In January we told you about the sudden death of 7 year old Mazia Garcia. The death certificate said she died from a massive asthma attack but her family claims it was triggered by exhaust fumes from the buses which park with their engines running near the family’s home on Woods Street in Belize City.

Its four months later and tonight there is no happy ending to report, and no easy resolution is at hand. In fact, it’s gotten worse. The family says more buses are parking near their home and more family members are becoming sick. Keith Swift has the update.

Addy Garcia, Claim Bus Fumes Made Her Sick
“I would want them to please stop the bus thing because it is affecting me more and more.”

10 year old Addy Garcia was in tears this morning as she pleaded for buses to stop parking in front of her home on Woods Street. Addy’s little sister Mazia died four months ago from asthma, her father Ignatius is in Los Angeles receiving treatment for lung cancer, and today Addy – didn’t go to school because she says she’s now sick.

Addy Garcia,
“Last night I didn’t feel so good because my chest was paining me and my mom had to put me on the machine because I couldn’t catch my breath so good and it is like something is clogging me up and I know it is the smoke.”

Keith Swift,
How are you feeling right now?

Addy Garcia,
“The same way like last night. The same way like I last night, I can’t breathe real good.”

The family says the buses continue to park - with their engines running – in front of – or near their home. They are convinced that it is what is making them sick.

Adilia Garcia, Mother
“I didn’t send her to school today because she has the asthma. Last night I had to put her on the machine for the same reason with the smoke.

I want help. I want somebody to hear or help me about the smoke. You don’t know how I feel sometime when I see them lot of buses stopping there with their engines running. Sometimes I say that is why people get into trouble because nobody can help me. Nobody has helped me.”

91 year old Mazy Garcia lives on the upper flat of the Garcia house. It was her grand daughter that died and her son who is now gravely ill. From her bedroom you get a bird’s eye view of what she claims is making them sick.

Mazy Garcia, Affected by Fumes
“In the morning you wake up and your eyes are – look at it now. I go to the doctor and they tell me it is the allergy. But allergy for the entire year? Some days more than ever in here is smoky smoky from you wake up in the morning.”

Gastroenterologist Dr. Irvin Gabourel did a bronchoscopy on Ignatius Garcia and diagnosed him as suffering from both cancer and tuberculosis. He says the fumes from the buses and the gas station may be an aggravating factor but there were pre-existing medical conditions.

Dr. Irvin Gabourel, Gastroenterologist
“Fumes are an aggravating factor. So let’s say if you are an asthmatic and you’re being exposed to smoke on a constant basis, that asthma will just get worse. Mr. Garcia was exposed to that for several years, I was made to understand, and in his mind he is blaming the fact of the chronic exposure to the fumes as the sole cause of his problem. I think there is some truth to that but I think also that he had an underlying disease that was made worst by the exposure to the fumes.”

Keith Swift,
What does one daughter dying from asthma and another daughter now sick with asthma tell you?

Dr. Irvin Gabourel,
“It proves the point that obviously the exposure to the smoke is what is aggravating the problem. Unfortunately now this other daughter you’re saying also has asthma. So they either have to relocate or zoning has to be strictly enforced.”

But the Garcia family says relocating is not an option.

Adilia Garcia,
“I can’t move from here because this is our house. That is what those people are saying, if we are affected – why don’t we move. Why would we move? We live here. My husband was born here.”

They were born here and they say, because of these busses they are now dying here – and with nowhere left to turn, this family now has some tough choices to make.

Ignatius Garcia is being treated at a hospital in Los Angeles by a Belizean born cancer specialist and his prognosis is good. Dr. Irvin Gabourel facilitated Garcia’s travel to LA with assistance from American Airlines and the Belize Cancer Society. National Transport has maintained that when they do park near the pound yard bridge for extended periods – their engines are turned off. We should note that reports are that the Ministry of Health is looking into the matter and investigating the possibility that there might be something else making the Garcia family sick.