Stacey A’Hearne, a 25-year-old woman from Blackwood, Wales, has reached out for assistance regarding her three-year-old daughter, Wynter. Wynter suffers from a rare condition that compels her to “eat the house.” This unusual feeding disorder, known as pica, drives Wynter to crave non-food items, including plaster from walls, sofa foam, and even parts of a high chair.
Despite Stacey’s efforts, she must constantly intervene to prevent Wynter from consuming potentially dangerous objects. Wynter’s diagnosis of autism further complicates the situation, making it challenging for her family to manage her unique dietary cravings.
The 3-year-old girl from the United Kingdom, diagnosed with a rare condition called autism, has been observed consuming plaster from the wall, sofa foam, and parts of the high chair. Her mother, Stacey A'Hearne, from Blackwood, Wales, stated that she must closely monitor Wynter… pic.twitter.com/pm9gQQ7rMc
— Mirror Now (@MirrorNow) March 18, 2024
“She’s really fussy with normal food but she’ll sit and eat a sponge. She’s smashed about eight photo frames and tried to eat the glass,” the women said.
“No matter what she finds a way to eat things that she shouldn’t. Luckily, she’s never really hurt herself as I very closely monitor her. But it’s a full-time job watching her,” she added.
“She is literally eating the whole house. I bought a brand-new sofa and she’s taken chunks out of it,” Ms A’Hearne was quoted as saying by Metro.
Stacey A’Hearne has observed Wynter waking up during the night, compelled to chew on her cot and the blanket she sleeps with.
According to the New York Post, Stacey A’Hearne observed Wynter putting various objects in her mouth when she was a baby, but initially dismissed it as nothing serious. Wynter’s growth proceeded normally until she reached 13 months old, at which point a sudden change occurred.
As Wynter’s verbal communication diminished, her atypical eating behaviors intensified. Concerned, Stacey sought help from her healthcare visitor, who subsequently referred her to other medical professionals.
In January 2024, after a series of tests, the young girl was officially diagnosed with both pica and autism. This diagnosis sheds light on the challenges faced by Wynter and her family as they navigate her unique condition, seeking ways to manage her cravings for non-food items and address her communication difficulties.
“Pica can be more common in children who have autism – which Wynter has too. I think it’s a sensory thing, and she craves the different textures. She has very severe autism which means she doesn’t speak much and has some behavioural issues,” said Ms A’Hearne.
She mentioned that she needs to vigilantly monitor Wynter and anticipates that the girl will eventually overcome this situation.
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