FIREFIGHTER'S MAN ON METH LABS

To the Editor:

Over the last several years, residents of Ashe County have been quick to
speak out either for or against on controversial issues. Now is the time
that Ashe County needs to speak out against one of the biggest and most
dangerous problems county residents are being faced with: meth labs.

These labs are now becoming rampant in Ashe and Watauga counties and can
pop up anywhere. Do you know what it's like to see your son, who has been
healthy from the day he was born through the first 30 years of life,
suddenly lose his health due to exposure to chemicals from a meth lab?

A fireman goes into a fire knowing the dangers of a fire and he prepares
himself for those dangers, he takes every precaution to protect himself as
well as other firemen and other victims that could be involved. However,
firemen until recently did not know that they were going to have to prepare
themselves to deal with meth labs as well when they entered a fire.

This was the case with my son, Darien and several other Deep Gap firemen
who were injured in a meth lab fire on Jan. 26, 2003. Darien, as any true
fireman will do responded to a fire call on that day, making all necessary
preparations and precautions, so he thought, to put out a house fire,
risking his own life to possibly save the life of another person who could
be trapped in the dwelling. Ironically, however, Darien was to become the
victim, his health trapped by the chemicals he would inhale while
attempting to save someone else's life and property.

The owner of the dwelling had a meth lab in his home and was, as the term
goes, "cooking meth." None of the firemen were aware of the meth lab until
it was too late. Darien was the first fireman to be exposed to the chemical
fumes that escaped the house. These fumes entered his body, damaging his
sinuses and lungs. Darien was admitted to Watauga Regional Medical Center
and was in the intensive care unit for four days and in the hospital for
six days before being discharged.

Unfortunately, being sent home from the hospital didn't end the ordeal.
Darien has been under a doctor's care since. He has had to have surgery on
his sinuses to remove damaged tissue caused by the chemicals he breathed
in. Surgery of this nature is normally done on an outpatient basis with no
stay in the hospital. This, however, was not to be the case in Darien's
situation. Due to the damage done to his lungs by the chemicals from the
meth lab, Darien's oxygen level dropped and his time in recovery was longer
than usual. Darien was sent home late in the day, only to be returned to
the hospital the following morning.

Because of the low oxygen level and the effects of the anesthesia, his wife
was unable to wake him up the next morning. She then called 911 and an
ambulance was dispatched to carry Darien back to the hospital where he
would stay for another three days before being discharged. These chemicals
have also caused migraine headaches so severe he could hardly walk and
light would have a detrimental effect.

Yes, I've seen my healthy son become a victim of meth labs. My son, who has
always been vigorous and full of laughter for the last 10 months has not
been able to play with his children due to the damage to his lungs. I've
watched him at times struggle for breath and have to have oxygen at night
to even sleep. I've watched him roll in pain from headaches so severe he
would have to go to the emergency room at the hospital to get relief.

And all of this due to a meth lab.

As a child, I lived in Wilkes County and I can remember how I felt when
people called the place I lived the "Moonshine Capital of North Carolina."
This was my home and I loved living in Wilkes. I couldn't understand why
people would say that about the place where I lived. As I grew older, I
realized that the moonshine stills were a true problem for Wilkes County.
Now as an adult I see we're faced with an entirely different type of
problem in Ashe and Watauga counties, with meth labs being busted on a
regular basis.

My question to you, Ashe and Watauga counties, is, are we as citizens going
to do like the fable of the ostrich and bury our heads in the sand and hope
the problem goes away? Or are we going to fight for the dignity of our
counties and help our law enforcement put a stop to meth labs? We as
citizens need to demand stronger charges be filed to prevent the release of
the individuals who are dealing with and making meth.

Our counties have been known as the beautiful High Country and people from
out of the county and state have come here to make their home or to have
summer homes. Do we want to be known as the "High Country, Home of the Meth
Labs"? I think not. So let's take a stand and demand what's right for our
children and grandchildren, a normal, safe environment.

You may say it doesn't effect me or my family, but it does and it can have
a detrimental effect on your family if the problem isn't done away with. Do
you know that a meth lab in your community can effect the entire community,
that it effects the environment within a community, that you can actually
breathe in the chemicals, and over a period of time have health-related
problems due to a meth lab? Do you know that if you should rent a house
that has had a meth lab within it that you can also damage your health from
the effects of the chemicals left behind? Do you want this kind of danger
for your families?

Not only do we owe it to our families to fight the meth labs, but also to
our firemen and our law enforcement personnel that risk their health and
their lives every time they come in contact with a meth lab. Our family
knows what the effects of a meth lab can mean. My husband and I now know
what it is like to watch your child suffer and there is nothing you can do
to help. Our daughter-in-law knows what it is like to lay awake at night
listening to her husband's labored breathing, waiting to make sure the next
breath comes.

Again, I say it is time that we take a stand toward removing meth labs from
our counties. Write to your state legislators, Sen. Virginia Foxx and Rep.
Gene Wilson, and ask that they seek stronger laws in the legislature to
prevent the release of individuals who are selling or making meth.

I am happy to say that Darien's health is now, after 10 months, beginning
to improve. He is in therapy for his lungs, although the doctors say his
lungs will never return to full capacity, and his working ability is
limited when he is able to return to work. I am now beginning to see my son
return to a more normal life style. I would like to thank all who lifted
Darien up in their prayers and would ask that you continue to do so. Also
pray that our leaders will do what is right for our counties.

Mary South

Fleetwood