Mom Finds Hidden Room Full Of Mold After Her Daughter Gets Sick

There are few things worse than becoming ill and not knowing why or being able to find a treatment that works. The best way to get healthy again is to know what is making you sick in the first place. So when this mother and her daughter became ill with no clear reason and weren't getting any better, it was time to take things a step further.

Cherylyn Woody and her four-year-old daughter moved into a rental home.

After five or six months, her daughter started experiencing deep chest wheezing, coughing, sinus drainage and watery eyes. A pediatrician prescribed an inhaler, but Cherylyn saw no improvements.

Then Cherylyn also started to feel sick.

Neither of them seemed to be getting any better, and tests showed eight different types in her daughter's sinuses. She started assuming it must be something environmental causing them to be ill.

After nine months of being sick, Cherylyn called a home inspector, BIO ONE Atlanta.

Inspector Paul Cervino says that at first, they couldn't find anything. "Upon further investigation I pulled this board right over and we found a room segregated from the rest of the house. We noticed there is a flight of stairs that leads into an access point that has recently been covered up with sheet rock and plaster." 

“It was hidden; I had no idea there was a room under the house,” Cherylyn said.

The room was filled with black mold and determined to be the cause for their illnesses.

Some molds can be very dangerous to one's health. Not all molds pose a threat, but those with previous breathing problems or allergies may be at higher risk when exposed to mold. Mold needs moisture to grow. This can come from flooding, humid air, water leaks, or water damage.

How can you detect mold in your home?

You will be able to smell or see the mold if there is a large enough infestation. Most mold can be removed with bleach and water, but if it is in surfaces like ceiling tiles, drywall, and carpet, one may have to discard them if they become moldy. If there is a large cleanup, it may be best to contact a professional. Dead mold and mold contamination may recur if the source of moisture hasn't also be removed.

To keep mold out of your home, it's important to do routine checkups.

"...buildings should be inspected for evidence of water damage and visible mold. The conditions causing mold (such as water leaks, condensation, infiltration, or flooding) should be corrected to prevent mold from growing."

Cherylyn is sharing her story.

She hopes that she can prevent other families from getting sick after hearing what she went through and the potential dangers she faced.