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Hello, my name is Ronen. My first cousin, Jamie, who is 7 years old, was diagnosed with PKU at birth and has had to maintain a strict diet in which she does not consume proteins. For a child, this is a very tough thing to live with. She cannot eat pizza or burgers or any meat, because these foods can lead to brain damage due its high protein content. While the disorder is not live-threatening if treated properly, the cost of suppressing it is extremly high because a special protein formula is needed to replace proteins found in food.
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In addition to food-choice, Jamie has also had other hardships. She must draw blood daily in order to check the protein levels in her bloodstream and she must visit doctors in order to check her progress. As Jamie will grow older, I fear that her diet might interfere with her social life because she might feel like she is different from all her peers.
Her parents her also affected by the disorder. They are both working parents, who must work overtime in order to pay for the protein formula and doctor fees. Addtionally, they are saddened by the fact that they cannot buy Jamie all the foods that she wishes to taste. |
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Through this website, I intend to educate the general public about PKU. Hopefully, public awareness will raise enough funds for continued research.
Questions? Comments?
You can e-mail me at rocavs11@yahoo.com |
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