Grace was diagnosed with Very Early Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease (VEO-IBD) at age 3. She is a joyful and sweet child, and probably like most mothers I was devastated to learn she had a lifelong chronic condition at such a young age. It also came with heightened risk for colon cancer and the eventual need to have her colon removed. Her condition started mild but after an episode of C-Diff, her condition went downhill. In a few months, she was in and out of the hospital getting blood transfusions.
Initially, the doctors were able to control the disease with steroids and a biologic called Remicade, and she was no longer hospitalized. But after a few months of infusions, she developed antibodies to the Remicade. The inflammation markers in her labs spiked back up, and we could see the effect in her symptoms as well. We prepared to try Humira next, but while the prior authorization was going through insurance, we used the opportunity to try dietary interventions.
I had been researching dietary interventions for a while, and we were already following an anti-inflammatory diet (basically Mediterranean) recommended by the children’s hospital where we had been getting second opinions. But there were also a few studies that indicated that a more specific diet – whole foods, plant based (vegan, as well as in some cases a wheat exclusion) had the potential to put patients into remission by improving the balance and diversity of their gut microbiome.
So we used the window of opportunity between prescription drugs to try a whole-foods, vegan and wheat-free diet. The effect was immediate. Grace’s inflammation markers plummeted to below where they had been when the Remicade was working. She was in remission through diet alone.
Grace has continued to be in remission through diet alone for over a year. I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that the right foods have been more powerful than some of the most advanced medicines in treating her disease. Her diet has no side effects and is incredibly healthy for everyone.
One of the challenges of eating this way is getting enough calories – which is so important for growing kids. I found that it was hard enough finding recipes that were both whole foods plant based and wheat free – let alone kid-friendly and high calorie! That’s what prompted me to create this website – I have a handful of recipes that work, and each one was hard-earned through many rounds of kitchen failures. I hope it saves you and your family some time and trouble. Grace and I wish you luck in your cooking adventures!
Sincerely, Emma