A Holly family says what started as a simple look behind the siding of their manufactured home turned into a nightmare under their kids’ bedroom.
On March 30, Alexa and her family pulled back a section of exterior siding and said they found a festering, fungus-filled tree stump growing directly beneath their home, positioned under the room of a child who uses oxygen. The Sanfords say the smell hit immediately and that, after paying for private testing, they were told hyphal fragments were found in the child’s bedroom. They moved into Oak Hill Estates in 2023 and bought the house in 2024, and say the stump has remained in place for weeks while they wait for its removal.
As reported by ClickOnDetroit, the community’s maintenance team inspected the stump and told the family it could be tied to mold on the underside of the home. Management arranged testing of the stump, but the Sanfords say they were never shown those results and decided to pay for an independent inspection, which they say detected hyphal fragments in their child’s room. The family says the stump still has not been removed, with management telling them it will be taken out once the needed parts or equipment arrive.
Health concerns and what experts say
Public health guidance warns that when mold and mycelial fragments are disturbed, they can become airborne and aggravate breathing issues, especially for kids and people with lung problems. The CDC notes that both spores and hyphal fragments can be inhaled and that those with asthma or weakened immune systems face higher risks. The American Academy of Pediatrics has linked damp indoor environments to increased respiratory symptoms in children. For significant contamination, the EPA recommends fixing moisture problems, isolating affected areas, and using proper respiratory protection or professional cleanup services.
Park response and residents' frustration
"Once you open this, it's just the smell punches you in the face," Alexa Sanford told ClickOnDetroit. She says maintenance workers came out after she reported the problem, but that communication from the park’s corporate office has been limited, and the timeline for removal is vague. According to the Sanfords, they were told they could only see test results if they paid for sampling on their own, and the ongoing delay has them worried about the air circulating beneath their children’s bedroom.
Where this is and what neighbors should consider
The stump sits under a home in Oak Hill Estates, a manufactured home community at 16971 Sleepy Hollow Blvd in Holly, an address listed for the park by MHVillage. The EPA advises property managers and homeowners to stop moisture at the source, isolate contaminated areas, and use professional remediation for widespread mold or fungal growth. Residents who notice breathing issues are urged to contact a health care provider or their local health department for guidance.
The Sanfords say they want a clear and specific timetable for removal and for management to share test findings with residents. For now, families in Oak Hill Estates and nearby neighborhoods say they are watching closely for updates and paying extra attention to the air in rooms where children and medically vulnerable relatives sleep.
