Army Wife: Ft. Bliss Homes Make Children Sick

Sick children in Ft. Bliss housing: that's what one soldier's wife claims and now she says her child will never be the same because of the home they lived in on post.

In September, 2006, the Wesley family moved into their home in the Van Horne neighborhood at Ft. Bliss. For the next two years, 3-year-old Calina went from perfectly healthy to a hospital regular.

"She has up to 120 seizures a day. Now mind you they last between three to five seconds and we don't always see them, but some of them last longer," said Calina's mother, Melissa Wesley.

The seizures combined with dozens of other health problems, such as trouble breathing, cut off oxygen to little Calina's brain.

"She is now stuck at about 2 and a 1/2, 3 year old age mentally. And she's getting ready to turn 6," Wesley exclusively told KFOX.

Wesley blames it all on her home at Ft. Bliss. During her time there, she found black mold growing, lead paint chipping, and a long list of other problems.

"It wasn't just my child, it was my next door neighbors, it was the lady down the street, it was the parent around the corner, everyone was having issues with their kids being sick," she said.

As KFOX was the only station to report, between Aug. 12 and Aug. 14, 2008, KFOX did a series of stories about problems with the homes in the Van Horne neighborhood and their impact on the health of soldiers' families.

"I want nothing more than my daughter to be healed and to have a normal life, but I don't want someone else to have to go through what we're going through either," said Wesley.

Other members of Wesley's family also had health problems during their time living in the home. Wesley is certain her old home is to blame, because neighbors she spoke to went through the same thing, children perfectly healthy before moving in and leaving with a series of health problems.

KFOX contacted both Ft. Bliss and the private company that owns the homes in the Van Horne neighborhood, Balfour Beatty.

Ft. Bliss officials never returned any of our calls, and Balfour Beatty representatives did get back to us, but did not give us a comment by deadline.

Wesley would like anyone who has had a similar experience with Ft. Bliss housing to e-mail Melissa Wesley. Please also e-mail KFOX weekend anchor/reporter Daniel Novick or call him at 915-834-2145.