Hello

I am a Filipino mother married to a British national, I have no legitimate knowledge of the rules and regulations and practices that should be implemented in accordance with the laws of this country, I am seeking information and recommendations that could help solve the health problems of my daughter.

My daughter, Piphany, going on 6 yrs and 5 months, was operated on her bowels 12 days after her birth, which resulted in shortened guts. She has been suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea from the age of 3 months, which were not as distressful and as often as they now are every month. At the most critical instances, she has barely anything to sustain her because she throws up as soon as something is swallowed. She also has a cerebral palsy and cannot walk without support.

I am very thankful that my daughter is availing of disabled children's services and is receiving Disability Living Allowance.

My immediate and most important concerns at the moment pertain to my daughter's diet and schooling. Most concerned observers would point to the shortened guts as the main cause of her bouts of vomitings and defecations. Likewise, we cannot disregard the function of the digestive system in the process of food. I am very much concerned with:

1. What foods Piphany, considering her shortened guts, should eat?
2. What foods should be avoided for the same reasons?

I believe that the school dietician must have been consulted regarding Piphany's diet and quite likely, the meals she eats in school would have been recommended and approved by the dietician. At school lunch she is given sausages, vegetable lasagne, cottage pie, roast pork, fish fingers, meatballs, chicken casserole, spaghetti bolognaise, chicken pie, fish pie, macaroni cheese, jacket potato and baked beans, chicken chasseur, toad in the hole, etc.

Regarding her schooling, Piphany is attending a special school some distance away from our home. She is among the first ones to be picked up by the school bus and has to get up at 6:30 in the morning and be ready when the school picks her up for the school at 7:45am. She is in school until 3.30 in the afternoon and doesn’t arrive home on the bus until about 4.45pm.

My mother-in-law is assisting us look after Piphany. From my observations and experience, there is but minimal improvement if at all, on her health condition, particularly on the recurring monthly illnesses. piphany is having scheduled check-ups by health professionals. In the circumstances I am in, I know not where else and how to I can avail of other health services. I have thought of seeking your advice and assistance. Could there be something new and untried that could be applied to minimize the difficulties of all concerned in Piphany's well being, and especially to minimize the pains and discomforts that the little girl has long been suffering.

Very sincerely yours,


Pearl
An Anxious Mother

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