SEMINOLE, Fla. (WFLA) — A Pinellas County mom is in a determined struggle to maintain her 4-year-old son wholesome.
Gideon Bennett has a uncommon genetic dysfunction that makes even a small quantity of protein harmful, however the particular medical meals he must survive is not lined by insurance coverage and time is working out.
“It was a uncommon metabolic dysfunction referred to as phenylketonuria,” stated his mom, Elizabeth Bennett.
This implies he cannot correctly course of proteins.
“So, he can solely eat seven grams of protein day-after-day for the remainder of his life,” Bennett stated.
So how do you deal with it? The College of South Florida Faculty of Public Well being is acquainted with the dysfunction, and one professor stated it requires a particular system.
“We do not like for a kid to must be on particular meals, however on this case, sure, they’ve that specialised system to get the opposite components of protein they should develop,” Affiliate Professor Lauri Wright stated.
Gideon’s mom stated the system price hundreds of {dollars}.
Regardless of the necessity, she stated Florida legislation does not require protection for the specialised meals. Their family revenue exceeds the $40,000 to qualify for Medicaid.
A nutritionist at USF stated the college has a clinic that caters to youngsters with PKU like Gideon.
“We advocate, due to revenue stage, if they do not qualify for the well being division, the state well being division that they arrive to see USF and to the PKU clinic in order that they’ll get assist and help from the group,” Wright stated.
The household has additionally began a GoFundMe to assist help Gideon’s medical meals and assist him relocate nearer to his metabolic clinic.
