The story of Helen
Nearly 10 years ago, my daughter Melita (now 18) was finally diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EE) (and a bit later, also Fructose Malabsorption). Even though still rare, the rate at which EE and other Eosinophilic Gastric Disorders (EGIDs) is now being diagnosed is increasing alarmingly.
Too many white blood cells, eosinophils, are produced rapidly by the body in response to food. These cells trigger chronic inflammation, pain and tissue damage, attacking the oesophagus, stomach and intestines. Some patients follow a restricted diet; others stop eating all food and have to live on a special liquid diet. The social, emotional and psychological effects can be staggering.
Melita is one of an estimated 1 in 10,000 children in Australia with EoE.
Symptoms often experienced include nausea, poor appetite, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, reflux, stomach and chest pain, growth problems, food sticking in oesophagus, headaches and difficulty sleeping. This group of eosinophilic disorders often cause secondary conditions further complicating the management and predictability of the patient’s health, as in Melita’s case.
After a very long time of battling this illness, I decided to do something positive for Melita and others with chronic illnesses. We are now (trying to!) training to climb/trek 8 times over the next 16 months in an effort to raise much needed awareness and funds for research as well as give Melita self-belief and new direction. Her illness should not define who she is and hopefully by climbing mountains such as Mt Kilimanjaro she will define her illness!!
Feel free to follow our journey at http://bit.ly/8climbs4ausEE-facebook