Girl, 14, suffered from ulcerative colitis for years… the mysterious cause should terrify all families
A teenager in Ohio suffered a mystery health crisis for two years before the culprit was found lurking in the family’s home.
After coming down with Covid in 2020 at age 14, Ava Chambers’ health quickly deteriorated.
A few months later, Ava was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a one-in-200 autoimmune condition that causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the colon and rectum.
The teen’s hair soon began thinning and falling out in chunks, and she became so ‘incredibly’ fatigued and dizzy she had to walk with a cane.
Doctors were quick to blame Ava’s symptoms on stress and her mental health.
Her mother, Anna, said: ‘No one had answers. Her colon was healing, her blood work looked normal, and we were repeatedly told that it was all in her head.
‘Ava was suffering so badly, and no one was listening. I knew something was seriously wrong, and I wasn’t going to stop until I found out what it was.’
Two years after Ava’s ordeal began, blood and urine tests finally revealed Ava had been sickened by toxins from mold growing in the family’s basement.
Ava Chambers, pictured here, came down with Covid at age 14. Soon after, her health rapidly deteriorated
Ava, pictured here in the hospital, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and became so weak that she had to use a cane to walk
Further testing of the family’s home showed mold from the basement would vent into Ava’s room, leaving the rest of the family healthy while Ava deteriorated.
After removing mold from their home, Anna said her now 19-year-old daughter’s recovery was ‘like watching a miracle unfold.’
‘It wasn’t an easy process, and Ava is still healing, but she is doing so much better now,’ she added.
Black mold, more formally known as Stachybotrys chartarum, grows in damp, warm environments like basements, bathrooms, kitchens, and areas with leaks or other forms of water damage.
It releases naturally occurring compounds called mycotoxins, which can accumulate in the body and lead to a host of health issues.
In Ava’s case, the mycotoxins likely damaged her intestinal lining, causing inflammatory issues like ulcerative colitis.
Mycotoxins can also suppress the immune system, irritate the lungs, and cross the blood-brain barrier, leading to neurological issues like headaches, dizziness, and seizures.
Ava also tested positive for a mutation of her HLA-DR gene, which affects one in four Americans.
The gene is believed to disrupt human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins, weakening the immune system.
It has also been shown to make patients more susceptible to mold-related injuries. In fact, nine in 10 patients being treated for mold injuries test positive for an HLA gene mutation.
Ava was also diagnosed with Lyme disease and Epstein-Barr virus, a common illness that stays dormant in most people but can be reactivated through certain exposures, such as mold.
Anna said the family ‘firmly believes mold was the root cause’ of Ava’s ulcerative colitis, and the teen has stopped taking medications for the illness.
Ava is also managing her condition with a ‘tailored protocol and detoxification plan.’
The above shows six types of mold you’re most likely to find in your home. While blue and pink molds are relatively safe, the other types may lead to allergy-like symptoms. Black mold is considered the most dangerous
Ava, pictured here with her mother, now manages her condition with a personalized detoxification plan. Her mother said: ‘She’s cautious, and she knows that living a clean, non-toxic lifestyle is a part of her ongoing healing’
It’s unclear what exactly this entails, though antifungal medications, nasal sprays, and home remedies like breathing in salty air – halotherapy – and activated charcoal are thought to help manage symptoms.
Anna said: ‘[Ava] knows she has the genetics that makes detoxing difficult, but now she also has the knowledge and skills to manage her health.
‘She’s cautious, and she knows that living a clean, non-toxic lifestyle is a part of her ongoing healing.’
Anna now urges parents and caregivers to trust their instincts if their child is suffering from a mysterious illness and not getting answers from doctors.
She said: ‘Our world is filled with toxins that can wreak havoc on the body. I believe people are starting to wake up to this reality, but there’s still so much more to learn.
‘Stories like ours can help raise awareness and bring about the changes in medicine that are desperately needed.’
