Imagine if your toddler wouldn't even eat a crumb?
A Grimsby family is going through a very unique and scary situation as three-year-old Evan Robson battles with a condition that leaves him unable to eat.
Evan can take a liquid meal supplement in a baby bottle, but according to his mother Carly he can't eat any solid foods.
After months of therapy Evan started to slowly eat a few foods, but recently has suffered a setback and won't even try to ingest any solid food.
Carly says she finds him going through their snack drawer crying because he's so hungry but unable to do something we all take for granted.
She says problems with Evan eating started at the six-month mark when she introduced solids, and he simply refused to eat.
Evan was referred to therapy right away, and has been working with therapists even since.
Evan, who has been diagnosed with Autism is seeing a dietician through Community Care Access Centre, an occupational therapist through the Niagara Children's Centre, and a Behavioural Therapist at Bethesda.
He was able to receive therapy at Bethesda since he has been declared a crisis/urgent case, but that therapy could be cut off at any point.
That's what worries Carly the most, "I'm not sure at what point he will be cut off. What will happen then? We wait until he is 6 or 7 and then put him into a eating disorder clinic. I fear that too much time and damage will be done. Don't get me wrong, I am beyond grateful for the services that we are currently receiving but I am terrified for when they are cut off."
She is hoping that by sharing Evan's story more attention will be paid for children who struggle to eat.
Carly believes Evan has Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).
She has been in contact with various agencies and hospitals including Sick Kids in Toronto, but children must be 6-7 years old to be entered into an eating disorder clinic.
Carly says ARFID needs more attention and instead of constantly hearing "early intervention" she wants to see action.
You can listen to Carly's interview by clicking here.