He eats every hour. Not because of he loves doing so, but to prevent his body from breaking down his own muscles. Yes, that's true!
Two-year-old Owen Torti suffers from a rare genetic condition—fatty-acid metabolism disorder—which stops the toddler's body from breaking down fat and converting it into energy. So, if his body runs out of energy, his body starts breaking down the muscles. This condition has landed Owen in the hospital 12 times in 20 months.
Owen was only seven days old when he was diagnosed with the disorder. If left untreated, the disorder can lead to breathing problems, seizures, coma or even death.
Watch this video to know more about Owen's story.
Quick facts about fatty acid metabolism disorder
- The condition results when both the parents are carriers of a defective gene
- It occurs when the enzyme carnitine transporter is either missing or is not working properly
- The diagnosis needs extensive lab testing
- The primary treatment is dietary modification, followed by drug administration
- The disorder can erupt either during infancy or any time during childhood
- Some of the common symptoms are extreme sleepiness, fever, behavioural changes, nausea, poor appetite and diarrhea
- In kids, symptoms usually begin between the ages of one and seven years
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