Bubba is learning how to eat different things again after fear held him back.
By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org
Thomas “Bubba” Baker bounds into the newly remodeled rehab therapy space in the lower level of Riley Hospital for Children and takes a seat.
The 4-year-old clutches a Scooby Doo Mystery Machine lunch bag that contains part of his “homework” to address eating issues.
Occupational therapist Katherine Maloof can see how excited he is to reveal what is inside the bag.
“What did you bring today?”
Bubba proudly opens his mystery bag containing marshmallows, pretzel sticks and peanut butter – building blocks for an activity designed to help the preschooler become more comfortable with different foods again.
He has been coming to Riley for feeding therapy (through an occupational therapy lens) for the past five months and has made “huge strides” in that time, according to his mom, Brittani Vance.
His aversion to many foods started a couple of years ago when he started gagging and throwing up, often after eating yogurt. Turns out he is lactose-intolerant. He had his tonsils and adenoids removed, but that didn’t remove the fear he associated with eating many things.
Things he used to love – pasta, sandwiches, Jello and chicken – became reminders of mild trauma for Bubba, who often couldn’t get past the textures of certain foods or the memories of gagging.
“It’s been a lot of trial and error,” Vance said. “He had certain foods he could eat, but then if the texture or something was off, he would be done with it.”
That difficulty led to many meltdowns, she acknowledged, and the majority of the accompanying tears were her own.
“It’s been rough,” she said, but the Riley team, which also includes occupational therapy supervisor Jenna Trost, has helped identify creative ways to engage Bubba in eating a variety of foods again.
Both Vance and her partner, Jim Beeson, say they are grateful for the support they receive through Riley to help Bubba expand his diet.
“They had so many ideas, things we never would have thought of,” Beeson said. “And Bubba loves coming here. He’ll bug us all week, ‘Is my appointment today?’ He busts through the door and runs down here.”
“He doesn’t warm up to people easily, but with Jenna and Kath, he did,” Vance agreed. “We’re very thankful for them.”
In explaining how therapy helps Bubba and his parents, Trost said making food fun again is key.
“When we think about feeding therapy for kids, a lot of times there’s hesitation to interact with new foods, so doing something kids really enjoy like play and silly activities really helps give them confidence,” she said.
“Obviously, the end goal is that they bring it to their mouth,” she added, though initially it could be simply to blow on it or smell it to feel that it is safe. “Sometimes we model it – Kath or I or mom or dad will eat it, and that can be enough for a child to try it one time.”
Maloof engages Bubba with questions about different foods and how they grow and whether they are crunchy or squishy. She even goes so far as to plant a “garden” on the worktable, an idea that has Bubba positively rolling with laughter.
“We usually give a lot of power to parents on what foods they want their kids to be eating at home,” she said, then try to incorporate them into the therapy sessions when possible.
“They usually bring at least four different foods from home. That way Bubba has seen it before, and parents can easily reinforce what we do in therapy when they go home.”
With Bubba’s help, Maloof makes a base of soil using crushed cookies, gummy worms for nutrients and real bits of carrots and peas to sprinkle in.
He’s having trouble eating fruits and veggies at home, and Vance’s previous routine of sneaking veggies into pasta no longer works because he stopped eating pasta.
The Plainfield family has found ways to incorporate zucchini, spinach and carrots into homemade sugar-free doughnuts and pancakes, which Bubba loves, his mom said.
Slowly but surely, he is eating a bigger variety of foods and is on his way to graduating from the therapy program, even as the work continues at home.
“Bubba has made a lot of progress interacting with food and trying new things,” Trost said. “The family is baking together and cooking together, and he’s enjoying that.”
Photos by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org
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