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MOLDed: A Memoir of Loss & Resilience
An overnight explosion of toxic mold thrust Carol and her family into a real-life nightmare—threatening their home, health, and safety.
Cleaning, erecting barriers, and removing the mold’s source did nothing to stop its spread. When tests revealed dangerously high levels of toxic mold, they evacuated—expecting to remediate quickly and return home within months. Instead, they were pulled into a two-year battle as their lives unraveled.
Remediators failed them. Doctors dismissed them. And “normal” life evaporated as mold remediation and contamination consumed their world. But Carol refused to give up—not on her home, her kids, or herself.
Told with raw honesty and dark humor, MOLDed is for anyone who’s ever been ignored, overwhelmed, or blindsided by circumstances beyond their control—or anyone who’s taken clean air and a safe home for granted.
“I stayed up late two nights in a row to finish it.”"A gripping, inspiring survival story.”“Every homeowner needs to read this.”“Surprisingly funny.”
Step into Carol’s world for an unforgettable journey through chaos and loss, to resilience and gratitude. Because in the darkest moments, the human spirit doesn’t just survive—it grows stronger.
Cleaning, erecting barriers, and removing the mold’s source did nothing to stop its spread. When tests revealed dangerously high levels of toxic mold, they evacuated—expecting to remediate quickly and return home within months. Instead, they were pulled into a two-year battle as their lives unraveled.
Remediators failed them. Doctors dismissed them. And “normal” life evaporated as mold remediation and contamination consumed their world. But Carol refused to give up—not on her home, her kids, or herself.
Told with raw honesty and dark humor, MOLDed is for anyone who’s ever been ignored, overwhelmed, or blindsided by circumstances beyond their control—or anyone who’s taken clean air and a safe home for granted.
“I stayed up late two nights in a row to finish it.”"A gripping, inspiring survival story.”“Every homeowner needs to read this.”“Surprisingly funny.”
Step into Carol’s world for an unforgettable journey through chaos and loss, to resilience and gratitude. Because in the darkest moments, the human spirit doesn’t just survive—it grows stronger.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2024
5 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 29, 2025
This was just an amazing book that was a complete page turner from start to finish. The author is a wonderful writer and the book never lost momentum. It’s a true example of “truth is stranger than fiction.” Several times while reading the bookI had to research it online and confirm yet again that it was not written by AI. It was just too wild to believe but clearly a real person with a real story from my research. I feel like I’ve learned so much about mold as well as about family dynamics and incredible resilience. The only reason I did not give it 5 Stars is I only give 5 stars to books that I plan to read more than once. I don’t think I could bear to read this more than once. it’s tragic what they endured. I hope that she writes a follow up memoir. Additionally, if it feels worth it to her, I would recommend that she go back to some kind of treatment for the effects of the mold. This is not really all that different from Lyme disease where a person’s numbers go up when they are getting better. Look up Herxheimer reaction. The dredge rises to the surface instead of hiding, and it is all a slow process of allowing toxicity to leave the body.
August 8, 2024
Anyone who's ever had a bad experience with repair people, insurance adjusters, or construction people, even if not related to toxic mold, will relate to this book. It's the true saga of what happened to Carol and Wayne Milberger following a torrential rain storm in their Texas town, resulting in toxic mold taking over their home. Mold spores grew exponentially and uncontrollably, to the point where the Milbergers and their three children couldn't breathe, had headaches and earaches, and ultimately had to leave their house. Their clothing and possessions became contaminated, but they didn't realize that was happening--at least at first.
When they discovered the problem, they contacted their insurance company for help. Some insurance companies do cover mold remediation, while some don't. They were fortunate that their homeowners' policy didcover the problem; however, that doesn't mean that all they had to do was pick up the phone and contact their insurance agent, and voila! Problem solved. That was just the beginning of their long saga. They got the runaround from the insurance company, unscrupulous mold testing companies, and a mold remediation company that didn't do the job it was contracted to do. The result was more than two years of fighting to get their home repaired while they made alternate arrangements to live--and while working full-time jobs.
Carol and Wayne were creative about finding temporary places to live, although that wasn't easy, either. Their three children--Christine, Shelby, and Justin--were remarkably calm throughout the process. Christine even remained involved in many activities and was named valedictorian of her graduating class. (Note: I'm not sure that my own--now adult--children would have been anywhere nearly as calm and cooperative as the Milberger children were.)
But the frustrations of not being able to fix problems grate on Carol and Wayne, who have always worked together, as a couple, to work things out, and even their nerves become frayed as problem after problem arises throughout the process.
This is a well-written book about an issue that many people don't know exists. Toxic mold causes severe respiratory, neurological, balance, and other health problems, depending on the exact nature of the spore involved. Patients may go to their primary care physicians with vague symptoms, not realizing they've been exposed to toxic mold. Physicians may have difficulty making a diagnosis, and this can become a vicious cycle for a patient in the health care system.
Although I rarely review non-fiction, I enjoyed reading this book, not because I relished the predicaments Carol and Wayne faced, but rather, because it contains excellent information for the general public. The examples given in this book may help someone else who might experience similar situations. The author herself calls for more research into the effects of toxic mold, and also points out that with climate change, the world may well see new, yet-to-be-identified spores that may have an impact on human beings. Her family's experience may well be a wake-up call for others. I highly recommend this well-written, interesting book.
When they discovered the problem, they contacted their insurance company for help. Some insurance companies do cover mold remediation, while some don't. They were fortunate that their homeowners' policy didcover the problem; however, that doesn't mean that all they had to do was pick up the phone and contact their insurance agent, and voila! Problem solved. That was just the beginning of their long saga. They got the runaround from the insurance company, unscrupulous mold testing companies, and a mold remediation company that didn't do the job it was contracted to do. The result was more than two years of fighting to get their home repaired while they made alternate arrangements to live--and while working full-time jobs.
Carol and Wayne were creative about finding temporary places to live, although that wasn't easy, either. Their three children--Christine, Shelby, and Justin--were remarkably calm throughout the process. Christine even remained involved in many activities and was named valedictorian of her graduating class. (Note: I'm not sure that my own--now adult--children would have been anywhere nearly as calm and cooperative as the Milberger children were.)
But the frustrations of not being able to fix problems grate on Carol and Wayne, who have always worked together, as a couple, to work things out, and even their nerves become frayed as problem after problem arises throughout the process.
This is a well-written book about an issue that many people don't know exists. Toxic mold causes severe respiratory, neurological, balance, and other health problems, depending on the exact nature of the spore involved. Patients may go to their primary care physicians with vague symptoms, not realizing they've been exposed to toxic mold. Physicians may have difficulty making a diagnosis, and this can become a vicious cycle for a patient in the health care system.
Although I rarely review non-fiction, I enjoyed reading this book, not because I relished the predicaments Carol and Wayne faced, but rather, because it contains excellent information for the general public. The examples given in this book may help someone else who might experience similar situations. The author herself calls for more research into the effects of toxic mold, and also points out that with climate change, the world may well see new, yet-to-be-identified spores that may have an impact on human beings. Her family's experience may well be a wake-up call for others. I highly recommend this well-written, interesting book.
August 19, 2024
I did not know what to expect when I started MOLDed. Reading the opening scene, I wondered if I'd be able to relate to Carol's well-organized, harmonious family; then, almost immediately their challenges mounted--I was gripped. MOLDed unfolds as a suspenseful, tension-packed, real-life horror story, with the insidiousness of both toxic mold and outside misunderstanding emerging as twin monsters. Thematically, this memoir emphasizes that nothing is a given, not family pride or safety or health, nor the inevitability of a great work ethic yielding great results. As toxic mold threatens the very air they breathe along with their ability to think, work, cook, and sleep safely in their home, Carol and family find their values tested along with their faith and hope. I felt challenged to ask myself how I would have handled a natural disaster like this. I have not experienced toxic mold, yet I saw this memoirist learning to live the lessons of the serenity prayer (which is more in my wheelhouse) and I think anyone who has had their life severely disrupted can relate to her experience. I can't tell you how much I was rooting for her and her family by the end of this book!
September 10, 2024
This book is a first-hand account of a family's struggles to resolve mold in their home and get into a clean living space. Unfortunately their situation isn't unique. The mold industry in the United States is sorely lacking. Between insufficient and improper testing, improper remediation protocols, insufficient contractor education and certification, and shady business practices, there are far more unsuccessful remediations than successful. These days, insurance very rarely covers mold at all. After reading Carol's story, I think that's probably more of a blessing than a curse.
This book shines a bright light on how we need to change the industry to keep people from living in toxic homes. I hope many people will read it and it will spark a necessary revolution.
This book shines a bright light on how we need to change the industry to keep people from living in toxic homes. I hope many people will read it and it will spark a necessary revolution.
December 22, 2025
MOLDed: A Memoir of Loss & Resilience is a gripping, deeply human account of what happens when an invisible threat dismantles the illusion of safety and stability. Carol Milberger chronicles her family’s two-year battle with toxic mold with honesty, dark humor, and emotional clarity, turning a bureaucratic and medical nightmare into a powerful story of endurance. Beyond its personal impact, the book serves as an eye-opening warning about environmental health risks and systemic failure. A compelling, informative memoir that balances fear with resilience and hard-earned hope.
August 22, 2024
Sharing your story
Thank you for writing this book and bringing the issue of Black Mold to Public attention..., this is a much needed, topic and discussion as well as a very big health concern, one I myself have dealt with living with in an apartment and trying to have resolved. Again, Carol Thank you for sharing
Thank you for writing this book and bringing the issue of Black Mold to Public attention..., this is a much needed, topic and discussion as well as a very big health concern, one I myself have dealt with living with in an apartment and trying to have resolved. Again, Carol Thank you for sharing
January 27, 2025
Riveting non-fiction about a family's harrowing journey with toxic mold. I experienced all the emotions a good book elicits - sorrow, joy, horror, elation, etc! All the situations the family experienced are hard to imagine and makes the reader thankful for normal, typical problems in life. Hard to put down and highly recommend!
February 22, 2025
This is a startling story of how completely a family's life is upended by the unrelenting unkillable toxic mold that invades their home, their possessions, their health. I had no idea about the differences between molds and how the black toxic mold can appear in normal homes and push people to the limits of their sanity and financial capacity.
August 26, 2024
Riveting …. hard to put down!
Beautifully written! The book expertly expressed the author’s horrific experiences!
I felt her frustrations and pain as I read and even had a few “mold nightmares”while reading!
Beautifully written! The book expertly expressed the author’s horrific experiences!
I felt her frustrations and pain as I read and even had a few “mold nightmares”while reading!
August 19, 2025
Page turner
I couldn't put this nook down. I wanted to read it constantly. We were dealing with mildew in our house and I was very interested. I'm hoping that ours is mildew and not black mold. I found this to be a fascinating subject and book.
I couldn't put this nook down. I wanted to read it constantly. We were dealing with mildew in our house and I was very interested. I'm hoping that ours is mildew and not black mold. I found this to be a fascinating subject and book.
August 18, 2024
Great read - informative, captivating and ultimately a satisfying ending. I will be recommending this book for our bookclub and anticipate it will be received as a great selection.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews