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| Essex teenager left unable to eat due to rare digestive condition | Essex teenager left unable to eat due to rare digestive condition |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Finley has received weekly lipid infusions directly into his heart since he was four | Finley has received weekly lipid infusions directly into his heart since he was four |
| Like most teenagers his age, Finley is given a cake every year to celebrate his birthday, but he can never eat it - or any other food. If he did, he would bleed internally. | Like most teenagers his age, Finley is given a cake every year to celebrate his birthday, but he can never eat it - or any other food. If he did, he would bleed internally. |
| The 14-year-old's digestive system cannot tolerate lipids - fatty compounds or oils which are found in foods - so he has them injected directly into his heart. | The 14-year-old's digestive system cannot tolerate lipids - fatty compounds or oils which are found in foods - so he has them injected directly into his heart. |
| The treatment is a six-hour process which he has undergone every week since he was four years old, and over the past year it has increased to twice a week as he has grown. | The treatment is a six-hour process which he has undergone every week since he was four years old, and over the past year it has increased to twice a week as he has grown. |
| Finley's case is so rare that doctors have considered presenting it to a medical journal, as they believe he may be one of the only people whose body reacts to lipids in this way. | Finley's case is so rare that doctors have considered presenting it to a medical journal, as they believe he may be one of the only people whose body reacts to lipids in this way. |
| Dr Manas Datta, a consultant paediatrician at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex, who has treated Finley since he was born, said it was "horrific" seeing how Finley's body responded to food. | Dr Manas Datta, a consultant paediatrician at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex, who has treated Finley since he was born, said it was "horrific" seeing how Finley's body responded to food. |
| "Even when he was on breast milk, he was reacting," Dr Datta told the BBC. | "Even when he was on breast milk, he was reacting," Dr Datta told the BBC. |
| "We had never seen this type of case before - I remember many days where Finley came to the hospital so unwell." | "We had never seen this type of case before - I remember many days where Finley came to the hospital so unwell." |
| Finley has undergone more than 20 operations and visits the hospital regularly for treatment | Finley has undergone more than 20 operations and visits the hospital regularly for treatment |
| Finley, from Battlesbridge, Essex, underwent more than 20 operations at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London as doctors tried to understand his condition, and how best to treat it. | Finley, from Battlesbridge, Essex, underwent more than 20 operations at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London as doctors tried to understand his condition, and how best to treat it. |
| His mum, Rhys, 37, said: "It's heartbreaking at times - people don't see what Finley goes through day-to-day. | His mum, Rhys, 37, said: "It's heartbreaking at times - people don't see what Finley goes through day-to-day. |
| "They see the happy, chirpy young man, but psychologically he goes through a lot." | "They see the happy, chirpy young man, but psychologically he goes through a lot." |
| Rhys said she did not try to hide the sociable aspect of food from her son. | Rhys said she did not try to hide the sociable aspect of food from her son. |
| "He's always helped cook, we always go out to restaurants, he's always had a birthday cake," she told the BBC. | "He's always helped cook, we always go out to restaurants, he's always had a birthday cake," she told the BBC. |
| "He might not be able to eat it, but he's had the same normality in that respect as everybody else." | "He might not be able to eat it, but he's had the same normality in that respect as everybody else." |
| Finley, who is also autistic, said the look and smell of food did not make him hungry or feel like he was missing out. | Finley, who is also autistic, said the look and smell of food did not make him hungry or feel like he was missing out. |
| "Having my feed is all I know, so I just see other people eating and it doesn't bother me," he added. | "Having my feed is all I know, so I just see other people eating and it doesn't bother me," he added. |
| How does Finley eat? | |
| Rhys said there is no name for her son's condition so he calls it "Finley-itis" | Rhys said there is no name for her son's condition so he calls it "Finley-itis" |
| Finley receives a lipid infusion via a portacath, or tube, which enters his chest and links directly to the central vein in his heart. | Finley receives a lipid infusion via a portacath, or tube, which enters his chest and links directly to the central vein in his heart. |
| "We have to bypass the gastro-intestinal tract completely," Dr Datta said. | "We have to bypass the gastro-intestinal tract completely," Dr Datta said. |
| "Not only the fat, but he even cannot tolerate the normal carbohydrates and proteins as well," he added. | "Not only the fat, but he even cannot tolerate the normal carbohydrates and proteins as well," he added. |
| Finley receives carbohydrates and proteins - along with vitamins, minerals and electrolytes - three times a day into his stomach via a different tube. | Finley receives carbohydrates and proteins - along with vitamins, minerals and electrolytes - three times a day into his stomach via a different tube. |
| "I can't remember when I had [the infusion] first because it's just my life now - I can't really escape it," Finley said. | "I can't remember when I had [the infusion] first because it's just my life now - I can't really escape it," Finley said. |
| "There isn't a name for what Finley has" said Rhys, adding her son called his condition "Finley-itis". | "There isn't a name for what Finley has" said Rhys, adding her son called his condition "Finley-itis". |
| "There's no-one else that we know that has the lipid element infused directly." | "There's no-one else that we know that has the lipid element infused directly." |
| "We are actually thinking about reporting this case to some sort of journal because it's such a rare condition," Dr Datta said. | "We are actually thinking about reporting this case to some sort of journal because it's such a rare condition," Dr Datta said. |
| The hope is that Finley will be able to eventually do infusion treatments at home, instead of travelling to Broomfield Hospital twice a week. | The hope is that Finley will be able to eventually do infusion treatments at home, instead of travelling to Broomfield Hospital twice a week. |
| "There might be a time that he is able to tolerate fat," Rhys said, "but if not, we just carry on with what our 'normal' is and go from there." | "There might be a time that he is able to tolerate fat," Rhys said, "but if not, we just carry on with what our 'normal' is and go from there." |
| Dr Manas Datta has treated Finley since he was a baby and said the 14-year-old was "a very determined chap" | Dr Manas Datta has treated Finley since he was a baby and said the 14-year-old was "a very determined chap" |
| Finley has plans to abseil down a tower block at Southend Hospital on 17 May to raise money for the Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity. | |
| "The building is 154ft (47m) - it's a bit high, but I feel like I'll be all right," Finley said. | "The building is 154ft (47m) - it's a bit high, but I feel like I'll be all right," Finley said. |
| "The hospital and all the [staff] have given me care through my life, and I just wanted to give back and raise money for them to help other people." | "The hospital and all the [staff] have given me care through my life, and I just wanted to give back and raise money for them to help other people." |
| Finley's mum - who completed the same abseil on Finley's behalf a couple of years ago as he was too young - said her son was "remarkable". | Finley's mum - who completed the same abseil on Finley's behalf a couple of years ago as he was too young - said her son was "remarkable". |
| "He's the most lovable little boy who wants to help other people because of what he's gone through - I'm so proud of him." | "He's the most lovable little boy who wants to help other people because of what he's gone through - I'm so proud of him." |
| Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. |