unfortunate girl

A GIRL of 7's metabolic
condition will leave her
brain damaged if she eats
anything else
Published: 2010-10-12
Struggle ... Borsi eats fruit
and veg alone to avoid
temptation of other
people's food, which
would give her brain
damage
A GIRL of seven will be
brain damaged if she eats
anything except fruit and
vegetables.
Borsi Batki has a rare
metabolic condition which
means she must avoid
foods containing proteins.
Almost everything is
effectively off the menu.
Most meals consist of a
special pasta in tomato
sauce. And she has a
revolting protein
replacement supplement
she must drink six times a
day.
Borsi's body can't process
an amino acid found in
most protein-rich foods.
She has phenylketonuria,
which if undetected can
lead to brain damage,
mental retardation and
seizures. Her condition
was spotted at six days
old when a test in her
native Hungary showed
blood abnormalities.
Just one in 15,000 children
are born with the
condition, caused by a
genetic mutation.
Borsi and family
emigrated to Coventry
for dad Zsolt's
communications specialist
job.
Mum-of-three Maria, 37,
said: "At parties she finds
it hard to see other kids
enjoy cakes. Sometimes
she cries. She
understands but it's
difficult. Easter and
Christmas are hard. There
are so many foods she
can't eat everywhere.
"Her special foods taste
so different because they
contain no flour or eggs.
Her sister says they are
disgusting.
"If she has a bite of cake
she'll seem fine. But if she
carries on toxins collect in
her body, poisoning her
brain."