Newstalk ZB
A young boy developed a serious lung disease because he lived in a cold, damp house with black mould on the walls. Sadly, it’s not an isolated case in Auckland, as senior investigative reporter Michael Morrah learns from staff at Kidz First Hospital. An Auckland mother thought her son might die after he was admitted to intensive care with severe breathing complications – a condition she attributes to living in a damp rental where black mould covered walls in multiple rooms. Montoya Fitimase, a mother of five, spoke to the Herald about her son Amias’ plight on a ward at Kidz First Hospital – which is part of Middlemore Hospital – where her son was being treated for bronchiectasis. Montoya Fitimase and her son Amias at Kidz First Hospital in South Auckland. Photo / Annaleise Shortland Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung disease which makes it hard to breathe and requires ongoing medical oversight. Research shows damp and mouldy homes increase bronchiectasis risk – and New Zealand has high rates of the disease. “There are moments I don’t want to relive because there was a point where I thought my son wasn’t going to make it,” Fitimase told the Herald, while recounting one of her son’s four admissions to intensive care while living at the Māngere rental property. The family lived at the flat from December 2021 until August 2024, when they moved out because mould appeared on walls in the bedrooms, the lounge and in the toilet. Black mould appeared on multiple walls at Montoya Fitimase's rental, where she lived with her five children. Prior to mould appearing, Fitimase said, she raised concerns about leaks and a hole in the front door with her landlord on multiple occasions. She believed the issues relayed were either not acted on or “swept under the carpet”. Even with heaters on and rugged up head to toe, Fitimase likened conditions in the rental to “we’re in Antarctica”. Black mould in the toilet at Montoya Fitimase's Māngere rental property. She went to the Tenancy Tribunal over the state of the property and won. Although, sitting next to her son’s hospital bed, she did not feel justice was served. “We had to chuck a lot of our items away, including clothing. Compensation was little to none. I felt let down, especially for my babies,” she said. Montoya Fitimase won a Tenancy Tribunal case after mould appeared on the walls of the Māngere rental where she lived with her five children. Photo / Annaleise Shortland Fitimase’s 3-year-old Rome has also developed breathing difficulties, although she said the issues are fortunately not as severe as his older brother’s. The black mould – which she called a “silent killer” – first appeared in a patch on her bedroom wall before eventually spreading to other rooms in the house. Fitimase would diligently clean the mould away, and keep the house ventilated, only for the mould to reappear. Black mould covered a wall behind a child's cot. Amias was just 1-and-a-half years old when his ongoing sickness turned into a life-threatening emergency. The pair had only recently been discharged from hospital when Amias deteriorated again and lost colour in his lips. Fitimase returned to hospital where an X-ray revealed his right lung “covered in pneumonia”. “He was rushed straight to the resuscitation room. That’s where it all started and it’s just been a long journey ever since,” she said. Amias Fitimase has bronchiectasis and regularly visits Kidz First Hospital for treatment for the chronic lung disease. On another occasion, when Amias’ oxygen levels dropped while the family were at home, Fitimase left the house with her children and they slept in the car. “I was like ‘we need to get out’. We slept in our car for the night because I didn’t want to make it worse.” Since moving into new warm accommodation, Fitimase says her son has improved significan...
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