Holy Cross H.S. Senior Takes Chronic Condition in Stride hat would you do if you could only eat ten foods?
W
Though it seems unbelievable to most, it is reality for 18-yearold Clarks Summit resident Marguerite Cummings. Marguerite has eosinophilic esophagitis, a disease that makes her body reject almost every food. It is different than a food allergy; as Marguerite describes it, “My body thinks food is a parasite.” Her mother, Patricia Cummings, knew something was wrong soon after Marguerite’s premature birth. It took two years for doctors to find the correct diagnosis. Eosinophilic esophagitis is a rare disease that affects about 1 in 1,200. Since her diagnosis, Marguerite and her family have learned to adapt to all of the changes that come with the disease. “It has forced her to grow up a lot faster,” Patricia says. “She always has to think about the consequences.” The consequences include missing out on plans with friends because of fatigue, staying home from school because of nausea and often missing out on family 36
meals around the dinner table. Because Marguerite can eat so few foods, she must supplement her nutrition with a feeding tube. “Living with the feeding tube is difficult—especially when going swimming,” says Marguerite. Patricia adds, “It’s hard because so much of life involves food.” Yet, Marguerite is incredibly HappeningsPA.com
grateful for the support she receives from family and friends. “My feeding tube makes me tired, so sometimes I can’t do family activities. They’re okay with that,” she says. Instead, the Cummings family– which also includes Dad Tom and sister Chloe – watches movies, gathers on their back porch to talk and goes to Mets games. Since the continued on page 38