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Unusual medical condition makes meals ordeals for Marquette girl and family Little Maci Dalton broke her arm this summer when she hit a fence with her bike. That's not so unusual for a six-year-old coming off training wheels. What is unusual about Maci is not her smile or the way she tries her older sister's patience. Maci is different because at six, she has the diet of a six-to-nine month old infant. Maci has a condition called a pediatric feeding disorder, along with a long list of food allergies that are severe. If she touches someone who has touched a food to which she is allergic and then touches her own mouth or nose, she will have a reaction. Last year the Kindergarten class Maci shared with 25 other children at MFL MarMac had to take special precautions to keep from making Maci sick. No food was allowed in the classroom, and the children had to wash their hands each time they returned to the classroom. They even had to bring a change of clothes to school in case they spilled something on them selves at lunch. Maci's parents, Heidi and Randy Dalton, noticed that Maci was having trouble eating when she was only three months old, when she couldn't keep regular infant formula down. They also discovered she was allergic to milk when she got hives and had trouble breathing after eating dairy. They switched her to soy formula, and that same formula, along with baby food still makes up most of the girl's diet. Maci also has something called oral aversion. The normal textures of food causes a gag reflex that makes it impossible for her to swallow, so all her food must be pureed to a fine, soft texture, another reason for the baby food. All of these problems with food have made it hard for Maci to maintain her weight and grow; at six she weighs just 32 pounds. Heidi and Randy first took Maci to see a specialist at Mayo Clinic when she was 18 months. She underwent weeks of testing for food allergies and for a condition called eosinophilic esophagitis, in which the esophagus is inflamed due in part to allergic reactions. Doctors at Mayo were not clear if the girl had this condition or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is very similar. After treating Maci at home with a visiting speech pathologist for nearly three years, they saw no improvement. So in 2004 they took Maci to the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. Maci stayed there for two weeks to participate in an intensive feeding program where they slowly began introducing textured foods, 1/2 teaspoon at a time. Maci did gain weight, but the family had trouble keeping the weight on her, especially after Maci got the flu, which was exacerbated by her asthma. This year the family began taking Maci to Milwaukee Children's Hospital for treatment and testing. After a visit to the hospital in July, doctors placed Maci on a very strict eating regimen that has affected her whole family. Maci gets three meals and two snacks per day at specific times. She has thirty minutes to eat her meals of baby formula, infant cereal and pureed fruit or vegetables. She must eat a certain number of bites of food she doesn't like before she can get a bite of something she does like. Like many kids, Maci isn't very fond of the carrots and squash her mother tries to get her to eat. Sometimes she refuses to eat that first bite of something that she doesn't like, and the thirty minute meal period ends and Maci doesn't eat anything. While Maci doesn't seem to be bothered much by hunger, Heidi worries that she will start losing weight. Plus there are many meals with tantrums. When asked what is the hardest thing about living with Maci, sister Lanie replies simply, "her screaming." Family mealtimes are stressful, and Maci must leave the kitchen when the family is eating. The family was scheduled to return to Milwaukee for another intensive feeding at the end of August. Now the hospital has delayed it until October. "I don't know if we can do this for that long," Heidi confessed. The family is now experiencing financial difficulties as well. Maci's treatments have not been completely covered by insurance. When they take Maci to Milwaukee, they have the added cost of motel rooms and meals for one parent; one can stay at the hospital. Doctors prefer that both parents are present for treatments. Maci's treatments last two to three weeks. The last trip to Milwaukee really set them back. Family have stepped in to organize a benefit rummage and bake sale scheduled for this weekend at Heidi's sister's home in Eastman, Wis. Heidi says that its hard to ask for help, but that the family has no other choice. The 10-family rummage sale will be held at the home of Rita and Adam Trautsch at 27285 Finney Lane, at Eastman from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Friday and Saturday August 3-4. Donations may also be sent to Maci Dalton Benefit at Fortress Bank, 1415 South. Marquette Rd., Prairie du Chien. Growing garden helps inmates, staff and community One section of the Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution literally gives inmates the opportunity for growth. The Correctional Institution garden began in 1999, but this year it has more than doubled, said Deputy Warden Rick Gutknecht. "This year is by far the most we've ever harvested and we're not done yet," Gutknecht said. Planning for the 2007 garden began in earnest this past winter when Food Service Administrator Jackie Wehrle grew plants in the basement, including two types of tomatoes, two types of pepper plants, cabbage seedlings and broccoli. Wehrle heads up the garden and the general oversight of the project is done by Corrections Management Services Director Mary Wayne. The garden is located within the Correctional Institution on two acres west of the railroad tracks. The garden employs 10 inmates. A few more inmates in the kitchen process the produce. Gutknecht explained that the primary objectives of the garden are to reduce inmate idleness, reduce food costs, provide healthy garden produce for meals for staff and inmates, and to provide additional harvest to the local food pantry. "Working in the garden teaches the inmates interpersonal skills, teamwork, planning ahead and gardening skills," said Gutknecht. "They very much take pride in the garden and they've done an outstanding job." Gutknecht noted that so far this year the garden has produced 4,978 pounds of produce, 2,741 ears of corn, more than 400 pounds of produce and 250 ears of corn for the Wisconsin Secure Program Facility, and 377 pounds of produce for the Community Action Program (CAP), including 44 cucumbers, 176 ears of sweet corn, 45 zucchini, 43 onions, and 69 cabbage. By this Friday, CAP will also receive about 200 pounds of potatoes. In addition to Wehrle, Wayne and the inmates, other departments have been involved in the garden, including Food Service, Maintenance, and Correctional Officer staff and supervisors. "They've done an outstanding job of making the garden a success and showing exceptional teamwork," said Gutknecht. "It's extremely successful and it wouldn't work without our quality staff." Gutknecht said that Wehrle and others have been talking about the potential to continue to expand the garden and its harvest in the upcoming years.
Governor Doyle requests Bagley disaster assistance Governor Jim Doyle has requested disaster assistance from the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) for victims from last week's flooding in Bagley. If approved, the SBA would provide federal low-interest loans to individuals and businesses that suffered damage. "As the citizens of Bagley continue to clean up following the flooding, I want to make sure we are able to provide disaster assistance to help the flood victims recover from this devastating event," Governor Doyle said. "We need a quick response for this relief to make sure the citizens of Bagley can get back to work, and get back to their lives." The SBA was in Bagley earlier this week, meeting with local and state emergency management officials and viewing flood damage. If the disaster request is approved, the SBA provides loans of up to $200,000 to cover repairs to disaster-damaged homes. Homeowners and renters would also be eligible for up to $40,000 to replace personal property. Low-interest loans would also be made available to businesses that sustained damage from the flooding as well as economic loss. Other assistance that may be made available includes: Wisconsin Disaster Fund: The State Disaster Fund will be made available to assist local governments in helping recoup costs incurred in responding to and recovering from the flooding. The state contributes 70 percent of the costs, with the local applicant contributing the remaining 30 percent. Eligible costs include debris clearance and emergency protective measures. The fund does not cover losses suffered by individuals, businesses, or the agricultural sector. CDBG-EAP Program: The Village of Bagley, in conjunction with Grant County, has informed the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, Division of Housing and Community Development, of their intent to apply for a Community Development Block grant for Emergency Assistance (CDBG-EAP). The CDBG-EAP grant will be used to help low- to moderate-income residents repair structural damage to their homes that is not covered by insurance. The County anticipates that the application will be submitted to the Division by the end of August. WHEDA Grant: The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority will also be providing a $5,000 grant that will fund temporary housing services to those that were forced out of their homes during the recent flooding. In total, approximately 65 families will benefit from this grant. Crawford County group seeks moratorium on large-scale animal confinement operations Approximately 60 concerned citizens met at the Gays Mills Community Building the evening of July 26 to organize a drive to place a moratorium on CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations) in Crawford County. The group is asking the county to adopt a one-year moratorium on any new large animal confinement operations until further studies can be done to determine environmental and health risks. The county already has in place an ordinance governing confined animal operations over 500 animal units (an animal unit equals 1,000 pounds), but state law does not allow the counties to enforce rules which are more strict than the state laws unless environmental risk can be proven. Said Ron Leys, chairman of the Crawford County Board of Supervisors, "The county can't just say no. The political power goes to national and state government. But if you have scientific proof that there is a unique condition in your area, then we can pass more restrictive laws." At present there are no large-scale hog operations in the county, but AV Roth, who has a farm located on Hwy 60 between Boscobel and Wauzeka, is seeking to expand his operation from 1,500 to 2,900 pigs, and has obtained the application papers. Roth does not feel this will create problems. Said Roth, "We have to do a nutrient management plan which tells us how much manure we can spread, and soil samples (which measure the nutrient levels in the soil) have to be taken every four years." Roth said that state representatives have identified the type of soil at his farm site to tell him how much phosphorous and nitrogen can safely be put on the premises. "What we're doing," he said, "is replacing the nitrogen and phosphorus through spreading manure rather than through commercial fertilizer application." Roth said there isn't much odor now with 1,500 hogs, and he doesn't anticipate much of an increase when the operation doubles in size. He said they work to keep the facility clean, and to contain the smell when they spread manure, especially near the highway, they "knife" it in by using a machine which loosens the dirt and puts the manure down into the soil rather than on top. He said he is following all regulations to make his operation environmentally safe. The problem for the group seeking the moratorium is determining what is environmentally safe. Said Edie Ehlert, a spokesperson for the group, "The laws don't adequately address our hills and valleys. And there are now independent studies which show there are health problems from release of the pathogens from the sheds that affect neighbors, even miles away." One concern is that the karst geology„generally characterized by connecting cracks and layers between rocks that can transport water and pollutants to the groundwater„of Crawford County is not suitable for large-scale animal operations, since it could allow spread manure to enter the groundwater. The steep hills, which can create run-off during heavy rainfalls, are also a matter of concern. Hydrogen sulfide, produced in swine containment and manure-handling operations, is also a worry. According to a publication from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide may cause irritation to the eyes, nose, or throat, and may cause breathing difficulty for some asthmatics. Brief exposure to high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, in some individuals, may result in more serious permanent or long-term effects. At present the group has begun to circulate a petition seeking the moratorium and has joined with the Sterling Neighborhood Group in Vernon County and Valley Stewardship Network, a Kickapoo valley-wide Vernon and Crawford County group, in hiring an attorney to work in both counties on this issue. |
