Brenda’s Ordeal

My name is Brenda Park LPN, and I am employed with Vineland Developmental Center. I have noticed my health has went down hill tremendously in the past 4 years that is when I started working there! I have had bronchitis, pneumonia, sinus infections, respiratory infections, IBS, stomach problems, legs hurt so bad that I can barely get out of the chair, right arm, elbow, wrist had to have cortisone shots because of unbearable pain, headaches, occipital neuralgia, Dr Soloway diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, fatigue, malaise so bad I broke down 2 yrs ago and cried to my boyfriend that this is not living. I don’t have the energy that I did a couple of years ago, oh and I am currently having to do resp tx at home, and from the IBS and stomach problems.

I lost 23 lbs in one month (didn’t mind the loss of weight because I am over weight. which I know is a factor of some of this also smoking is to but my cognitive skills have gone down hill (memory)! I also have a sister who works there but on the other campus, she to has similar ailments, then I have a friend who I work with who is now having neurological impairments, headaches among other ailments, she did hit her head they found that she had a mild concussion that was 2 yrs ago but she was having the horrible headaches prior to her injuries now she seizures and they could not find the cause but to speculate that it could be from her bumping her head! I started connecting things when I went to work and started getting dry heaves and headache coughing uncontrollable, then saw the roof was leaking and remembered the roof has been leaking since I have worked there. They had people fix the roof but didn’t work! Then I saw a show on TV about this and said I had know idea that mold could do all of that to a person that is when things I generally look past all started connecting leaking roof the smell in one of the bathrooms in another cottage and its wall had bubbled out swelled moldy paint fell off of that area!

Well I don’t know what to do! It is a state job and that is where it poses a problem! The buildings are over 100 yrs. old and use to be the Wayward home for girls, but since it is state even if this is a majority of my problems no one wants to go up against the state! Help! I need to work but I want to live. I am only 37 yrs old and feel like 70! Thank You, Brenda.

Author: Carolyn Willbanks