Avoiding Mold Works Again

September 5, 2018

We left our apartment last Wednesday to go camping in the Black Hills. The smoke had cleared enough that we decided to stay close to home. We wanted to attend a get-together with people from church the next day and planned to get on the road for our longer trip on Friday. 

Once we got settled into our campsite, I started feeling better pretty quickly. I had more energy and my head was clearer. I was even able to climb a steep hill. 

Unfortunately, when we returned home on Thursday, I noticed I didn’t feel so well around our apartment complex. I was exhausted and my head felt like it was full of cotton. We decided to go to Panera to see if I felt better there. I was already a bit nausous but I started gagging on the way there. I ended up vomiting into a bag in the car. Then, after we got to Panera, I had to leave to go throw up again. 

I decided I wasn’t well enough to go to the church get-together with Brett. So he took me home before getting ready to go. But no one got to go because I had an intense and rather bizarre panic attack as soon as we got home. We both knew we needed to get on the road immediately. We decided to head to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota since it’s much closer to home than our favorite spot in New Mexico.

As we drove across endless empty prairie, the locations effect was just as obvious as ever. I started signing and dancing and laughing. What a relief! We stayed in North Dakota for two nights and I was able to hike and do laundry by hand. It was amazing to see how quickly my health turned around.

Unfortunately, Labor Day weekend isn’t the best time for someone like me to go camping. The campground was really crowded and we kept having to leave when people started up their campfires. 

Saturday morning, I noticed I wasn’t feeling as well, so I started looking around to see what might be causing it. I noticed there was a car with a Washington license plate on the other side of the road. It was parked directly upwind from from us. Ugh! That was the last straw! We decided to drive back home to wash our bedding and then head to our campground in the Black Hills. 

When we hit that amazing stretch of prairie again, I asked Brett to stop so I could run. I FELT like running. For fun! I raced Brett and Ramona along the road. I lost but I was still grinning from ear to ear. The pristine air’s dramatic effect surprised me once again. It felt like magic. 

When we returned home things were not any better. I vomited within the first five minutes of stepping into our apartment. After being in the pristine air the difference was more pronounced. There was no denying it. Something was clearly wrong with our apartment complex and perhaps the whole neighborhood. 

After cycling through several potential plans of where to go and what to do next, we ended up in Wyoming. It’s crazy how quickly I can go back to feeling almost 100% normal. We’re planning to camp here at least a few days and then return home to start looking for new places to live. 


By the way, Brett and I made a beautiful PDF of my favorite resources for suffering souls. I created the content and he made it look fancy with his superduper graphic design skills. It’s available for free to my email subscribers. Click here to sign up and receive 5 Resources for the Suffering Soul.

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15 Comments

  • Ben

    So glad you have figured out the problem. Our prayers are with you as you try to find a solution

    September 6, 2018 at 9:15 am Reply
    • Ana Harris

      Thank you so much Ben! I really appreciate that.

      September 6, 2018 at 5:17 pm Reply
  • Charis Rae

    I’m so glad you figured out the problem, and I’ll be praying for a solution as quickly as possible! I’m so glad you’re posting again. *hugs* All of your posts are so beautiful, and they remind me not to take things for granted like a healthy body. They also show me that even if something happens to me, I can work through like you are doing. Thank you for that! <3

    September 6, 2018 at 5:03 pm Reply
    • Ana Harris

      Aww! This is so sweet! Thank you so much Charis. 💕

      September 6, 2018 at 5:17 pm Reply
  • Jen

    It’s remarkable how dramatic the effect of a change in location and air quality can be! I’m sorry that you’re dealing with worse symptoms again, but I’m thankful that with all your experience you were able to identify the problem so quickly. Praying you find a more permanent safe place to live. Glad you’re blogging again 🙂

    September 6, 2018 at 6:13 pm Reply
    • Ana Harris

      Thank you so much Jen! I agree, it is remarkable. I’m just thankful we figured it out.

      September 6, 2018 at 6:15 pm Reply
  • Nanette Fenn

    Wow, Ana! I know that I know this, but still, Wow! It’s rather ironic to me that we’ve mirrored a few things here with Petra about the same time as you! Petra is having some of those old weird anxiety flares. Still, we cannot leave. Marty is in the midst of jobs and some other things that bind us to stay for more time. But this is all SO good to know and hear! I will trust the Lord we will know when to leave.

    I was just thinking about our crazy lives yesterday. We must live not knowing what may be presented next week or month, and we are forced to move on when we must. Nomads. We buy so little, and don’t even think of putting roots down. To live as others feels so distant, like a past life.

    I am praying that God will lead you guys to green pastures. I’m so glad you have each other, and I’m so glad for Marty! He’s been my rock, faithfully trusting in the Lord.

    Praying God’s protection over you both as you go,

    Love you guys even though we haven’t met. 🙂

    September 6, 2018 at 6:45 pm Reply
    • Ana Harris

      Thank you so much Nanette! You are so right about how strange our lives are. I pray the Lord leads you to the next healing place for Petra soon. I’m sorry she’s been dealing with more anxiety. We love you too and think of you often! 💕

      September 7, 2018 at 1:16 pm Reply
  • LeRoy Michaelson

    Where did you end up in Wyoming? I fled muggy Minnesota and have been staying at a campground in Boulder/Pinedale, WY. The day before I left home I needed to drape one arm over my wife’s shoulders and use a cane in the other hand just to get across a room. Now I am hiking 5-6 miles each day, playing basketball and racquetball, rock climbing and kayaking. Just kayaked 5+ miles around Jenny Lake (Tetons). Location is so important.

    September 6, 2018 at 8:46 pm Reply
    • Ana Harris

      Wow! So amazing! It’s crazy how quickly the clean air restores the ability to exercise and be active. We ended up near Medicine Bow. I hope you continue to feel well and keep healing.

      September 7, 2018 at 1:20 pm Reply
    • Gloris

      That’s great, LeRoy!

      September 13, 2018 at 9:45 am Reply
  • Bella D.

    I’m so hoping you do find that place, Ana! I’ll be praying for you as you continue your search.

    September 7, 2018 at 8:29 am Reply
    • Ana Harris

      Thank you so so much for the prayers! We need them.

      September 7, 2018 at 1:20 pm Reply
  • Erin

    I’m so sorry for you both! I hope you find somewhere permanent to go soon! Praying for you guys! <3

    September 9, 2018 at 5:39 pm Reply
  • Gloris

    Glad you are able to experience strength and energy and a clear mind again. The impact on my brain is the hardest symptom to handle with my environmental illness.
    Are you still using your Ford Transit? We have avoided buying one. We’re trying very hard to make our rental work. We just want to live like normal people so badly =\

    September 13, 2018 at 9:54 am Reply
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