GUEST COLUMNIST: A MOTHER RESPONDS TO METH LAB GROWTH

Editor's Note: Mary South submitted the following guest column to the
personal effects of the ongoing proliferation of methamphetamine labs in
the High Country region.

Over the past several months there has been controversy over several issues
in Watauga County such as the scenic highway and the zoning issue and a lot
of you have spoken out due to your concern over these issues. But have you
looked at one of the biggest and most dangerous problems Watauga County
residents face? The meth labs.

These labs are now becoming rampant in the county and seem to be popping up
everywhere.

Do you know what it's like to see your son, that 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 firefighter 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
firefighters who were injured in a meth lab fire Jan. 26.

Darien, as any true firefighter will do, responded to the fire call, making
all necessary preparations and precautions, so he thought, to put out a
house fire, risking his own life to possibly save another life that could
be trapped in the dwelling.

Ironically, however, Darien was to become the victim, his health trapped by
the chemicals he would inhale by attempting to save someone else's life and
property. According to police reports, the owner of the dwelling had a meth
lab in his home and was, as the term goes, "cooking meth."

The firefighters were unaware of the meth lab until it was too late. Darien
was the first firefighter to be exposed to the chemical fumes that escaped
the house.

These fumes entered into 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.

Surgery of this nature is normally done on an outpatient basis with no stay
in the hospital. This 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 caused migraine headaches so severe that he could
hardly walk and light would have a detrimental effect. Yes, I've seen my
healthy son become a victim of the 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: Are we as citizens going to
do like the fable of the ostrich and bury our heads in the sand hoping 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 the meth labs?

We, as citizens, need to demand stronger charges be filed to prevent the
release of the individuals that 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 homes 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 affect the entire community, that it affects 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
that are 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 firefighters and our law enforcement agencies that risk their health
and their lives every time they come in contact with a meth lab.

Our family knows the effects of a meth lab.

My husband and I now know what it is like to watch your child suffer when
there is nothing you can do to help. Our daughter-in-law now 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 the existence
of the meth labs from our counties. Write to your state senators: Gene
Wilson and Virginia Foxx and ask 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, and although the doctors say
his lungs will never return to full capacity, and his working ability
limited when he is able to return to work, I am now beginning to see my son
return to a more normal lifestyle.

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 county.