Healthy Indoors Magazine - USA Edition

18 | December 2021 Cover Story Continued from previous page sudden onset of food sensitivities, which never was an issue for me before moving into the building. Having worked a ca- reer in aviation safety which required a class II airmen's med- ical certification, the physical and cognitive issues were quite unusual and alarming for me. I had never felt worse in my life. Things changed a year later in 2020. After having seen more than 10 different specialists at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals, without any discern- able diagnosis, I became incredibly lucky to find my way into the care of Dr. Alice Prescott Sullivan at the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Functional Medicine after a close friend urged me to get an appointment with their group. Within the first three questions of our initial consultation, she inquired about my liv- ing environment: "Tell me about the place you've been living in since 2018? Have you noticed any leaks, persistent water-dam- age, any musty odors?" she asked. "Well, yes, the basement has almost constant water on the floor and in the corners," I said. I'll never forget Dr. Prescott Sullivan's response for as long as I live. She took down her glasses, looked at me and said, "So tell me why this isn't a good story for mold?" Those words changed my life. When environmental inspection revealed incredibly high levels of Aspergillus, Penicillium and even Chaetomium and Stachybotrys in air sampling, I was advised to leave immediately. I landed back in my hometown near Amherst, Ohio, in safe accommodations and began a rigorous detoxing and healing protocol through the guidance of Dr. Prescott Sullivan and the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional medicine, which I continue to do this day. Healthy Indoors: Who has made a difference in your health and wellness in your mold story and why? Chappo: The correct diagnosis of mold-related illness from Dr. Prescott Sullivan clearly has made the biggest impact on my health and wellness so far. Aside from her, the knowl- edge of doctors, including Seema Patel, Andrew Heyman, Neil Nathan, and Jill Crista, have been incredibly bene- ficial for me as well. Each of these doctors understands mold-related illness and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) in a way that most allopathic medical doctors aren't versed in yet. Through their guidance, wheth- er in person or through their podcasts, interviews, and published materials, I've been able to get my health back to about 90 percent, although there's some way to go yet. But I'm hopeful for a near full recovery in the future. Healthy Indoors: Have you been able to go back to work as an air traffic controller? If not, what are you doing now? Chappo: I left air traffic controlling to pursue another admin- istrative position within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) more than a year before my symptoms had set in. I'm thankful for that, as I told the doctors in my journey that the way I was feeling I could not have worked that position whatsoever. I knew something was terribly wrong. Currently, aside from being a full-time mold and indoor air quality advocate, I work as an Aviation Safety adminis- trative position in another line of business for the FAA. Healthy Indoors: A mold story is often one of survival. What do you think has been key to your survival during this time? Do you feel better health wise, or do you have lasting side effects? Chappo: The key to survival is to never give up on yourself. To persist. To give yourself grace during the hardest mo- ments of this experience. To lean on the support of those who are willing to lend it to you, such as family and friends, or a partner. You know your body better than any doc- tor ever will. Listen to it. If something doesn't feel right, or if you have chronic symptoms that to persist, continue to look for the cause. I feel our society tends to lean too heavily on symptom treatment as opposed to fixing the root cause of the symptom. While I am about 90 percent better after over a year of treatment, I still have persistent symptoms I continue to struggle with. I hope with success- ful treatment that I won't have long last side effects, but we'll see how these progresses as time moves forward. Healthy Indoors: Did you deal with the mold industry at all? In- spectors? Remediators? Labs? If so, what was your experience? Chappo: Yes, throughout my mold journey I've had great experi- ences with inspectors such as John Pardee of Pardee Environ- mental and Chuck Billingsley of Thur-O-Check Environmental, both in Ohio. I've also connected with Michael Rubino, author of The Mold Medic, and president of All American Restoration, with offices in New Jersey, Florida, and California. I've also had close contact with Larry Schwartz, CEO of Safestart Environ- mental in Illinois. They've all been exceedingly informative and

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