On episode 201 of Resiliency Radio with Dr. Jill, nation trial lawyer and founder of Just Well Law, Kristina Baehr, joins Dr. Jill Carnahan to share her compelling journey from a career in patent litigation to becoming a passionate advocate for victims of toxic exposure. The interview provides a detailed look into her personal and professional life, highlighting the pivotal moments that led her to specialize in toxic torts law.
The two talk about the connection between mold exposure and severe health issues, including brain damage and how it is gaining recognition. However, the path to awareness and acceptance has been fraught with challenges. This conversations between Dr. Jill Carnahan and toxic torts attorney Kristina Baehr, explores their personal and professional experiences in advocating for the recognition of mold’s impact on health and the importance of validating patients' experiences with environmental toxicity.
To begin the conversation, Kristina shares her journey of how toxic torts law began with a personal tragedy. She recounted the harrowing experience of being poisoned by toxic mold in her own home. Initially, Kristina was a successful patent litigation lawyer, having worked on high-stakes federal cases and even served in various international humanitarian roles. However, in 2017, she started experiencing severe health issues, including migraines, rashes, and mental fog. Despite visiting numerous doctors, her condition only worsened.
During the COVID-19 quarantine in 2020, Kristina’s symptoms intensified, and her children also began showing signs of regression. Desperation led her to Dr. Bikard, who conducted extensive tests and identified mold toxins as the culprit. The revelation that her home was slowly poisoning her family was both devastating and transformative. This personal crisis ignited her passion to help others facing similar challenges.
Transitioning to Toxic Torts Law
Armed with her legal expertise and personal experience, attorney Kristina Baehr decided to shift her career focus. She realized there was a significant gap in the legal field for representing victims of toxic exposure. Many personal injury lawyers were unwilling or unable to take on such complex cases. Kristina’s determination to seek justice for her family and others led her to establish Just Well Law, a firm based in Austin, Texas, dedicated to helping victims of environmental and toxic exposures.
A few highlights from the conversation:
Initial Skepticism and Awareness:
Three years ago, Kristina faced significant hurdles in raising awareness about the connection between mold and brain health. The editor of a publication was initially reluctant to include this information, only agreeing after Kristina provided peer-reviewed literature and connected her to Dr. Jamie Lonstein. Despite this, many still relied on the CDC website, which primarily linked mold to asthma, downplaying its more severe effects. This skepticism underscores the broader issue of underestimating mold’s impact beyond respiratory problems.
Mold’s Severe Health Impacts:
Dr. Jill's emphasizes that while mold is often dismissed as an allergen causing asthma and allergies, it triggers severe immune responses similar to those seen in COVID-19. These responses can lead to brain, kidney, and neurological damage, manifesting in conditions like ALS, MS, autoimmune diseases, and even cancer. This is well-documented in scientific literature, challenging the misconception that mold's effects are limited to minor allergic reactions.
PTSD and Mold Exposure:
One of the critical points discussed is the profound impact of mold on mental health. Kristina and Dr. Jill explain that toxic mold exposure can lead to PTSD due to both the trauma of the experience and the chemical effects on the brain. The limbic system, responsible for the fight-or-flight response, is directly affected by inhaled mold toxins, creating a persistent state of fear and anxiety. This chemical trauma response means that even those who feel emotionally stable cannot control the physiological threat response triggered by mold exposure.
Challenges in Legal and Medical Fields:
Kristina shares her personal experiences of being gaslit and diagnosed with a somatic disorder during legal battles. Despite having neuropsychological tests validating her symptoms, she faced dismissive attitudes attributing her condition to psychological causes. This mirrors the experiences of many of her clients in toxic exposure cases. A prominent example is the jet fuel water contamination in Hawaii, where the government and legal entities downplayed the severity of exposure, attributing symptoms to psychosomatic responses instead of acknowledging the real toxic effects.
Hawaii Red Hill Jet Fuel Water Contamination Case:
In Hawaii, the Navy contaminated the water supply with jet fuel, leading to severe health issues for residents. Despite clear evidence of contamination and thousands of documented medical encounters, the government initially denied the problem, attributing symptoms to psychosomatic causes. This case highlights the recurring theme of institutions downplaying environmental toxins' impact and shifting the blame onto the victims' mental health.
Validation and Advocacy of Toxic Exposure:
Dr. Jill supports Kristina's stance, noting that many patients with mold exposure face similar dismissive attitudes from medical professionals. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing the chemical and physiological trauma caused by environmental toxins. Both advocate for increased awareness, proper legal and medical validation, and support for individuals affected by environmental toxicity. They stress that the trauma response does not negate the real toxic exposure response, highlighting the need for comprehensive care and acknowledgment.
Call to Action for Legal Professionals:
Austin personal injury attorney, Kristina Baehr, calls for more lawyers to take on toxic exposure cases and offers her assistance to those interested. She believes that only through winning these cases can contractors, landlords, and the government be held accountable, leading to meaningful changes in behavior and policy. She is willing to share her resources, including draft petitions and discovery documents, with any lawyer interested in pursuing these cases, emphasizing that there is no competition in this field—only a shared mission to seek justice for the affected individuals.
Importance of Leaving Toxic Environments:
Both Dr. Jill and Kristina stress the critical importance of leaving toxic environments to recover health. They share heartbreaking stories of clients and patients who suffered severe health consequences, including death, because they remained in toxic environments. Dr. Jill frequently advises her patients that recovery is impossible until they leave the contaminated area, underscoring the urgency and necessity of this step despite the emotional and financial challenges it may entail.
The conversation between Dr. Jill Carnahan and attorney Kristina Baehr underscores the critical need for continued advocacy, support, and validation for individuals affected by environmental toxins. They emphasize the severe health impacts of mold, the importance of recognizing the chemical trauma it causes, and the challenges faced in legal and medical fields. By raising awareness and encouraging more legal professionals to take on these cases, they hope to bring about significant changes in how environmental toxicity is addressed and ensure that affected individuals receive the validation and support they deserve.
For more information and support, individuals can reach out to Kristina’s law firm, Just Well Law via Instagram (@justwelllaw) or visit their website (well.law). Dr. Jill Carnahan also offers extensive resources for those dealing with toxic mold exposure, highlighting the importance of community and professional support in overcoming these challenges.
Resources:
Kristina Baehr's Instagram: @justwelllaw
Kristina’s Baehr's Website: well.law
Dr. Jill Carnahan’s Resources: Dr. Jill Carnahan's Website
By continuing to speak truth and support affected individuals, we can work towards a future where environmental toxins are recognized for their true impact, and those affected receive the justice and care they need.
Listen to podcast episode 201 of Resiliency Radio on Spotify or on Apple Podcasts.
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