Marcella, Age 15

Marcella was diagnosed with multiple food allergies in 2016. She is allergic to soy, peanuts, tree nuts,fish, shellfish, along with a slew of environmental allergies. We have lost count of how many times we have had to administer epinephrine, hospital visits and ICU stays due to her severe allergies. She began having unexplained allergic reactions, vomiting, chest pains, horrible stomach pains and loss of blood and blood in stools. Her hemoglobin dropped overnight. She had food impactions and trouble swallowing even liquids. A swallow study was done and confirmed a hiatal hernia so she was referred to GI. She was then diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. She was put on an elimination diet of the top 8 foods and started on the slurry of budesonide. She went into remission in June 2018 and we were given the OK to re introduce wheat, dairy and eggs with caution. Within months of reintroducing these foods she immediately fell out of remission and had noticeably more significant difficulty swallowing and uncontrolled vomiting episodes. She was last scoped for her 3rd time on January 21, 2019. Recurring Eosinophilic Esophagitis was confirmed. She was started back on the budesonide slurry once again. Along with the Top8free diet we hoped to be able to get her back into remission. Her GI also prescribed Elecare Jr as a nutritional supplement due to severe food allergies and Eosinophilic Esophagitis causing food impactions, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite and weight loss. She is also suffering significant hair loss. Her GI prescribed the Elecare Jr to be taken orally 2 times daily. Marcella has SoonerCare insurance. They do not cover oral use of Elecare Jr which she desperately needs. Marcella and every other person should have the right to coverage for the Elecare Jr whether it be taken orally or through tube feeding. Please help my daughter she is only 15 💜. Marcella has Soonercare and they do not cover Elecare Jr if it is taken orally. Our insurance does not cover for my daughter to receive the nutrition she do desperately needs.

The Medical Nutrition Equity Act will provide key support for those Americans who rely on medical foods to survive and thrive.