For me this weeks episode was akin to looking back.
My youngest as a baby was small for dates, had been severe failure to thrive, was under BCH, tested for all kinds of disorders was not expected to live and eventually prescribed a very high calorie diet. I ended up having to syringe feed her and she stayed under the 0.4th. I did not go wierdy with food over that one.
Fast forward to a nasty nasty RTA with life changing injuries, immeadiate life saving surgery- without she would have died, the nastiest fracture would not heal then they found the bone tumours around it. First I knew about that was an urgent phone call from the Royal Ortho' on my answerphone asking me to call them back and arrange an urgent appointment with oncology. Lets just say good budgetting, meal planning all went to hell in a handcart. Yep I tought the very worst at that point.
Not from choice we ended up surving on a mix of take-aways and ready meals whilst I was buying absolutely anything that my daughter expressed a passing interest in eating in the hope she would just eat something. Actually ANYTHING; on a good day she was living on Cheesy whatsits and the occasional high fat strawberry yogurt. All I could see was the little weight she gained dropping off and even her fave nurses could not get her to try food. She was lucky her tumors turned out to be benign [fiberous dysplasia] but they do affect the strength and growth of her major bones. She will need further reconstrutive surgey on the leg with the largest tumors as she gets older. For her the mix of diamorphone or morphine, valium and assorted top up drugs to manage severe bone pain killed any fun in food. Add in travelling, organising hospital based home schooling, physio, OT and John Cobbley and all meant it took me way over 18 months to begin to get something passing life and soul back together let alone begin to think of some control of my kitchen and larders.
I can understand why this weeks family were still throwing food away. They have my heartfelt sympathy. I did the same with Elly when she was in and out of both BCH and ROH as I could not risk her already compromised health and immune system by any possiblity of off food. It was not until she was well on the mend after two years of nail biting oncology check ups I dared to start feeding her leaftovers or risk slightly damaged fresh food.
Thankfully their daughter Sofia is responding well to her ongoing treatment and I hope she is in remission and stays there so they can get back on track as a family.
Yes the BBC could have done a better job with this episode. The dietician could have explained the fun of jaded altered palattes thanks to drug regimes, why parents have to be more than careful with best before dates and higher risk food items and so on. I wish they had done far more in how to use your freezer as a friend with a sick child such as using it to freeze bite sized portions between hospital treatement sessions.
When Elly was in and out of hospital I was easily spending £250 per week [for six] Money did not matter at that point, I just used up savings we had for a car and al help offered by family and firends. If we had been on a low income or benefits we would have gone into serious debt. Now the dust has finally settled whilst I still need to ensure her diet is high calorie I am back down to £120 or less but it took more time to get there than I wish it had.