Saskatoon family seeks help for deadly food allergy

A Saskatoon family is warningthat time is running out for a severely ill four-year-old boy.

Sylvie Fortier-Kot knew it was bad when her newborn son, Kayden,vomited breast milk up to 15 times perday.

By the time multiple food allergies were diagnosed, the boy was almost one. He developed such a fear of vomiting he refused to let any food near his mouth or nose.

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Now, at age four, he relies on a feeding tube every night. He'smissed out on essential nutrientsand has difficulty lifting his head.

His mother quit her teaching job to care for him full-time. He's learned to sit up alone, but cannot crawl, walk or stand yet.

Family says treatment options limited

His parents said there are limited opportunities for Kayden to see feeding, speech, and occupational therapists in Saskatoon.

"If you go to a feeding therapist and you only see her only one time a week with a child that has a lot of psychological trauma and a lot of trust issues it's not going to progress very quickly," said Fortier-Kot.

Unfortunately you don't have a lot of wait time with a child.- SylvieFortier-Kot

The provincial government paid for one visit to a specialized feeding therapy clinic in Denver. Following that, the family held fundraisers and used their savings to pay for more than a dozen trips to the United States to see specialists.

The head of the Saskatoon Health Region said Kayden cannot get the intensive therapy he needs anywhere in Saskatchewan. The boy's doctors say patients in similar cases have made full recoveries. However, he will require treatment south of the border.

"Unfortunately, you don't have a lot of wait time with a child," said Fortier-Kot. "It goes by very, very fast. So it's critical that he gets the therapies now. We can't keep waiting and keep waiting and keep waiting."

Hoping for meeting with premier

Fortier-Kot and her husband have been in contact with Health Minister Dustin Duncan for the past year and a half. They visited the provincial legislature today hoping to meet with Premier Brad Wall.

That didn't happen. Instead they were offered another meeting with the health minister.

Opposition NDP Leader Cam Broten raised Kayden's case in Question Period.

"Mr. Speaker, the Saskatoon Health Region agrees that Kayden needs to go to Denver for treatment because they can't meet his needs here in Saskatchewan. But the government has overruled that. My question to the premier: Why?"

PemierWall did speak to the issue during Question Period. He said his government is already aware of the challenges the boy is facing.

"I'd also note Mr. Speaker that I believe officials within the system have indicated that some of the treatment can be delivered here in the province of Saskatchewan," Wall said.

Kayden's family said they hope the province will reconsider. They say their son's life depends on it.