Child starved by vegans is now obese to store calories in case it happens again
A foster carer said: ‘For the first 19 months of her her life (the girl) did not receive the basic care to grow and develop.
‘[She] was defenceless and unable to protect herself from her parents. Caring for [her] was like caring for a very young baby.’
She has made good progress, but her height and weight are out of proportion, the carer added.
She said: ‘It’s like her body is storing calories in case she needs them in the future. She immediately stands out as different from other children.’
The girl’s mother revealed the vegan diet the family followed, including extreme eating measures.
In the morning she would have a cup of oats with rice milk and half a banana. At lunch it would be a piece of toast with peanut butter or jam.
Then for dinner the girl would have tofu, rice or potatoes. However she called her daughter a fussy eater so just had oats if she did not want other food.
The diet let to severe deficiencies of calcium, phosphate, vitamin B12, vitamin A, iron and zinc. Her levels of vitamin D were undetectable.
Doctors initially followed the family’s request for the girl to be given a vegan diet, but when the mum said she would not allow soy milk because of ‘hormones’ they grew concerned.
Her bones were so weak that many of them had become fractured through normal handling.
From the beginning the mother did not co-operate with health services, discharging herself three hours after giving birth.
She refused screenings or a hearing check, saying she wanted her family doctor to do it, but ignoring calls, voicemails, text messages and a letter.
The father added that they did not want to get their daughter vaccinated.
When asked if he was concerned at his daughter’s lack of growth he said he ‘thought she was a girl and different to boys – she was petite.’
The girl and her two older brothers are now being looked after by a relative and continuing to receive therapy.
Her parents admitted failing to provide for a child and causing serious injury.
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