May 13, 2009 6:37 pm US/Central
Asthma Triggers In Lawndale Home Fixed In 1 Week
Landlord Makes Good On Promise To Fix Health Hazards
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Eashia Henigan, 9, suffers from asthma.
CBS
Last week, we told you about a unique house-call program that helps kids with asthma by spotting the triggers. We promised to check back in with one family to see if there was any improvement, and if a landlord kept his promise. CBS 2's Jim Williams made a return visit on Wednesday.
One week ago, Antoinette Henigan's home was not a healthy place for her 9-year-old daughter's Eashia.
"It makes a lot of difference," Henigan said.
Rhonda Lay of the Sinai Urban Health Institute walked through Antoinette's west side apartment last Wednesday looking for conditions that made her daughter's asthma much worse.
There were several asthma triggers like mold in the kitchen ceiling.
"Mold has little fuzzes on them that the child inhales," Lay said.
Holes in the living room wall allowed mice in.
"The droppings and the urine and the feces from it, her daughter's inhaling them," Lay said.
CBS 2 called the landlord after that visit, and he promised to make repairs. Today, along with Rhonda, we went back.
The landlord kept his word by repairing the roof, getting rid of the kitchen mold and fixing holes in the living room wall.
"From up there, it looks great," Lay said. "The holes have been covered on each side."
And in the last week, Antoinette did her part, too, by cleaning the bathroom more thoroughly, eliminating mold there.
"She's done a fantastic job," Lay said.
For Lay, it was a good day's work.
Despite her asthma, little Eashia is healthier today.
"My daughter's not coughing at night," Henigan said. "And she's not getting sick."
That's the payoff for the Sinai Urban Health Institute, which tries to make sure children with asthma are taking their medicine, and that their homes are free of asthma triggers.
Now they're offering a stop-smoking program to Eashia's grandmother, since smoking is also an asthma trigger.
To arrange an in-home visit where a health outreach worker can point out problems to protect your children with asthma, call Healthy Home, Healthy Child at (773) 257-1031.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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