over the last several years, we keep on persevering, knowing that it is God's hands, not our own. "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me." Psalm 23:4

Some of the tragedies we faced this past year were: my fiancé being diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia, my Step-Dad being diagnosed with ALS and passing away in December, and then in January I received a phone call that my brother was missing. It took an agonizing month to find him; we then faced the unimaginable task of burying him in March.

Compounding these personal losses, my two teenage children and I have been displaced from our home for over a year due to severe mold contamination. Initially, we were unaware that ongoing headaches, nosebleeds, and respiratory issues were linked to this issue. We later learned that the mold problem resulted from the substandard work of Malphus and Son General Contractors, who had been hired to replace our roof after Hurricane Sally damage.

Wilbert Malphus' substandard work and the subsequent displacement from my home, has caused me a great deal of financial hardship. Not only have I continued to pay my mortgage on a un-occupiable house, but I have also been paying for storage units and for alternative housing for our family. Over this past year we have been bouncing around between rental houses and campers trying to survive life with "slightly moody" teenagers, who have not appreciated the nomadic lifestyle.

I have reached out to Mr. Wilbert Malphus in hopes of resolving this situation, but my efforts have been in vain. Complaints filed with the State Attorney's Office, the Department of Consumer Services, The City of Pensacola, and the DBPR have not yielded any support.

All we wish for is to return to our home. Although I have initiated legal action against Mr. Malphus, he seems determined to prolong the process as much as he can, which according to my lawyer could take years. We cannot endure being "homeless" for another couple of years!

Our lawyer had an insurance adjustor assess the house, determine the damages, and provide an itemized list of costs. The total is well over $250,000, but I'm not looking for that full amount. We just want to remove all the mold contaminated areas so that we can safely move back into our house.

Our 1st step is to replace the roof which is still actively leaking!

Here's part of the breakdown for repairs:

1. General demolition of all contaminated areas (approx. $22,000)

2. Roof, soffits, fascia, & fireplace damages (approx. $36,000)

3. Remove old ductwork and clean mold out of the air conditioning unit, then reinstall with new ductwork (approx. $15,000).

4. Remediate any mold that is in the structure of the house. (unknown)

5. Repair and/or replace the exterior doors/windows/walls that are damaged (approx. $32,000)

Can you help us return home? We are going a bit crazy living in a 400 very close square feet; Although I don't understand it, these crazy teenagers keep talking about needing space!?! I wonder if it is from me? :) Please Help!

9/14/25

Update: We are currently in a different rental home for the next week and we are so thankful for the Pacheco's who graciously allowed for us to rent their house short-term again! I forgot what it feels like to be in an actual home! It is so spacious! Grocery shopping consists of running back and forth between our house and this one to figure out what we have to make for dinner! :)