Renee Beam
Moundridge, Kansas

Sara Faith Beam was born perfect and beautiful. Twelve days later this peaceful picture would give way to heartache. Within a 10 week period we were able to document fevers, blisters, stiff joints, severe vomiting and diarrhea, congestion, twitching, tremors, severe insomnia, uncontrollable thrashing, coughing, sneezing, and an obviously painful left ear. Sara had to wear socks on her hands to prevent cornea damage. She was sustained on electrolyte replenishing drinks. She was gaining a pound a day of water weight and developed a foul smelling dampness on her skin. By the end of the twelth week, we had gone through 4 pediatricians, a pediatric pulmonologist, 2 pediatric allergists, speech therapy, a stay in ICU, and 4 infant formulas. Nothing worked until we found the mold and a doctor who understood.

The diagnosis – “Sick Building Syndrome and mold exposure with adverse health reactions. There won’t be much you can take with you. ‘I’m not sure of the exact words the doctor used but our family had lost almost everything.’ Nothing porous, soluble, no electronics, appliances, upholstered items, paper, mattresses, etc…”

We took our family to a hotel and salvaged what little we could take. Within 3 weeks every symptom Sara suffered was gone. With the help of an environmental hygienist, a local news anchor, and the American Red Cross we found a new home. Knowing the consequences of being unaware we were cautious, so we inspected and asked specific questions. It took only 4 weeks to realize we had been lied to. Every problem Sara had experienced came back, along with incipient liver failure. She was suffering once again. We found mold, which had been covered with butcher paper. We left our home like felons on the run, leaving everything behind. We found a new home only to leave three months later because of dust mites. Her immune system had become so weak she could not fight off the simplest environmental or illness exposure.

As life was being pulled out from under us at a rapid rate, things would soon take a sharp turn towards hope. It would literally take one word and a split second to find the light at the end of our dark tunnel. Kelly Preston was a guest on “The View” speaking about the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition and environmental issues that harm children. I was watching mostly as a cynic. Then I heard the one word I was sure I’d never hear … MOLD. My life and Sara’s health would be forever changed. I made a phone call to CHEC and after a long visit with executive director, Elizabeth Sword, I knew that we would have a partner to get Sara help. Elizabeth became invaluable in many ways to our family. I had found her just in time to face the hardest part of our journey yet.

I soon realized there was nothing to hold landlords accountable for endangering a child or not making appropriate repairs or remediation after the many floods. I wrote letters to every elected official from our Kansas State Representatives to the Governor. To my surprise there were many responses, some with legal recommendations and others with sincere sympathy. The Kansas Attorney General office declined to press charges due to lack of precedence in this new legal arena. Since then, we have found a healthy home for Sara. I have educated a medical clinic on mold exposure and many other harmful exposures children face. Also, I have taken this information to school officials, teachers, county health departments, and churches. We ask them to take action and support the need for increased research and regulation. We continue to learn and implement every available solution to aid in Sara’s recovery. She remains chemically sensitive and suffers food allergies. She cannot regulate her internal temperature and a high outside mold spore count can disrupt her kidney function. Every day is a journey.

— Written by Renee Beam

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