In this episode of Never Been Sicker, Michael Rubino sits down with Denisse to share the devastating ripple effects of a botched HVAC installation that led to mold contamination, health decline, and years of legal and financial hardship.
Denisse describes how, despite carefully vetting contractors due to her past mold sensitivity, she was exposed again—this time while pregnant. The exposure led to a long list of debilitating symptoms, forced her to discard everything in her home, and resulted in her living in a garage with her baby and senior dogs. Two of her dogs have since passed.
To this day, she’s still waiting on legal resolution. With $286,000 in damages and no clear path forward, she’s doing everything she can to survive and protect what’s left of her home—including sharing her story, raising awareness, and offering ways for others to support her journey.
Highlights:
0:00 – Meet Denisse and her story begins
1:00 – HVAC installation mistake that led to mold growth
3:00 – Water leak, failed containment, and first signs of being lied to
6:00 – Discovering visible mold and taking matters into her own hands
9:00 – What she would do differently now (testing, trusting her gut, documentation)
11:30 – Gaslighting and how she stood her ground
14:00 – The symptoms: headaches, vertigo, numbness, ER visits, and more
18:00 – Living in her garage for 3+ years, cooking on camping stoves
21:30 – Why she can’t fix the home (legal limbo and $286K in damages)
25:00 – Legal lessons: what to look for in a mold attorney
28:00 – Panic attacks, anxiety, and how she started healing
30:00 – Phototherapy, sound therapy, and how she biohacks to survive
33:00 – Being pregnant while mold-exposed—and how she protected her daughter
36:00 – Top tips for healing from mold exposure
41:30 – Final message: You’re not alone. Your experience is valid. Find community.
About Denisse:
Support Denisse: Use code INNATE7 when purchasing from BioOptimizers to help her and her daughter during this time.
Follow her on Instagram: @intuitive_esthetician
