It may have been the other Irene regarding the p trap pipes.
Regarding school buildings....I believe my immune system was at a low ebb my last year of teaching. It was that year that we came back to a building that had all types of unhealthy materials used for the building remodel. The odors were unbearable let alone the dust they left behind in the classroom which of course Teacher had to clean before the children arrived. So for me that is just one of life's happenings that probably was gradually setting me/my lungs up for what happened...BE., Bronchiectasis.
Yes one foot in front of the other and one good hour, hopefully, to another.
Yes is it so important, the need to think of the bigger picture.
Barbara