The story of Tia McCarthy, a seven-year-old girl with a rare disorder in which her oesophagus and stomach are unconnected. Despite corrective surgery, she has never eaten a morsel

Now far be it from me to be controversial, but as I watched this programme from my Sky+ box I came upon the following conclussion.

Its her MUMS fault that she still wont eat

So, why have I come to this conclussion.

Her mum mothers her to death, anyone watching this program will have seen the doctors at the austrian clinic they went to battling to try and stop the mum molly coddling the kid all the time, and also the final nail in the coffin for me- was the mums reluctance to finally pull out the tube thats been feeding Tia for the past seven years.. the doctors believed this would induce Tia to start eating, the mum still wouldnt have it.

So- the mum is at fault.
Through intense mollycoddling and also for the fact that I dont think she has done a proper job in bringing Tia up properly.

For starters- Tia didnt start walking properly until the age of 5.
She still wears nappies also but I guess this could be the result of liquid only food injected into her.

Another bold statement I'd like to make as well- and this is not a slur on single parents at all please understand but I found another reason that might be the case.

Being a single mum with 2 kids to look after- one has a problem, maybe the mum is getting a lot of benefits ie: disability for Tia, so she might not want her to be sorted properly, thats another thing that came to mind watching this program.

All in all - Tia is still not sorted, the tube is still inside her although smaller this time, Tia is still not eating solids albeit licking food- which is not a step forward for me.

What do other people think on this subject please?

I'm not sure you're still on line as you posted this thread ages ago. I just want to say how shocked i am by your ignorance. I have a child who is fed by tube. there are many people who do... due to heart defects etc etc. When a child is fed by tube they lose the sucking reflex, they can lose the whole ability and co-ordination of eating. it's a long battle. The fact that she didn't walk until she was 5 could have something to do with her history in hospital, causing developmental delay. I'm sure her mother has done everything she can, hence her going to austria. These issues are more complex than you realise, but i wouldn't expect an ignoramus like yourself to know that. You're probably one of those people on the street who STARES at a child who's just that little bit different. Contrary to your belief that 'licking food' is not a step forward, i'll have you know it's a MASSIVE step forward. Many children who are tube fed develop food aversions. why? they don't know what food is for, they don't know that it's meant to make them feel full or satisfy their hunger. if all they've ever known is the tube, why change? it's like someone turning around to you now and say 'right, you must insert this tube and eat through it'. would you like that? i don't think so. Tia's mother has fed her like that her whole life, of course she is going to be nervous and scared to suddenly stop. Wouldn't you? nope, you're probably super-mom. Actually i doubt you're a mother, no mother would make such a ridiculous statement, i'd like to hope anyway! I hope you never find yourself in tia's mom's situation.

Aw well said NixPixNix, I don't think you can ever put yourself in somebody else's shoes unless you've been in them before.

I hope your child is ok now...

hiya, well we're going to austria ourselves! in 2 weeks in fact. very exciting. my child is doing good though, thanks for asking. just thought i would put old ignoramus straight. if i was tia's mother, and i read that... well... I'd feel a tad upset.

hiya, well we're going to austria ourselves! in 2 weeks in fact. very exciting. my child is doing good though, thanks for asking. just thought i would put old ignoramus straight. if i was tia's mother, and i read that... well... I'd feel a tad upset.

Dont get wound up about angela, he tends to talk out of his arsehole.

Angelus being ignorant to other peoples feelings, I never thought I'd see the day that happened :hihi:

Seriously though nixpixnix, good luck with everything. Hope it all works out.

ooh i'm wound up alright. we have to deal with enough cr*p without having to deal with the likes of him. nevermind. I'm not going to be on here for long, i just joined so i could 'talk' to angela or whatever his name is.

Well well well, the mind boggles...actually with statements like the one you made insinuating that the mother is clinging on to "benefits" - do you know the meaning of the word? Did you consider how "beneficial" it might be for that mother to not have to lug around a 5 year old who can't walk? Did you consider how "beneficial" it might be for that mother not to have to sterilize feeding paraphernalia all day long until her hands were covered in eczema and to have the "benefits" of popping a few mouthfuls of food into her hungry child's mouth?
How can someone like you be allowed to breed? I am sickened and appauled by your armchair diagnosis - on what grounds are you making these statements? I am a mother of 2 beautiful and thankfully healthy little girls. I thank god for them every day, and then I come across attitudes like yours and I truely dispair about the world into which they have been born...



Now far be it from me to be controversial, but as I watched this programme from my Sky+ box I came upon the following conclussion.

Its her MUMS fault that she still wont eat

So, why have I come to this conclussion.

Her mum mothers her to death, anyone watching this program will have seen the doctors at the austrian clinic they went to battling to try and stop the mum molly coddling the kid all the time, and also the final nail in the coffin for me- was the mums reluctance to finally pull out the tube thats been feeding Tia for the past seven years.. the doctors believed this would induce Tia to start eating, the mum still wouldnt have it.

So- the mum is at fault.
Through intense mollycoddling and also for the fact that I dont think she has done a proper job in bringing Tia up properly.

For starters- Tia didnt start walking properly until the age of 5.
She still wears nappies also but I guess this could be the result of liquid only food injected into her.

Another bold statement I'd like to make as well- and this is not a slur on single parents at all please understand but I found another reason that might be the case.

Being a single mum with 2 kids to look after- one has a problem, maybe the mum is getting a lot of benefits ie: disability for Tia, so she might not want her to be sorted properly, thats another thing that came to mind watching this program.

All in all - Tia is still not sorted, the tube is still inside her although smaller this time, Tia is still not eating solids albeit licking food- which is not a step forward for me.

What do other people think on this subject please?

totally off topic but the thread title reminded me....i work in broomhill and i keep seeing this girl who must have just started uni. she walks up and down to the uni everyday and she is just so thin. i have never seen anyone so thin in all my life and she wears really baggy clothes obviously trying to cover herself up. i feel really sorry for her as she is always on her own and she just looks so ill. i mentioned it to a colleague as she walked past and he was also shocked. i really hope this girl has some friends or something.

totally off topic but the thread title reminded me....i work in broomhill and i keep seeing this girl who must have just started uni. she walks up and down to the uni everyday and she is just so thin. i have never seen anyone so thin in all my life and she wears really baggy clothes obviously trying to cover herself up. i feel really sorry for her as she is always on her own and she just looks so ill. i mentioned it to a colleague as she walked past and he was also shocked. i really hope this girl has some friends or something.

Maybe she's a supermodel?

totally off topic but the thread title reminded me....i work in broomhill and i keep seeing this girl who must have just started uni. she walks up and down to the uni everyday and she is just so thin. i have never seen anyone so thin in all my life and she wears really baggy clothes obviously trying to cover herself up. i feel really sorry for her as she is always on her own and she just looks so ill. i mentioned it to a colleague as she walked past and he was also shocked. i really hope this girl has some friends or something.
And perhaps it hasn't occurred to you that her clothes once fitted, and it's an illness that's caused her weight loss? :mad:

And perhaps it hasn't occurred to you that her clothes once fitted, and it's an illness that's caused her weight loss? :mad:
I don't see why you are mad at her Strix? DaisyBoo was showing concern for the girl hoping she was alright and had friends to look after her, why does it matter if she considered that she was ill? Or have I missed the point entirely?

Because the comments she's made about her 'trying to hide it' are only going to open the usual jar of worms :mad:

I couldn't help but attribute some blame to the mother as well. I wouldn't suggest anything about benefits, that seems uncalled for.
But in 7 years she never thought to make the child hungry to induce her to eat.
Of course she doesn't eat, she knows she doesn't have too.

I think that if she'd have been at the clinic without her mother, she'd have left there eating like every other child does.

Because the comments she's made about her 'trying to hide it' are only going to open the usual jar of worms :mad:
Ok, thanks for pointing out why, I thought I was missing something.

Cheers Gaz ;)

Cyclone - the problem with allowing yourself to be the lifesource for another being, is that the relationship becomes mutually dependent and therefore destructive.

This woman has problems of her own. If her daughter suddenly no longer 'needs' her, her whole world will fall apart.

Perhaps the medical team need to address these two people as the one entity they have become?

And perhaps it hasn't occurred to you that her clothes once fitted, and it's an illness that's caused her weight loss? :mad:
well yeah obviously or an eating disorder of somesort. its just she wears the biggest coat, scraf etc. wrapped up to the eyeballs when its not even that cold. she looks like she has an eating disorder to me. anyway no need to go off on one mate i was only concerned. :loopy:

If you have no muscle tissue, you don't generate heat, and people talking about you when you're walking past really makes you feel fantastic about yourself too :rant:

Perhaps if you chose less derisory terms I wouldn't feel the need to defend her against your comments?

For your information, eating disorders are NOT the only illnesses that cause weight loss, and the whole experience is VERY distresing for the individual concerned :mad:

my god calm down will you this is not a personal insult against you so stop acting like it is. i was concered for her not gossiping about her!!!
and for your information i know eating disorders and NOT the only illness that cause weight loss, im not stupid. please dont talk as if i am a child its very patronising.
in future i will not be concered about people who appear ill and alone.

So long as you don't talk about them, as you did at Uni and on here :rolleyes:

what are you on about, im not even at uni!

OK ladies, do you want to either drop this or take it to PM or chat....

this one's for Cyclone. Being a mother of a tube fed infant myself, the advice you get given here TOTALLY contradicts the advice you're given in Austria. I have been advised not to take his tube out to induce hunger. They said because he developed a food aversion, he would rather starve than eat. In this country you are pretty much left to get on with things. you have your therapy where they will give advice about food play etc etc, but that's it. some people are successful at getting their kids off feeding tubes, but some aren't. I'm one of those. 7 years is a long time for someone to be tube fed, but there can be deep issues there. Eating is the one thing we all have control over. If a child has had a traumatic start to life (as most kids who are tube fed have done...), then the only way they can take back some control and 'protect' themselves is by closing their mouth and refusing food. Don't underestimate children. it can be a situation of 2 steps forward, 5 steps back. my son went through a period of 'eating' bits. but then gagged and has rejected since. He's so out of practise that it takes nothing for him to lose his confidence all over again. It's easy to say she could have induced hunger more... but when it's your child it's easier said than done. It's also a bit hard going against everything you're told by the specialists. I've been arguing that point for as long as i can remember. They didn't even want me to drop ONE tube feed until my son was eating a small yogurt. That's why i'm going to austria, they aren't so obsessed with weight and calories there, they know what they're doing. I'm also not strong enough to 'starve' my child to the point where they will eat. I need to know he's being medically supervised and i need that added support. I really feel for tia's mother, and until you've experienced the same or know someone who has i wouldn't comment. Tia will progress and i'm sure she will eat now that she's shown interest, perhaps not as quickly as others have done though.

nixpixnix im trying to get my son there my self could you tell me how you got in touch and you child to get a place there thanks x

caroline, am in touch with you. so have removed this post.

removed cause i got you

hiya, well we're going to austria ourselves! in 2 weeks in fact. very exciting. my child is doing good though, thanks for asking. just thought i would put old ignoramus straight. if i was tia's mother, and i read that... well... I'd feel a tad upset.

Hi nixpixnix,

I have been unable to swallow for over 2 years now. I missed the documentary and I am definitely going to get in touch with the professor.


Thank you very much for the information.

Roshay

Roshay, i hope she can help you. However, it will depend on why you are unable to swallow.

Roshay, i hope she can help you. However, it will depend on why you are unable to swallow.

Yeah I hope she can help too. The reason I can't swallow is because I caught a rare virus call Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADE) which is a neurological disorder that caused damage to my central nervous system. As a result, I had no movement in my legs but I can walk just fine now, its just my swallowing that hasn't come back. The doctors have said that the there is no coordination of my swallow. The doctors seem to believe that my muscles are working but my swallow is not initiating. I've tried several treatments so I'm beginning to believe that it is not a physical problem but a psychological one (I suggested this a year ago but the doctors said its not a psychological problem). They don't really know what to do next so I've been trying to find my own answers.

Roshay

I think she may just deal with children, but i'm not sure. Have you contacted her?

I have emailed her, but she is not available until after the 29th October.
I thought the same, I wondered if she only deals with children, but I‘m hoping she’ll be able to offer me some advice.

OK Roshay. good luck with it all. I'm sure if she can't help you she may know someone who can.

Hi, saw the programme on The Girl who Never Ate, my friend has a baby with similar condition, but didnt see the programme. Could you possibly contact me with details on the Austian Hospital and contact details. This would be much appreciated. Cheers

Hi Rozzy, yes i have the details. i can call her if you like to have a chat with her. We went to austria and have been back a month now. My son is now eating and drinking and is tube free.

I'll pm you my email address.

Hi, many thanks for getting back to me. I have given her your email address and she will contact you.
I really appreciate this and Im sure does too
thanks:)

it's a pleasure. very happy to help.

Can anyone supply contact details for the hospital / consultant in Austria where Tia attended (the girl who never ate). I have a daughter with a similar condition and would really like to get in touch with them.

hallo, yes, if you go onto my son's blog. www.lucapoerio.blogspot.com you will see a link on the right 'tube weaning programme in Austria'. if you want to chat to me about it you can go into luca's profile and send me an email. I took my son there and he's now eating.

Hi i have only just watched this programme last night. my daughter is also tube fed and this is just normal way of life for her and try as we do every day to tempt her to eat, she still only very rarely will take a nibble of something. its surprising just how many children there are that are tube fed and reading these sites makes you not feel as much alone.

Hi Rozzy, yes i have the details. i can call her if you like to have a chat with her. We went to austria and have been back a month now. My son is now eating and drinking and is tube free.

That's really good news, nixpixnix, you must be elated. Well done to your son, too, from what I've been reading on here, it can't have been easy for him :thumbsup:

Hi immidees mum, luca was in austria last october, he's eating and drinking. he was ng fed since birth until we went (15 months). He totally refused all food, mouth closed, very orally defensive... he now eats big breakfast, snacks, all fruit, all veg and all types of meat!!! he eats EVERYTHING! If you want to contact me please go to luca's blog. www.lucapoerio.blogspot.com, go into his profile and email me that way. I have spoken to many mom's about austria, every single one has come back with a feeding child! x

I am watching this programme now on Sky 3 and I am terribly upset as its very close to heart, my little brother who is 5 in May has the same problem as Tia, he doesnt eat. It all started when my mum died when he was just 6 months old. So since he was a baby, he has never eaten. He is fed through a gastronomy tube and it brings protein milk to his stomach. So my question to the person who is going to Austria in 2 weeks, where can I find more info about the clinic in Austria. I have been on the net searching but I have found nothing. How much is the treatment and does the NHS fund it? I am a university student, I have been worried about my little brother for as so long now and now I feel there is actually help out there for him.

James's sis. I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. Really can't be easy for you. I'm nikki, i took luca (my son) to austria in october 06. if you go to luca's blog www.lucapoerio.blogspot.com and go into his profile, you can email me directly. There is also a link on the right to the 'tube weaning programme in Austria', which gives you all the details. re funding costs etc, email me and i'll tell you everything. James is very lucky to have a sister like you. Nikki

Now far be it from me to be controversial, but as I watched this programme from my Sky+ box I came upon the following conclussion.

Its her MUMS fault that she still wont eat

So, why have I come to this conclussion.

Her mum mothers her to death, anyone watching this program will have seen the doctors at the austrian clinic they went to battling to try and stop the mum molly coddling the kid all the time, and also the final nail in the coffin for me- was the mums reluctance to finally pull out the tube thats been feeding Tia for the past seven years.. the doctors believed this would induce Tia to start eating, the mum still wouldnt have it.

So- the mum is at fault.
Through intense mollycoddling and also for the fact that I dont think she has done a proper job in bringing Tia up properly.

For starters- Tia didnt start walking properly until the age of 5.
She still wears nappies also but I guess this could be the result of liquid only food injected into her.

Another bold statement I'd like to make as well- and this is not a slur on single parents at all please understand but I found another reason that might be the case.

Being a single mum with 2 kids to look after- one has a problem, maybe the mum is getting a lot of benefits ie: disability for Tia, so she might not want her to be sorted properly, thats another thing that came to mind watching this program.

All in all - Tia is still not sorted, the tube is still inside her although smaller this time, Tia is still not eating solids albeit licking food- which is not a step forward for me.

What do other people think on this subject please?
I am Tias mother and was gob smacked at your stupidity.

Firstly, Great Ormond Street, Tias special needs school and numerous other professionals have not succeeded in getting Tia to eat, Austria also did not succeed in getting Tia to eat.

Secondly, taking her tube out was not an option in my mind, as after having been starved for 3 weeks Tia was showing no signs of hunger.

Thirdly, and most importantly, if I mollycoddle my daughter then bloody good job. She has been through more operations in her short life than you have brain cells. She has a developmental delay which is why she did not walk until 5 and her nappy situation is also due to her medical condition. She also has a learning disability.

I would give up all my benefits and more to have my child be able to read, write, go to the toilet and most importanly eat!

You really do not have a clue and have no right to make judgements on something you clearly know nothing about.

My daughter might have problems and I might not be perfect, but it beats being down right STUPID AND IGNORANT!!

Hallo Tia's mum. I'm Nikki, Luca's mom. I agree totally with what you're saying here and i felt the same way.

I'm sorry Tia's still not eating. if you want to chat to someone please feel free to contact me via luca's blog. Although Luca was only tube fed for 15 months... I could perhaps offer an ear.

Ignore the useless person who commented. TOTALLY ignorant and mindnumbingly thick. makes my blood boil too if it's any consolation.

Thanks for that. Not really sure what to do now with Tia. Nothing seems to work, and although Austria was fantastic it did not 100% succeed, I would like to take her back but her medical team are not keen due to the fact that she still not regained the weight she lost out there.

My thoughts are leaning towards America, but I don't know where to begin searching.

have you heard of a place called New vision in the US?

tell you what. If you go to luca's blog.. www.lucapoerio.blogspot.com and email me via his profile... i can call you soon and we'll have a chat.

will e mail you tomorrow. thanks

http://www.new-vis.com/ws/p-tubejourney.htm
found it!

Thanks. Have just looked, it is for me to go without Tia and learn about feeding. Do you reslly think something like that would work? Do you know about any clinics in Amercia that might treat Tia?

hi. i'm finding out for you. think i have a contact.

Having watched the documentary, it did appear that the medical staff in austria were doing their best despite being hindered by an over protective mum.
I wasn't surprised that they failed in the end, maybe with a bit less protectiveness they would have succeeded?

Cyclone, every mother is protective of their child. like we've all said before, please don't comment until you've been in the situation. it just makes you look stupid and ignorant.

Cyclone, every mother is protective of their child. like we've all said before, please don't comment until you've been in the situation. it just makes you look stupid and ignorant.

Don't be daft, we all comment on lots of things that we've never experienced and probably never will.
It may be that i'm wrong, but i'm still entitled to an opinion and the whole point of the forum is to share and discuss those opinions.

nope that's where you're wrong. I will comment only if i have experienced what the other goes through, how can you make a comment with conviction if you know nothing about the subject you're commenting on? Someone who comments on something they know nothing about is either arrogant and or .... can think of lots of things to say but prob won't be appropriate for this forum.

I can comment on anything which i'm capable of forming an opinion of.
And since there was a documentary on the case in question it provided plenty of opinion forming material.
My opinion may be of less weight in your view than others, that's up to you. My opinion is also obviously only based on the relatively small amount of information I have.
If you choose to limit yourself to commenting on only things you have personally experienced then you must be... I don't know, boring, or maybe very busy. Do you think that only people who've been murdered can have an opinion on murder? Or that only people who've been abused as a child can have opinions on paedophilia? Maybe only soldiers should have an opinion on the Iraqi occupation, and political opinions should be restricted to politicians.

What a strange world it would be if that were the case.

nope that's where you're wrong. I will comment only if i have experienced what the other goes through, how can you make a comment with conviction if you know nothing about the subject you're commenting on? Someone who comments on something they know nothing about is either arrogant and or .... can think of lots of things to say but prob won't be appropriate for this forum.

Actually it appears that you have an opinion on commenting on something you haven't experienced, but you've formed that opinion without ever making comments yourself, I think you just circular argumented yourself into a singularity and disappeared.

people commenting on paedophilia, the iraqi war etc is all well and good. Let's not compare the situations. Having an opinion on world events, catastophes, society is all pretty normal stuff... gosh, newspapers do it every day. What i'm talking about is something a little more personal. Funny i have to spell it out for you. Tube feeding is something which you (touch wood) would never understand. Calling a mother over-protective is a typically testosterone induced comment to make. Your argument is not sticking with me. Yes, you are entitled to your opinions, and i'm entitled to my opinion, in telling you that your comment is worthless = it means zilch.

ps. don't like the way you coach at your jitsu club.

thank you very much. also thank you for defending me with these mindless idiots. look forwarding to hearing from you

I've sent the girl who looked into the clinics a private message (on another forum), she lives in the US so hopefully she picks it up soon.

please email me if you can... have something else to discuss with you but would rather not do it on here.

people commenting on paedophilia, the iraqi war etc is all well and good. Let's not compare the situations. Having an opinion on world events, catastophes, society is all pretty normal stuff... gosh, newspapers do it every day. What i'm talking about is something a little more personal. Funny i have to spell it out for you. Tube feeding is something which you (touch wood) would never understand. Calling a mother over-protective is a typically testosterone induced comment to make. Your argument is not sticking with me. Yes, you are entitled to your opinions, and i'm entitled to my opinion, in telling you that your comment is worthless = it means zilch.

ps. don't like the way you coach at your jitsu club.

There is no difference, all those things are very personal to some people.
If you don't like my opinion then that's fine, I can assure you that it's got very little to do with hormones though.
You can tell me that my opinion is worth nothing, equally I can consider the same of yours.

As to the way I coach, I doubt you've actually seen it, and even if you have then you're welcome to not train if you don't like it.

Actually, i'll prove i'm a bigger person than you.
Tell me what it is you don't like about my coaching (by pm please) and i'll take the critisism on board, can't say fairer than that.
PS - was it me, or my co instructor that you watched (or were taught by) and was it recently as they were pre grading sessions for the people who'd been training all month?

good. all said and done.

If any parents of tube fed children are looking to take their children to Austria (this forum is receiving a lot of hits from such parents), please don't think that being what some people may call 'over-protective' of your child will have an impact on them eating. As parents of tube fed children we all know that is rubbish and we all know what it entails. Every child is different and the reasons they're not eating are different too. so please do look at luca's blog and get in touch with me if you are wanting to go to Austria.

Thank you.

Cyclone you make me laugh.

AS IF i've seen you coaching. i was just making a point. it was my opinion but i've never been coached by you so am not in a position to say.

'read between the lines' - didn't mean to get personal

If you saw a documentary on my coaching though you'd have enough information to form an opinion. Or if you watched it you would. I wouldn't argue that you can't have an opinion on coaching until you are a coach, because that's just nonsense. It is apparently what you are arguing though.

It's like parents who argue that you can't have an opinion on bringing up children until you've got your own.

Did you disagree with the way the documentary was made, did it not paint a fair picture, or did you just expect me to turn my brain off whilst I watched it?

if you dont mind i'm going to end this banter. it's getting a tad boring and predictable. bye for now.

I can see a certain predictability in the lack of clear answers for sure...

moving swiftly on...

1 point for nearly getting the last word :p

Since you're back though, maybe you could answer the questions I asked?

you're clearly bored and don't have much to do with your time.

if i watched a documentary about you, your club and your coaching... now that's a big IF because such a documentary wouldn't interest me. But if i did... i wouldn't comment on your 'coaching' methods, because a. i'm not a coach, b. i know nothing about jitsu, just as a. you're not a mother and b. you know nothing about tube feeding.

There, answered your question. Now this conversation can go round and round in circles and i fear i may get dizzy, so i'm jumping off.

Hello, my daughter Candiece is six years old and has never eaten a thing she is on a tube and i desparately need help any one who can offer me help please contact me on
hollyturner123@hotmail.co.uk or phone 01202 398158

nixpixnix, couldn't find your e mail address on your blog, probably not looking in right place. help!

go to luca's profile. there should be a link saying 'email me'.

I read with shock the comments made by whoever posted original post. I stumbled upon this as I was searching the web in an attempt to find out how Tia was doing. Having seen the original showing and whilst flicking channels saw it was repeated and wondered how she was doing.

I was so angered by the first persons comments, they must have been watching a different programme to the one I saw, you draw attention to Mia's special needs it would seem that the orignal post was by someone with far more profound needs than Tia. Having read your posts I understand that there are still problems with Tia's eating, I am interested to know how much she swallows/ bites etc.

I should explain that I am interested as I work in a special school with responsibility for removing barriers to achievement and autsim, several of the children I work with refuse to eat in varrying degrees. I therefore appreciate yours and Tia's situation. I have tried many strategies in encouraging eating and failed often, but succeeded occasionally and in tiny steps. I would like to encourage you on your's and Tia's journey and will post any information I find of particular use on this site if you would appreciate this. Would love to remain posted.
Bea

I read with shock the comments made by whoever posted original post. I stumbled upon this as I was searching the web in an attempt to find out how Tia was doing. Having seen the original showing and whilst flicking channels saw it was repeated and wondered how she was doing.

I was so angered by the first persons comments, they must have been watching a different programme to the one I saw, you draw attention to Mia's special needs it would seem that the orignal post was by someone with far more profound needs than Tia. Having read your posts I understand that there are still problems with Tia's eating, I am interested to know how much she swallows/ bites etc.

I should explain that I am interested as I work in a special school with responsibility for removing barriers to achievement and autsim, several of the children I work with refuse to eat in varrying degrees. I therefore appreciate yours and Tia's situation. I have tried many strategies in encouraging eating and failed often, but succeeded occasionally and in tiny steps. I would like to encourage you on your's and Tia's journey and will post any information I find of particular use on this site if you would appreciate this. Would love to remain posted.
Bea

I really need help, my daughter Candiece has never eaten and she is 6, if any one can help please contact me at hollyturner123@hotmail.co.uk

hi, i've tried emailing you and it got returned. alternative address?

Hi, i dont have another email address but are you sure you typed it in correctly hollyturner123@hotmail.co.uk, thanks, holly

As to the way I coach, I doubt you've actually seen it, and even if you have then you're welcome to not train if you don't like it.


I think your a good coach. :thumbsup:

hi Holly, have emailed you my number. hopefully you get it

beafairy. Tia only licks things and does not drink at all. She licks cream cheese and cream at the moment and just sticks to those things mostly. her special needs school do picnics etc with her everyday and hopefully she will slowly make progress.

Hi sue, watched the documentry about Tia and i noticed you get the daily echo so that must mean you live in Dorset if you can maybe we could meet up and have a chat, email me, Thanks Holly

yes i live in dorset. Would love to meet up, am away for a week from today.

I watched the Sky Three show about your little girl Tia last year and again when it was repeated a few weeks ago. I came online to search for news about her progress and to offer my support to you and to your family.

You came across as an extremely devoted and loving mother and Tia as a charming little girl, whose story moved me greatly....So I would like to wish you all the best of luck in your search for a solution and hope that you see progress and results soon.

Wishing you both all the best :)

Paul

Paul that's really nice! Tia's mum is away for a week but am glad she'll come back to find a nice, positive post for once.

Glad to have found this thread to allow me to offer my words of support.

The professor is coming to London this year, i'm organising a parents day on the 8th November.

rozzy
ewenjb
immideesmum
james' sis
hollyturner

If you would like to come along please let me know.

I would love to come to your parents day in london contactc me on hollyturner123@hotmail.co.uk THanks ohh p.s too every one who is intrested Im pregnant again!!!!!!!! i cant wait, does any one know if there is a high chance of my baby having the same disorder as candiece!

What disorder does she have?

Who is this imposter posing to be me "3macs" who ever you are why are you trying to be me, I am the real Sue McCarthy, I appoligise to who ever "3macs" has spoken or should I say lied to!

Who is this suemc why would 3macs lie and tri to impose some one?

ahem... i've been in touch with sue... i think you're the imposter and just a little bit deranged.

HI, nixpixnix did you mean me the imposter as i am my own person or did you mean that suemc guy any way its good that people are concerned about these types of things!

I am not an imposter and he who tells you so is a down right liar!

Hiya guys, hope your all okay and have had a great past weeks or months even no one talks any more, just wondering how you all are, sorry nipixnix wont be able to meet for your parents day, november is the month my baby is due, sorry , bye!

the programme about tia is heart breaking , her picture is keep comin to my mind. I cannot blame her mom, its hard to conclude she is guilty. she is a great mom n tia is a gr8 bb too. God bless her.

Neo.

hi,
tia is beta now????

Hi I am back, sorry its been so long, but Tia has had some time in hospital and then I took her away again to recover. Would love to meet up for that coffee sometime.

Thank you for your kind words of support, they are much appreciated. Tia is still not eating, but has progressed slightly and is taking small amounts of yoghart

Would like to also clarify that I am Sue McCarthy who has a daughter called Tia and the person whos user name is Suemc is absolutly nothing to do with me.

hey tia god is with you .... how cute u r..my sista have a bb ..shes too naughty like you.

Neo.

Hi Holly/sue, perhaps we should all email eachother privately rather than use this site? would love to stay in touch with you both. sue that's amazing that tia is eating some yoghurt. i think if luca had his way he'd live on the stuff! what an ahievement for her and for you, well done!!!

Holly, sorry you can't come to the parents day.. but v. exciting you're having another baby.

let's stay in touch on email ok? sue, would you like to come and see the professor again, 8th november, probably at my house, in north london. x

hi, to nixpix, could I have some advice, or detail about the austria clinic please, my friend little boy aged 4 yrs old is on tube feeding, and she is trying to get him to eat food etc. As usual, the doctors and specialist are not that helpful, kept telling her to go classes with food play time etc, encouraging him etc. She is very frustrated and helpless. Would really really appreciated if could get some details for her please. Thankyou,

please email me at nikandsal@blueyonder.co.uk. i'll tell you all about the austrian clinic.

:O bloody hell, how can ya not eat

I got a baby girl who was 14 week preemie born at 26 weeks and weight 1lb 4oz and she is now 19mths old she been ng tube feed (for sometime but didn’t put any weight on) as she never eaten solids and now she has a Gastro peg as she still cant eat she is pump feed milk but vomiting why being pump feed and after here what she doing when she eating.
she put all solids in to her mouth chewes it and then spits it out sometime she swollows small amount of the solids as small as your finger nail little finger nail which make her gag and then sometime she can be sick with this but not all the time after gag in she also does not maintaining her weight and not eating. no doctors no why she not eating on her development check everything ok doing everything a 19mths old should be doing its just her feeding she weights 16lb 50z .she also try to spoon feed herself .
noone really to help they just let me to get on with it and they think having violet pump feed sort it out but don’t she still not eating could someone please let me know the e.mail address to Austria clinic as really could do with some help as don’t how to get her feeding .
I am sherri by the way

Tia is on tv tonight at 11.00pm on sky three,

Have had my baby, a healthy little boy i named him Tait, am going to austria in january to the feeding clinic, hope to talk soon holly

Hi,

I was keen to find out how Tia was doing? I hopw she is well :)

Paul

Tia is doing ok thanks, still just eating yoghurts. I have been back in touch with Austria and am hoping to go back to try again.

Thanks for your concern

I'm delighted to hear that Tia is well.

Yoghurts are full of great things nowadays so I'm sure Tia is benefitting from this regime.

Best of Luck in Austria. I watched the television programme and whilst the regimen was strict at the clinic there I'm sure you're keen to try it again.

All the very best to you all and keep up the good work!

Paul

I am 32 years old and I have a similar problem to Tia that I have not been able to swallow food etc for just over 6 years, I recently had my Oesphaghues (sorry cant spell) removes and my stomach moved up and made into a tube to replace what was taken out. I can understand although I have not been born with this problem, but you geninuly have a problem with eating because everytime you eat something it is not a comfortable thing or you just fear eating so you rely totally on tube feeding which I have in my jegenum. I was totally fixed with the program last night and wondered if Tia's mum know of anywhere for adults to go to. A message for the person who wrote the first comment, you are totally wrong it is totally down to the individual person to eat and no matter how you are supported etc someone will only eat when they are ready, and the nappy would not be due to liquid feeds as I am on total liquid feeds and I have normal movements like the rest of you. If someone knows of any place like the one Tia went to for adults would so appriciate it.

hiya, well we're going to austria ourselves! in 2 weeks in fact. very exciting. my child is doing good though, thanks for asking. just thought i would put old ignoramus straight. if i was tia's mother, and i read that... well... I'd feel a tad upset.

Hi Hope you got on well in Austria? My 1 year old has a swallowing condition and PEG, so we watched the programme with interest, I've since tried to find the clinics web page and failed.....I was wondering do you have the address so I can get more information, maybe they can help my baby too?? Many thanks

Hi Tia's Mum. I watched the programme about Tia on Wednesday on Sky 1 and felt I wanted to congratulate you on how you cope with her 'problems'. You are an inspiration. I have a Son who was born 11 weeks premature who is now 8 years old (next week) and he has developed a number of problems. He has an eating disorder which means he only eats a handful of foods but in the early days he would only eat puree and would gag when we tried to feed him anything else. My Son is being seen at the National Autistic Society in February to be assessed for mild Aspergers Syndrome. On the programme about Tia it said she was diagnosed with Perception Disorder. The attributes sounded just like my Son. I have tried to find information about this but am stuggling. Can you help at all? I am so pleased that Tia is now eating yoghurt. These steps which are so small to most people are ground breaking to people like us. I hope she continues to do well. Regards. Sharron

Hi,
I have a four month old baby, who was born with long gap esophageal atresia, she is still on the tube at the moment, but she has unfortunatly got bronchitis, I recently watched Tia on sky 3, and fear that the prospect of my daughter being on the tube for the rest of her life may be a posibility, right now,so please if you have any information on the austrian clinic I would be really gratefull. Email me on claire_johnson1@hotmail.com, thanks Claire.

Hello

My son is 3 years old and doesn't eat!!! Since he was 8 months I really noticed that something was not right with his eating ability. Although it was a struggle for a long time I managed to get him onto pureed food by the time he was 18 months old. Since then I have tried and tried to get he to eat lumps but he will be violently sick, refuse food and gag. Over the past year I have slowly been able to introduce him to a very small (very small) soft lump diet but he will just swallow the food.

We have been seen by a Specialist Feeding Team in Southampton but you only see them every 6 months for a 30 minute meeting and although I have constantly said there was a problem they have only just seen him. He is supposed to get Speech and Language Therpy but we haven't even had that in the last 4 months and his Speech is only at a 12 month level. The Feeding Team say that there is nothing wrong with his throat but they haven't even done any tests and when I ask them they have said that if there was a problem he wouldn't be able to eat pureed food.

Harry has lots of other Development problems but they cannot find a reason for this and The Genetics team have decided not to see him for another 2 years. He is hyperactive, has no social skills with other children, he cannot talk, has severe behavioural issues and epilepsy.

I don't know where else to turn and I am seriously considering taking him out to Austria.

Does anybody have any details on the clinic???

Thanks

Hello

My son is 3 years old and doesn't eat!!! Since he was 8 months I really noticed that something was not right with his eating ability. Although it was a struggle for a long time I managed to get him onto pureed food by the time he was 18 months old. Since then I have tried and tried to get he to eat lumps but he will be violently sick, refuse food and gag. Over the past year I have slowly been able to introduce him to a very small (very small) soft lump diet but he will just swallow the food.

We have been seen by a Specialist Feeding Team in Southampton but you only see them every 6 months for a 30 minute meeting and although I have constantly said there was a problem they have only just seen him. He is supposed to get Speech and Language Therpy but we haven't even had that in the last 4 months and his Speech is only at a 12 month level. The Feeding Team say that there is nothing wrong with his throat but they haven't even done any tests and when I ask them they have said that if there was a problem he wouldn't be able to eat pureed food.

Harry has lots of other Development problems but they cannot find a reason for this and The Genetics team have decided not to see him for another 2 years. He is hyperactive, has no social skills with other children, he cannot talk, has severe behavioural issues and epilepsy.

I don't know where else to turn and I am seriously considering taking him out to Austria.

Does anybody have any details on the clinic???

Thanks

Hi 'Gemfree'

As above, my 8 year old Son only ate puree food until he was 2 years old and then went straight on to finger food. Prior to this he had severe reflux until 18 months old. He will not eat foods that have lumps in or are mixed texture or colour. The food has to be yellow/brown/white. He now lives off chicken nuggets and chips every day and cheese sandwiches for lunch. He also has other developmental problems - epilepsy, mild cerebral palsy, ticks, asthma and we are going to the National Autistic Society in London tomorrow (11th March 08) for an assessment for Aspergers Syndrome. Did you know that eating problems are very common in children with autism or autistic related disorders? We have been fighting for 7 years now and have seen speech therapists and dietitians galore but no-one has helped. We currently see a Consultant Psychologist in Birmingham Childrens Hospital who specialises in children with eating problems and she has come up with some great ideas and my Son has even moved on slightly. We live over 2 hours away but the journey is worth it. If you need to 'chat' my email address is sharron.entwistle@btinternet.com. Take care and good luck. Sharron x

Hi I have just watched the program about tia and came on line to find out more about the clinic or if there is any other people out there with children who have eating disorders, as my son who is coming up 3 will not chew food or put food in his mouth himself, he will only swallow pureed food or lick to taste, if there are lumps he gags, chokes, and is sick, he has seen speech therapist and dietrician, and goes to childrens development outpatients every six months for check up as very small but i dont not get helpfull advice from them other than try this or that. Im going back in april for his check up and know i will not get any further in helping him learn to eat. Can anyone give me any information on any places like that clinic in austira that teatches children to eat as i am at the end of my teather as where im from in yorkshire nobady can understand i have to explain all the time to people he cant chew etc playschool and look at me as if im daft i am frightened one day he will choke as we have had quite a few scary moments with lumps that have got throught the hand blender.:help: my email addres is samjbuttle@yahoo.co.uk

oh i just want to say what a complete utter t__er who wrote that first piece, he obviousley dosnt have kids or a heart.

hi all. can all the new mums who need info on austria email me asap on nixpixnixp@yahoo.co.uk if you want to know details.

here's a story to inspire you! v. recent.

http://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/search/display.var.2094551.0.lucky_leos_a_lad_who_lunches .php

Hi, this is a message for Sherri. I really hope that you are still looking onto this website as I realise your message was posted some time ago. Please would you let me know if you are. I have twins boys born at 27 weeks and one of them (oliver) has severe oesophagul reflux. They are 19 months old and Oliver weighs only 15lbs. He currently doesn't have a gastrotomy but it is obviously on the cards and I would really like your thoughts on this as it sounds like it is a very similar situation to yours. Does your little on have a nissen fundoplication with her gastrostomy (ie an operation done with the gastrostomy where they tie the top of the stomach around the oesophagus to stop reflux?)

I was told about he programme that Tia was in but didnt watch it. Does anyone know what it was called so i can see if i can download it as im thinking about taking my daughter as she is NG fed and has since she was 2 days old as she cannot suck. She also has Goldenhar Syndrome.

:hihi:Now far be it from me to be controversial, but as I watched this programme from my Sky+ box I came upon the following conclussion.

Its her MUMS fault that she still wont eat

So, why have I come to this conclussion.

Her mum mothers her to death, anyone watching this program will have seen the doctors at the austrian clinic they went to battling to try and stop the mum molly coddling the kid all the time, and also the final nail in the coffin for me- was the mums reluctance to finally pull out the tube thats been feeding Tia for the past seven years.. the doctors believed this would induce Tia to start eating, the mum still wouldnt have it.

So- the mum is at fault.
Through intense mollycoddling and also for the fact that I dont think she has done a proper job in bringing Tia up properly.

For starters- Tia didnt start walking properly until the age of 5.
She still wears nappies also but I guess this could be the result of liquid only food injected into her.

Another bold statement I'd like to make as well- and this is not a slur on single parents at all please understand but I found another reason that might be the case.

Being a single mum with 2 kids to look after- one has a problem, maybe the mum is getting a lot of benefits ie: disability for Tia, so she might not want her to be sorted properly, thats another thing that came to mind watching this program.

All in all - Tia is still not sorted, the tube is still inside her although smaller this time, Tia is still not eating solids albeit licking food- which is not a step forward for me.

What do other people think on this subject please?

hi it is bad i watch everyy one

I know this is a long shot as this thread is old but I'm trying to get in touch with Sue MccCarthy, Tia's Mum. Are you out there? I have tried in vain to access the program shown on Sky but can't track it down. I remember Tia was diagnosed with a condition highlighted by an inability to tell hot from cold. My son has no eating disorder but hearing and learning problems and has never been able to tell hot from cold. I am desparate to find out what the condition is called to find out more about how it could be effecting my son but can't find anything anywhere. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I think the doctor called it a "perception disorder" but sometimes it's called a "sensory disorder" - however both of those are quite broad terms.