One Deserving Family
Gilliam Family
Home location: Armada Township, Michigan
- Mother: Maryann, 32, mother of 6, homemaker
- Daughter: Abigail, 12
- Son: Gabriel, 9
- Son: Daniel, 6
- Daughter: Ariel, 4
- Son: Peter, turns 3 on 8/13/06
- Daughter: Naomi, 8 months old
Maryann Gilliam's husband David, 41, was a firefighter and emergency medical technician that passed away unexpectedly on Christmas Eve 2005. Maryann was left with six children (currently ages eight months to 12 years old) to live in a tiny two-bedroom, 120-year-old house that David was renovating. David and Maryann originally purchased the home as a "fixer-upper." When he went back to school in order to better provide for his family, he had less time to work on the home.
After studying for five years, while working several jobs to support his family, David had finally fulfilled his long-held dream to become a fireman and paramedic. After working full time for Star Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Pontiac, Mich., he became a firefighter/paramedic with the Armada Township Fire Department. He was one state test away from getting his I.C. (Instructor Coordinator) license and had planned to teach EMS.
Since David's death, Maryann learned that the basement of their home was contaminated with dangerous levels of toxic spores. After seeing the analysis of the basement and David's autopsy report, the family's doctor theorized these toxins may have been responsible for David's death. The doctor advised Maryann to vacate the house or risk suffering the same fate.
Gilliam Family's Current Home
The seven-member Gilliam family is currently living in a two-bedroom, 1-1/4 bath, 900-square-foot "farm house" built in approximately 1886. It sits on a one-acre lot, has a septic/well, potentially hazardous mold (Pennicillium/Aspergillis), a flooding "Michigan" basement, needs waterproofing and has a leaking roof. The septic field is old and ineffective (washing machine leaks into yard), and the ground is collapsing outside of the house. |
