I Nearly Died from a Mysterious Illness: My Path to Healing

So there I was, very sick and not sure how I was going to make it through the day, let alone the week. No doctors, no medicine—nothing but sheer willpower to see me through. I had on-and-off headaches, a fever, body aches that made it hard to move, and a cough that shook my whole body.

There were moments when I was convinced I wouldn’t live another day. But here I am, on the other side of what can only be described as a harrowing ordeal, happy to be alive and well. If there’s one thing I learned, it’s to never take health for granted again.

My Weight Went Down to 75 Pounds

When I got sick, my weight dropped to only 75 pounds. I couldn’t keep most foods down and could only eat pumpkin, a little fish, chocho (chayote), and drink coconut water.

My body was shutting down from a lack of nutrition and inflammation. I was dizzy, trembling, and could barely walk. My heart raced, and I’d break out in rashes. Simple tasks exhausted me, even just sitting up to watch TV.

The Doctors

No doctor couldn’t tell what was wrong. I went to doctor after doctor, each running tests but coming up empty-handed. Blood work, scans, etc.—everything came back normal. Meanwhile, my condition deteriorated.

Desperate for answers, my family took me to specialist after specialist. Still no diagnosis. For months, I lingered in this frightening state of illness with no end in sight. We began to fear I might not make it.

Without a diagnosis, no targeted treatment could be prescribed. The doctors could only prescribe basic antibiotics and suggest basic pain management. I felt utterly helpless; my life was in the hands of a medical mystery no one could solve.

I Found Out the Root of My Illness

After weeks of suffering and no diagnosis from doctors, a friend gave me a hint that it could be mold that was causing my illness.

My friend had similar symptoms a few years back and mentioned mold toxicity as a possible cause. At first, I was skeptical, but after doing some research online about mold illness, I realized many of my symptoms matched up. Exposure to mold, especially certain toxic types of mold like black mold, can cause a wide range of health issues.

I started looking around my home for any signs of mold or water damage that could lead to mold growth. Sure enough, I found some concerning spots in the ceiling and on the walls in the kitchen. Black mold was also growing in the corners and along the baseboards in my storage area. I knew at that point I had likely found the culprit making me so sick.

The Healing Process

I had to go through rigorous natural detoxification. I embarked on an intensive detox program that involved consuming only raw, organic fruits and vegetables, lots of water, and various herbal supplements to support my liver and kidneys.

I also had to stop taking antibiotics and prescription medications because they were making me worse. For weeks, I suffered from dizziness, nausea, and migraines as my body detoxed. Slowly but surely, I started feeling better, but my weight was not improving.

At that point, I realized that I also had to move away from my environment. It was necessary for my recovery. Leaving my home environment helped me avoid triggers that were worsening my condition. A new environment, free of mold and allergens, helped with my breathing, and my skin conditions also started to improve.

My Daughter

My 3-year-old daughter also got sick and had to go through the same treatment. When my daughter started to get sick with the same symptoms, my heart dropped. That was what convinced me that it had to be something in the environment that was causing us to get sick. As a parent, the thought of your child suffering is terrifying.

8 Years Later

Eight years have passed, yet I’m still on the journey to full recovery. The damage from long-term mold exposure and the infections that followed have been slow to heal. Some days I feel almost back to my old self, energetic and clear-headed. Other days the fatigue, brain fog, and inflammation flare up, reminding me I have to continue being vigilant.

However, many of the allergies I struggled with seem to be improving. My breathing has also improved a lot. My chest doesn’t feel as tight or congested, and I’m not coughing.

Also, for weeks after my illness, my brain remained foggy and slow. Simple tasks required monumental effort and concentration. As my body healed, my mind gradually emerged from the haze. The fog is lifting tremendously. My thinking is clearer than before. Memories are also less muddled.

While I’m still not back to 100%, being able to breathe freely again, eat a lot of things that I couldn’t eat, and have a steady weight are huge milestones. My daughter also made tremendous improvements, though she seems to be healing slower than I am.

What I Learned From My Near-Death Experience

I learned a lot from this illness. I am more health-conscious in every way. Being so sick taught me some hard lessons. I don’t take my health for granted anymore.

Now I pay close attention to my environment and look out for mold, and minimize using toxic products. I also pay attention to my body and how I’m feeling each day. I don’t ignore symptoms or changes, even minor ones. Moreover, changing my diet was (and still is) a vital part of my healing process. I try to eat organic foods and plant my own organic vegetables. This prompted me and my husband to start a gardening blog (DreCampbell.com) that focuses mainly on organic gardening.

My brush with mortality made me realize that health should never be taken for granted. I’m committed to doing all I can to safeguard this most valuable asset. My newfound health consciousness is a silver lining in the darkness of that experience.

Takeaway

This is the story of how I almost died, and no doctor could help. It was a scary experience, but I lived to tell the tale. I hope my story of survival against the odds inspires you to take your health seriously and look out for mold (it is VERY dangerous). Stay healthy. Life is precious.