PHILADELPHIA -
The lasting cold is bad news for a Philadelphia woman and her newborn child.
The heat went out at their West Oak Lane apartment, and now their family has been living in the dangerously cold home for weeks, FOX 29's Shawnette Wilson reports.
"It feels like Alaska, like it's freezing," said Lakresha Jolly.
The mother is worried sick about her children, especially her 1-month-old son, Jabril. She brought him home from the hospital and says two days later the heat went out.
"Him, it's life-threatening," Jolly said.
That's because Jabril was born premature, weighing only 4 pounds.
His body must be kept to a certain temperature, and Jolly says it's dangerously cold in her West Oak Lane apartment.
"He can die," she said. "Like, I've had -- he's not even technically supposed to be here. He was born 32 weeks, so that's my main concern."
The heat has been out in the entire building since March 5 with no specific date from management as to when the problem will be fixed.
In the meantime, Jolly's 4-year-old son Jah-lil, her sister, and niece Ameera are also suffering.
"She wakes up, her nose is all red, her hands are freezing. That's not OK," Jolly said.
All they have to keep warm is this single space heater to provide heat for five people.
"I can't have my kids living like this," Jolly said.
We contacted the management office Monday morning. In the past hour, we learned from them that a third plumber came out Monday to give an estimate for repairs. They will choose a company Tuesday to handle the problem.
The management company also put a letter in residents' doors apologizing for the inconvenience moments before our report on Mondays FOX 29 News at 6.
