Program Helping Kids Diagnosed With FTT Celebrated At St. Christopher's Hospital
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Grow Clinic at St. Christopher's Hospital helps kids diagnosed with FTT or Failure To Thrive.
Today, the clinic celebrated 10 years of success.
"It's a struggle because you feel you are failing as a parent. You know your child is not eating."
Michelle Camiel's seven-year-old son Bradley went through the program when he was two and stayed in it for two years.
She says a physician, a psychologist, a social worker and a dietitian worked with her family to support Bradley's weight gain.
"It did help. It teaches you how to help and eat, and it gives you different ways to try and do different things. They will tell you don't force the meals, don't make it a negative thing. So you try not to, you try to make it a positive experience."
Dr. Hans Kersten, medical director of the Grow Clinic says, "These are children who have had problems gaining weight, or lost weight, and it's really about trying to structure their environment to get them more calories, and sometimes that requires limiting liquids and foods that kids love, but don't have the calories to grow."
Kids who went through the program over the years were given diplomas at a ceremony at St. Christopher's Atrium and treated to a lunch of chicken nuggets, mac and cheese and broccoli.