Current Events, Week 2

Mykaela  Johnson

Period 1

I chose an article talking about a 10 year-old boy being hospitalized due to termite fumigation. The story was updated on September 5, 2015. After getting their Florida home fumigated by Sunland Pest Control on August 14th, the McCaughey clan was told it was safe for them to return to their home two days later. Sulfuryl fluoride was the pesticide used to fumigate. When the family returned home they all began to feel sick, however Peyton, the 10 year-old child of Lori and Carl McCaughey, felt the worst. The boy's uncle told CNN that although entire family was vomiting, Peyton was having trouble speaking and standing. His parents finally decided to take him to a clinic where they determined that Peyton was most likely suffering from fumigation poisoning.

The rest of the family, which includes Lori, Carl, and their 7 year-old daughter, eventually got better, however Peyton's condition began to get worse. The article says,"After spending more than two weeks in three different children's hospitals, he can barely speak." Ed Gribben, the boy's uncle, says he has lost 90% of his fine motor skills. He has also lost function of his left arm and leg. The article says that Peyton's personality and wit is still there, he's just having a hard time getting his words out due to traumatic brain damage.

Florida's Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation alongside the Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services. Sunland Pest Control has been stopped from performing any further fumigations until the investigation is concluded. Sunland Pest Control could not be reached for any comments. The family has not decided to file any lawsuits, however the boy's uncle set up a GoFundMe to raise money and support for the McCaughey family as they embark on Peyton's recovery journey.

I chose this article because it reminded me that although the days of incurable illness are pretty much long gone, there are still mass amounts of ways to get ill. Science and medicine continues to grow and make progress everyday. I admire those that choose to study medicine and not only the illnesses that plagued people all over 100 of years ago, but also the undiscovered illnesses that are soon to come. We've come ridiculously far from the times when there was no medicine and most illnesses were terminal. I know medicine and science will continue to progress and things will only get better.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/04/us/termite-fumigation-hospitalization/index.html