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The Livingston family never imagined they would find themselves in this situation. For the past six months, Carter, Carley, their baby girl Josephine, and their four beloved pets had been unknowingly living in a home filled with toxic mold. They truly believed their rental was safe — a place of comfort and security — but it instead made them sick and forced them to part with nearly everything they owned. From furniture and clothing to baby items and keepsakes, so much of what made their house a home has been lost.
On September 23rd, the Livingston's discovered large amounts of mold throughout their rental property. They immediately vacated the home due to health concerns, and the family is now living at two separate locations to safely accommodate and care for their pets. Unfortunately, their landlord has been uncooperative, leaving them to handle this crisis on their own. The family has had to continue paying rent while also covering the costs of independent mold testing, medical toxicology testing for each family member, and attorney fees to break their lease.
All the Livingston's asked for was for proper steps to be taken to protect their infant daughter’s health — but those steps were not taken. Five-month-old Josephine began showing symptoms of mold exposure, including eczema and congestion, after sleeping near the bathroom wall where the majority of visible mold was discovered. She has since started working with her doctor on a treatment plan. Carter and Carley, and their four pets will soon follow so they can begin detoxing as well.
Looking back, so many of the symptoms the family had been experiencing — fatigue, rashes, brain fog, mood swings, weight gain, and headaches — only made sense after the discovery. They had brushed them off as part of the exhaustion of new parenthood, never suspecting that their home itself was making them sick. Even their pets developed skin issues and hair loss, which they had assumed were caused by seasonal allergies.
Despite repeated requests for proper remediation, the landlord continued to remodel the bathroom without hiring a certified remediation company and ignored professional testing recommendations. This “quick fix” disturbed the mold further, spreading spores throughout the home and contaminating everything the family owned.
Proper mold remediation requires strict containment procedures, such as the use of negative air pressure systems to prevent spores from becoming airborne. Because those steps were not followed, nearly all of the family’s belongings — including mattresses, rugs, couches, clothing, books, baby gear, and appliances — have been exposed and had to be discarded. The Livingston’s spent six full days attempting to salvage what few porous items they could through deep cleaning and decontamination.
Their renters insurance has refused to cover any of their losses, claiming the damage isn’t “visible,” even though certified toxicology tests confirm cross-contamination throughout the property. The report clearly states that all items within the home were exposed to multiple types of toxic mold and must either be professionally decontaminated or disposed of entirely.
The family is now focused on healing and recovery — especially for baby Josephine’s health and well-being. Starting over completely has been overwhelming and heartbreaking, but they are holding onto gratitude: for their health, for one another, and for the incredible support system they are lucky to have.
This GoFundMe has been created to help the Livingstons replace essential items, cover medical and testing costs, and rebuild their lives in a safe environment. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a meaningful difference. Even hand-me-downs or shared resources are deeply appreciated as they begin this long road to recovery.
Thank you for taking the time to read their story and for supporting the Livingston family through one of the most challenging times of their lives. Your kindness, generosity, and encouragement truly mean the world to them.
Organizer and beneficiary
Carley Livingston
Beneficiary