Health issues can be frustrating, especially when the cause remains a mystery despite endless medical tests and treatments.

For one young Aussie woman, years of debilitating symptoms led to drastic measures—yet the true culprit was something far more insidious, lurking in plain sight.

What she uncovered has sparked a larger conversation about a hidden threat affecting countless homes across the country.

For years, Ellie Randazzo endured relentless health struggles that baffled doctors, leaving her desperate for answers.

What began as recurring sinus and ear infections escalated into nerve pain so severe that, at just 18, doctors even suggested a hysterectomy to alleviate her suffering.

Despite undergoing multiple invasive procedures, nothing brought relief—until a simple but dangerous culprit was uncovered in her home.

Mystery illness leads to shocking home discovery. Image source: GoFundme/Ellie Randazzo

Mould, a common yet often overlooked household issue, had been silently wreaking havoc on her body for nearly two decades.

‘It’s such a monumental issue,’ Ellie said.

She was diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) in December 2024, conditions triggered by prolonged mould exposure.

MCAS caused severe allergic reactions, including hives, swelling, and breathing difficulties, while CIRS left her with a multi-symptom illness stemming from toxic mould exposure.
Ellie’s condition forced her to leave a lucrative mining job after nerve damage from multiple surgeries made it impossible for her to operate heavy machinery.

She lived in various parts of Australia, from the Northern Territory to Western Australia and New South Wales, each with high humidity and frequent flooding—ideal conditions for mould growth.

Reflecting on her childhood, she realised her health had always been worse in these regions, even as early as five years old.

‘Upon reflection, I realised why I would get sicker in these areas and it was due to mould,’ she said.

Living in northern NSW, where flooding has been severe in recent years, she suspected many of her neighbours were unknowingly facing similar health risks.

‘People are forced to live in mould because there isn’t anything you can really do about it,’ she said.

Mould in homes was not a new concern—others had spoken out about their own struggles, including former *Big Brother Australia* contestant Katie Williams, who suffered from asthma and skin rashes for 18 months.

An expat also shared her experience of severe hives and allergic reactions after moving into an Australian rental property.

Dr Nicola Willand from RMIT’s School of Property, Construction and Project Management explained that there were no official statistics on mould prevalence.

However, a study in Victoria found that over 20 per cent of randomly tested homes were contaminated.

‘In a housing crisis, a rental crisis, that we’ve got at the moment, renters are not able to choose a home that is mould-free,’ she said.

Ellie found herself trapped in a mould-infested home with no financial means to move, her savings exhausted after years of medical expenses.

‘I have nowhere else to go, I can’t afford a new lease or a bond because I’ve lost everything,’ she said.

Relying on a Disability Support Pension, she launched a GoFundMe to help her afford a mould-free home and essential medication.

‘I am having to choose between medication and food or fuel,’ she said.

With a combination of antihistamines, mast cell stabilisers, digestive enzymes, and antifungal treatments, she finally started to feel better.

‘It’s blown me away how quickly I’ve responded,’ she said.

Now, she hoped to rebuild her life after losing nearly everything to an invisible threat she never saw coming.

‘It’s been bittersweet because I’ve had to lose everything to get here,’ she said. ‘I am excited for the future now and I haven’t been able to say that in a long time.’

In a previous story, an expat shared her shocking experience after moving into an Australian rental, where an unexpected issue wreaked havoc on her health.

She described the conditions as ‘crazy’ and was left speechless by what she discovered. Could your home be at risk too?

Read more here.

Key Takeaways

• Ellie Randazzo suffered from unexplained health issues for nearly two decades, including severe nerve pain and recurring infections, leading doctors to suggest drastic treatments like a hysterectomy.
• After multiple failed medical interventions, she discovered that prolonged exposure to mould in her home was the root cause, later being diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS).
• Mould exposure is a widespread but underreported issue, particularly in high-humidity areas like northern NSW, with experts warning that renters often have no choice but to live in mould-infested homes.
• Ellie, now relying on a Disability Support Pension, launched a GoFundMe to afford a mould-free home and treatment, and after starting medication, she is finally seeing improvements in her health.

With mould exposure affecting so many homes across the country, do you think enough is being done to address the issue? Are renters and homeowners being left to fend for themselves?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

 

[Macarj]

I thought it was something not heard of before getting rid of mold is pretty damned obvious

 

[Towing]

Humidity causes mould including in places you wouldn't expect it. In some areas you don't have some types of furniture. Depending on the colour of the fabric it may not be that noticeable.

 

[Barbara V]

Surely you would notice mould and you can smell it

 

[MariaG]

Sometimes mould can spring into sight without you noticing.
The super rainy night a few weeks ago caused a power blackout the lasted at my place from 8pm until 11am the next day.
In the middle of the night, I had a feeble little torch and my phone was too low on power to use the light. So, when I got up in the middle of the night on the loo trudge, I spotted something black in the corner of my eye. I thought it was a spider. So, out comes the spray and I spent the rest of the night scared it would drop down onto me.
Next morning, loh and behold, it was black mould. Wasn't there the day before.
Apparently the heavy rain was too much for the box gutter. The seal cracked and it poured onto the ceiling right in the corner. That mould formed in less than an hour.
Frightened the you know whats out of me. I called the insurance company immediately. They had someone out there before the end of day to inspect it, and that evening the mould people were called in. The insurers took the mould very seriously. Even though it was not a giant patch, they gave the OK for remediation.
I had 4 days of blowers/dryers going ... sounded like a jet plane. They tested it ... all clear. Now I just wait for the ceiling section to be cut out, re-plastered and painted.
You absolutely cannot muck around with mould.

 

[Wires]

A very common problem and depending on what type of spores use to call it white flower many moons ago
but it cause illness in damp areas it does have a musty spell to it wall have a few colours pale green pale red black and powdery saw this a lot in the UK