Ever been through so much in a short period of time you feel like you are watching yourself like a movie? These past two weeks have been so surreal, I haven't even begun to think of how to tell the tale.
Isaiah had a seizure on Saturday November 17.
I was waking him from his nap, as usual. I placed him on the changing table when he began to stiffen up. His eyes fixed downward and he grunted repeatedly unlike anything I had heard before. It lasted about a minute and when it stopped Isaiah was staring around disoriented. My mother was visiting at the time and we rushed him to the Emergency room. He recieved a Cat Scan, Blood and Urine Tests and a Spinal Tap to help determine what happened. All tests came back negative. He wasn't running a fever, he hadn't bumped his head... all the doctors could tell us was that it was a fluke thing and that hopefully, it would never happen again.
On Monday November 26, my husband called me and told me that we would have to move from our apartment in three months. Our apartment complex had uncovered a "catastrophic" water leakage problem which was causing mold throughout the units. The damage was so extensive all buildings in our community would have to be torn down and rebuilt. Therefore, every member of the community would have to move out. (For more google: Archstone Westbury). I went to talk to the management at our community and they all told me while the couldn't gurantee that it was safe - we could still stay until March. My husband and I decided to give our 30 days notice. Better safe than sorry, right?
The evening of November 26, while feeding Isaiah, Isaiah stopped breathing.
He began to gasp and gag and do everything to catch his breath. My husband called 911 but we eventually ran out of our apartment barefoot to speed Isaiah to the hospital. When we arrived, Isaiah had a chest xray. They asked us to tell us everything so we mentioned that we had just been informed our apartment community had a mold problem so could the two be related. The answer was a definitive YES.
The test results came back positive for a possible pneumonia. Isaiah was diagnosed with two respitory illnesses and an allergic rash covering 85% of his body. A rash I originally thought was just due to heat and teething. We stayed in the hospital 7 days. I watched Isaiah vomit repeatedly, cough himself awake, cry in a way no parent should ever have to see her child cry and scratch himself bloody from his rash.
After six specialists and five different courses of treatment, Isaiah woke up Thursday morning smiling for the first time in weeks.
His rash had cleared and his cough was much better. His change was so drastic his pediatrician cried with me and Richard. All six specialists determined his problem was most likely caused by his environment - most pointedly, the mold.
Thursday evening we were finally discharged and not only did the doctors tell me my son should never return to our apartment but we should throw away all of our upholstry (couches, mattresses, etc.) to be sure nothing was contaminated. As I write, I am staying at my mothers with Isaiah and my husband is packing our apartment. While in the hospital, my husband was out searching for an apartment and we are moving on Monday.
On Friday afternoon, my husband and I went to the managment of our community and told them that there is a health issue at the community and residents (especially those with children) need to know definitively that they need to get their families OUT of the community as soon as possible. My husband and I are fortunate enough to have family to stay with and a new apartment to go to but god forbid we didn't. In that case, they need to be putting people up in hotels.
The VP of Operations at Archstone-Smith said - while you and your doctors may believe the problem was environmental we don't believe the situation is dangerous. To my childs illness she said, "I'm so sorry." In the most condescending voice. Talk about devil personified. I could say more I think it will sound better being served by a process server. In short, Archstone plans on doing nothing.
After leaving, I spoke to three mothers who have the same, almost IDENTICAL issues with their children in Archstone Westbury. I feel like I am living in a movie. Thank God Isaiah is out of the woods - but to know that this problem could have been totally avoided is enraging. Who knows what other ailments my son could face in the future?
Isaiah was born August 22, 2007 perfect. Pink lips, a button nose, a head full of curly hair and beautiful brown eyes. He trusted Richard and I to put him in an environment that was safe. He trusted us to make sure nothing happened to him. We trusted our apartment community to provide a safe home for us and our child. I moved there in March just because I thought it would be a perfect first place to start my family. In the span of a week, I almost lost my perfect child and my husband and I were forced out of what we thought was our home. I feel angry, betrayed and lost. Right now, we are picking up the pieces. But, I feel more committed to this blog than ever. I promise to write more once we get settled with the move and Isaiah is out the woods.
Isaiah had a seizure on Saturday November 17.
I was waking him from his nap, as usual. I placed him on the changing table when he began to stiffen up. His eyes fixed downward and he grunted repeatedly unlike anything I had heard before. It lasted about a minute and when it stopped Isaiah was staring around disoriented. My mother was visiting at the time and we rushed him to the Emergency room. He recieved a Cat Scan, Blood and Urine Tests and a Spinal Tap to help determine what happened. All tests came back negative. He wasn't running a fever, he hadn't bumped his head... all the doctors could tell us was that it was a fluke thing and that hopefully, it would never happen again.
On Monday November 26, my husband called me and told me that we would have to move from our apartment in three months. Our apartment complex had uncovered a "catastrophic" water leakage problem which was causing mold throughout the units. The damage was so extensive all buildings in our community would have to be torn down and rebuilt. Therefore, every member of the community would have to move out. (For more google: Archstone Westbury). I went to talk to the management at our community and they all told me while the couldn't gurantee that it was safe - we could still stay until March. My husband and I decided to give our 30 days notice. Better safe than sorry, right?
The evening of November 26, while feeding Isaiah, Isaiah stopped breathing.
He began to gasp and gag and do everything to catch his breath. My husband called 911 but we eventually ran out of our apartment barefoot to speed Isaiah to the hospital. When we arrived, Isaiah had a chest xray. They asked us to tell us everything so we mentioned that we had just been informed our apartment community had a mold problem so could the two be related. The answer was a definitive YES.
The test results came back positive for a possible pneumonia. Isaiah was diagnosed with two respitory illnesses and an allergic rash covering 85% of his body. A rash I originally thought was just due to heat and teething. We stayed in the hospital 7 days. I watched Isaiah vomit repeatedly, cough himself awake, cry in a way no parent should ever have to see her child cry and scratch himself bloody from his rash.
After six specialists and five different courses of treatment, Isaiah woke up Thursday morning smiling for the first time in weeks.
His rash had cleared and his cough was much better. His change was so drastic his pediatrician cried with me and Richard. All six specialists determined his problem was most likely caused by his environment - most pointedly, the mold.
Thursday evening we were finally discharged and not only did the doctors tell me my son should never return to our apartment but we should throw away all of our upholstry (couches, mattresses, etc.) to be sure nothing was contaminated. As I write, I am staying at my mothers with Isaiah and my husband is packing our apartment. While in the hospital, my husband was out searching for an apartment and we are moving on Monday.
On Friday afternoon, my husband and I went to the managment of our community and told them that there is a health issue at the community and residents (especially those with children) need to know definitively that they need to get their families OUT of the community as soon as possible. My husband and I are fortunate enough to have family to stay with and a new apartment to go to but god forbid we didn't. In that case, they need to be putting people up in hotels.
The VP of Operations at Archstone-Smith said - while you and your doctors may believe the problem was environmental we don't believe the situation is dangerous. To my childs illness she said, "I'm so sorry." In the most condescending voice. Talk about devil personified. I could say more I think it will sound better being served by a process server. In short, Archstone plans on doing nothing.
After leaving, I spoke to three mothers who have the same, almost IDENTICAL issues with their children in Archstone Westbury. I feel like I am living in a movie. Thank God Isaiah is out of the woods - but to know that this problem could have been totally avoided is enraging. Who knows what other ailments my son could face in the future?
Isaiah was born August 22, 2007 perfect. Pink lips, a button nose, a head full of curly hair and beautiful brown eyes. He trusted Richard and I to put him in an environment that was safe. He trusted us to make sure nothing happened to him. We trusted our apartment community to provide a safe home for us and our child. I moved there in March just because I thought it would be a perfect first place to start my family. In the span of a week, I almost lost my perfect child and my husband and I were forced out of what we thought was our home. I feel angry, betrayed and lost. Right now, we are picking up the pieces. But, I feel more committed to this blog than ever. I promise to write more once we get settled with the move and Isaiah is out the woods.
5 comments:
You need to join Sickbuildings@YahooGroups.Com. It has over 2000 members who know exactly what you are saying about your son and mold is true. There is a wealth of information among those experienced. Good luck to you and your son.
I am so, so sorry. I haven't read your blog in far too long, I had no clue all of this was happening. I know I am very late, but I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Children are so resiliant, I pray that Isiah is back 100% now. I'm sorry this is so late. I posted on the other post before reading back.
All my love,
Azizah
Been there. My child has asthma, I have asthma, thyroid and tumor removed, husband has cancer. Be very careful who you retain as a lawyer...those who claim to be the "best" and who "won the first verdict" may leave you high and dry. This happened to us. Did nothing for us for almost 4 years...Becareful and goodluck with your beautiful baby.
I came across your blog while googling Archstone Westbury to see if they have any vacant 1 bedrooms. Guess not! I am so disgusted by what happened to your son. I hope he's doing well now that he's out of that environment. And I hope "Mamma ESQ" menas that you are an attorney & that you sue their asses off! Good luck & my best to Isaiah... ~Deb
Hello, My name is Katie Coleman and I too lived at archstone. are you part of a civil class suit? My kids are 2 and 3 and were so sick (respitory problems) during our 5 months of living there. I pray all is well with your little man. Please email me if you have anymore information on this. Blessings! ~Katie Katekelley99@yahoo.com
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