Meet Taylor

        In the fall of 2021, Taylor was a highly motivated college freshman excited for her next four years. Shortly after moving into her dorm room, Taylor began experiencing extreme fatigue and brain fog. Her symptoms worsened, and Taylor began experiencing muscle and joint pain, numerous reoccurring illnesses, insomnia, and an overall unwell feeling from her lungs and up. The former high school valedictorian began skipping classes and lost all motivation to complete her schoolwork. All she wanted to do was sit at home. 
        Taylor’s dorm was visibly old and was one of the few buildings that hadn’t been remodeled since the 1990s. There was poor ventilation, visible mold growing, and a musty scent throughout the dorm. Many others in the building suffered respiratory issues and symptoms similar to Taylor’s, but less severe. At the time, Taylor was unaware that she was immuno-suppressed, exacerbating her symptoms. Although there was clearly mold in Taylor’s dorm building, her school rejected her claims. 
        Taylor’s suffering continued. She began failing classes, was forced to drop her pre-med track, and fell into a deep depression. She decided to take matters into her own hands and moved out of her dorm into a nearby hotel for three months, costing her roughly $20,000. After moving out of her dorm, her symptoms improved tremendously. Taylor continued to beg her school for help but was continuously left disappointed when nothing was done. Eventually, articles were released stating that mold was present in certain dorm buildings on campus, so Taylor medically withdrew from the university. She was able to transfer elsewhere, but lost her full-ride scholarship.
        Taylor didn’t receive much medical support throughout her journey. Most traditional doctors told her nothing was wrong and that she’d get better with time. She knew this couldn’t be the case and met with a naturopathic doctor who tested her for mold poisoning and diagnosed her with aspergillosis. Her holistic recovery is not covered by insurance, costing her thousands of dollars in supplements and doctors visits.
        Taylor is not yet feeling 100%, but has been doing much better. She is no longer fatigued or depressed, her brain fog has gotten less severe, and she does not get sick as often anymore.