A rare white blood cell disease is preventing three siblings from enjoying what most children take for granted. Eating.
The Frisk siblings-Jaxen, 9; Tieler, 7; and Boston, 4-are all afflicted with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder or EGID, which is described as the abnormal accumulation of eosinophil white blood cells along their gastrointestinal tracts. This buildup causes the gastrointestinal tract to become inflamed and sustain tissue damage in response to food and other allergens. Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder it is a relatively rare condition, but there have been a significant increase in cases over the past 10 years. Now, the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders says that this disease affects one in 2,000 people.
Mother of the Frisk children, Jenny Frisk, said that, "You need food to survive. But it is also what can kill you in our house." When the children are exposed to triggers, they are at a high risk of undergoing anaphylactic shock, which is a potentially deadly symptom of an allergic reaction. Their father, Gary Frisk, added that, "Tieler had one sip of milk when she was one year old, and instantly started projectile vomiting and got hives all over her body. It's a life and death situation at birthday parties, or religious events, or anywhere we go, because food is such a big part of our culture."
Between the three of them, the children have and gone through 11 different types of surgeries and eight incidences of extended stays at the hospital. Their parents say that they are expecting more of these scenarios in the future. Of part from the health issues that the children have, their father was undergoing cancer therapy two years ago and their mother also underwent several surgeries to correct adrenal insufficiencies. The Frisk Family went through bankruptcy twice because of their medical bills. Although they are not qualified to receive help because their income doesn't qualify them to do so, they are still not earning enough to pay for the medical needs of their three children. The fundraising project called GoFundMe was a starter by there're family and friends to help raise money for treatment and genetic testing for the family.