Hi, a lot of you know me as Monique Shepherd, the author, but I’m also a single mom of 4 wonderful kids who is now asking for your help.

I have always been too prideful to ask for help, but this situation has become too much, and I’ve realized it’s okay to rely on a village.

If you know me in a personal capacity, you know myself and my children have all had vague symptoms for quite sometime now. We moved last year, and it seemed to get worse, but I just chalked it up to living in the armpit of Southeast Texas and my chronic illnesses.

Before I moved in to my current house, I brought up to the landlord that there was a soft spot in my kitchen floor about the size of my fist. She assured me it was not a soft spot, but a defect in the wood that was laid down. I’ve lived in mobile homes for the last 10 years, I know what a soft spot is. Fast forward to two months ago after ongoing back and forth messages, the “soft spot” is now a 6ft x 3ft hole. She had a contractor come out back in early September and I have not seen or heard anything since.

I brought out my own contractor and he could definitely fix the floor but he showed me where mold was growing and if you know anything about mold, where you see it, there’s much more you can’t see, especially in the air. Fixing the current rental, will run me anywhere from 5-10k (or more) that’s including air quality testing, proper mold remediation, and of course replacing half of my kitchen floor.

After doing a lot of research, I am now realizing that the symptoms my kids and I have been experiencing may not just be allergies or random illnesses but a response to the mold.

My lease is up in two weeks and my landlord has not only chosen to not fix the floor, (yes she says she’s sending someone out, but I’ve heard that multiple times, with no one keeping their word), but also not renew my lease. Meaning I have two weeks to find a place for me and my four kids and fur babies.

Moving in general is astronomical and is easily going to cost me anywhere from $1500-4k depending on where we end up. However, after speaking with people who have dealt with mold, I will need to replace mattresses, get mattress covers, replace towels, my vacuum, and other things to ensure we don’t bring mold spores to the new house, again wherever that may be. I’ll be purchasing two new air purifiers and dehumidifiers for the new home so I can do my due diligence to ensure this doesn’t happen again. Currently, my air purifier is working over time.

We also will all be getting labs done to check for mold toxicity by a functional medicine doctor, once I can afford that. And hopefully begin whatever treatment necessary to rid ourselves of the mycotoxins.

I’ve even looked at hotel prices in case it comes down to us staying in a hotel while I look for a place but I have six animals and that’s not exactly the best option.

I’ve already had to make the horrible decision to rehome my 9year old dog, who can barely walk, I might add, due to her breed as no one will accept her.

As you can imagine, with Christmas next month, I feel like a failure as a single mother. I am supposed to protect my kids from instances like this and currently, I feel like I’m grasping at straws to find up a clean, safe place to live.

If you can find it on your heart to help, or share this, I would be eternally grateful.

Thank you all for your continued love and support.

Hugs and Blessings,

Monique Shepherd