My 15 year old son Henry has recently been diagnosed with Crohns disease. We noticed last year his health was declining, he had lots 2-3 stones in weight in a relatively short time (6 months) and was suffering form stomach cramps, mouth ulcers and other nasty symptoms. After various tests and investigations he was referred to Great Ormond Street. It was a relief to get an accurate diagnosis and know how to deal with it. It was an extremely worrying time for us. I must say his care has been fantastic.
The Consultant set out a specific liquid food replacement plan for Henry to follow, and he was told he would have to stick to it rigidly for 6-8 weeks, in order that his gut heal, and his symptoms diminish. In effect he would go into remission, then we were to start introducing food groups back into into his diet gradually.
Well, the 6 weeks was up yesterday, so a decent meal is in order! Henry wanted Lasagna as his first meal but he has to carry on with the drinks in smaller quantities for another 2 weeks and build the food up gradually ,every couple of days, with fairly plainish food in small amounts, so his gut can start to tolerate food again. So Lasagna was out as it to rich, so we compromised on Shepard's pie, as he's supposed to just be having meat and potato's or rice this week.
I really admire my son for sticking to the plan for 6 weeks with no cheating, having to watch the rest of the family eat has been tortuous! And smelling all the cooking smells, he had got to the point where having to down another glass of the vile liquid was making him feel sick. He had to drink 2 1/2 litres a day which is hard going as well as plenty of water. The prescribed Modulen drink tastes like babies formula milk. YUK. It is highly calorific, and is fortified with all daily nutrients.
Henry mixed strawberry Crusha into it to make it more palatable-which was allowed, and now Say's he will never be able to face a strawberry milkshake ever again! On a positive note he has gained a whole stone in 6 weeks and now looks much healthier , and feels better. Crohns isn't curable but controllable.
I'm sure he will enjoy every last morsel of his dinner tonight.
To follow he will have a small slice of banana and chocolate cake with a bit of custard. And I will be glad for him.:) It's amazing how much we show love through feeding-nurturing our loved ones, I feel like he's been neglected.
He has Easter eggs waiting too, but will have to wait another fortnight for those......
I make banana cake regularly as always have ripe bananas knocking around, but saw this recipe online a few weeks back and tried it, and is nicer than plain banana cake. If you fancy making it here is what I used:
200 g wholemeal SF flour
150g caster sugar
30 g cocoa powder
1tsp baking powder
Tsp vanilla essence
120 g butter unsalted
2 large eggs beaten
280 grams very ripe bananas
150 ml milk
You could add some chocolate chips or nuts.
Pre heat oven to Gas 5-190 c
Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin
Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
Mash the bananas,butter,vanilla essence, and eggs together, till you have smallish lumps and its fairly liquid. I used a potato masher-easier than a fork.
Fold above into the dry ingredients, with the milk until well combined and spoon into the loaf tin.
Bake for 1 hour, test with a skewer, if it's clean its done.
Voila!! I couldn't resist a pick round the edges!!
The Consultant set out a specific liquid food replacement plan for Henry to follow, and he was told he would have to stick to it rigidly for 6-8 weeks, in order that his gut heal, and his symptoms diminish. In effect he would go into remission, then we were to start introducing food groups back into into his diet gradually.
Well, the 6 weeks was up yesterday, so a decent meal is in order! Henry wanted Lasagna as his first meal but he has to carry on with the drinks in smaller quantities for another 2 weeks and build the food up gradually ,every couple of days, with fairly plainish food in small amounts, so his gut can start to tolerate food again. So Lasagna was out as it to rich, so we compromised on Shepard's pie, as he's supposed to just be having meat and potato's or rice this week.
I really admire my son for sticking to the plan for 6 weeks with no cheating, having to watch the rest of the family eat has been tortuous! And smelling all the cooking smells, he had got to the point where having to down another glass of the vile liquid was making him feel sick. He had to drink 2 1/2 litres a day which is hard going as well as plenty of water. The prescribed Modulen drink tastes like babies formula milk. YUK. It is highly calorific, and is fortified with all daily nutrients.
I'm sure he will enjoy every last morsel of his dinner tonight.
He has Easter eggs waiting too, but will have to wait another fortnight for those......
I make banana cake regularly as always have ripe bananas knocking around, but saw this recipe online a few weeks back and tried it, and is nicer than plain banana cake. If you fancy making it here is what I used:
200 g wholemeal SF flour
150g caster sugar
30 g cocoa powder
1tsp baking powder
Tsp vanilla essence
120 g butter unsalted
2 large eggs beaten
280 grams very ripe bananas
150 ml milk
You could add some chocolate chips or nuts.
Pre heat oven to Gas 5-190 c
Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin
Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
Mash the bananas,butter,vanilla essence, and eggs together, till you have smallish lumps and its fairly liquid. I used a potato masher-easier than a fork.
Fold above into the dry ingredients, with the milk until well combined and spoon into the loaf tin.
Bake for 1 hour, test with a skewer, if it's clean its done.
Voila!! I couldn't resist a pick round the edges!!
You always make this look so easy. My cakes always look (and feel) like bricks)! Really interesting to read about H's recovery too. I'm so glad the poor lad's on the mend xx
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