Documentaries are made for a specific reason. Docs, of course, should entertain but their main function is to shine a light on....(fill in the blank).
There was a short doc on 'The Documentary Channel' last night about ironing. Women were interviewed about how much they like to iron. These women discussed their favorite type of iron...how heavy etc. It wasn't a bad doc and I'm sure it will find it's audience. My point is documentaries are suppose to teach as well as entertain.
The documentary feature 'Black Mold Exposure' by filmmaker and black mold victim, Michael Roland Williams, is a lesson.
The story of Michael and his girlfriend Karen Noseff starts off as innocently as Karen moving into a new apartment. The complex then known as Saratoga Springs had a huge problem with mold. Shown in the film are huge places of mold all over walls and ceilings. The apartments tried just painting over it in one apartment!
I don't know much about mold, but luckily the internet does. Below is from Wiki:
Exposure to the mycotoxins present in Stachybotrys chartarum or Stachybotrys atra can have a wide range of effects. Depending on the length of exposure and volume of spores inhaled or ingested, symptoms can manifest as chronic fatigue or headaches, fever, irritation to the eyes, mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and throat, sneezing, rashes, and chronic coughing. In severe cases of exposure or cases exacerbated by allergic reaction, symptoms can be extreme including nausea, vomiting, and bleeding in the lungs and nose.
Karen starting exhibiting symptoms such as; a rash on her face that resembled a burn, constant burning felt all over her body, allergies to everything, it goes on and on.
When Karen moved out of her apartment....the roller coaster ride starting in earnest.
Both Michael and Karen had been exposed to 'black mold' in Karen's apartment. NOTE: Saratoga Springs was closed and was opened again under new management (and a new name). If you google it, you can actually find it and get an apartment there....good luck.
PLEASE NOTE: Karen and Michael aren't the only victims of the mold in Saratoga, but their story is compelling and is the one featured in this documentary.
Speaking in general about both of these people's symptoms, here is what they have gone through.
- Sensitivity to smell-this is a huge problem because everything in the world has a scent. Imagine not being able to just walk out of your house and go on your way due to a smell that might make you feel ill.
- Foods
- Drugs
- Make Up
- Normal materials that furniture is made of.
- Normal materials that clothing is made of
- Cooking smells
- The smell of perfume
I could go on with this list for pages, however, you get the point!
Ritual behavior.....isn't that OC (obsessive compulsive)? Yes, it is, and to watch these two you would immediately think of the TV shows that show people who are 'obsessed'. Karen and Michael's rituals are;
- Washing new clothing seven times to get the chemicals out of them.
- Wrapping things in cellophane to keep the smell from bothering them. And I mean everything...furniture..EVERYTHING.
- Only being able to eat certain foods because most foods cause them illness.
- Karen can only use certain make-up.
- Sometimes things that didn't bother them before, starts bothering them.
- Feeling the need to shower and change clothing after being out of the house.
- Making your house safe for you in the first place.
- Clean all air ducts....all the time.
- Trying to figure out what it is that is making your skin burn this time.
The majority of this doc revolves around Karen and Michael's struggle to live some kind of life. Michael plays poker online for money. Karen does get a job, however she is in a world she can't control, once again...see the list above.
Also featured in this documentary are people who understand that mold is dangerous and people who think 'there needs to be more studies'. Guess which group the latter are? If you said politicians, you're right. Politicians and the people who they hire as mouth pieces.
I CALL YOU OUT RIGHT NOW WASHINGTON...FIND A HOME WITH BLACK MOLD AND SPEND SOME TIME THERE. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE REALLY GOOD HEALTH CARE INSURANCE FIRST!
So, as the story of Karen and Michael goes on, we see the effect that this exposure has had on their lives. Michael wasn't even able to go be by a close relative's side as she died. He had to hear about it over the phone.
Karen has been more fortunate, she has regained her health and started a high end denim clothing company called 'Fortune Denim'.
Michael remains to this day, years later, suffering from the symptoms of his exposure to the black mold. (There are others who lived in Saratoga Springs Apartments that have left comments online, here and there. Little voices that will hopefully add up to one big scream to those who would block help to these people.)
It would be easy to turn away from this film, don't bother with seeing 'Black Mold Exposure'. However, how many undiagnosed maladies are actually exposure to toxic mold? How many people go to their doctor with 'non specific symptoms' that add up perfectly if you consider it could be mold? A rash here, a stomach disorder there....
Michael has a facebook group. I've read postings there and these people are trying to cope by asking each other if anyone has this or that. How sad is it that they can't go to the doctor and get the correct diagnosis and treatment? There are some doctors out there that understand and believe, they are few and far between. The website for the film is here.
To say I enjoyed this film is incorrect wording. I respect this film and the message it is trying to convey. My prays are with Michael specifically as he is still struggling on a daily basis with the results of his exposure to toxic mold.
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