By: Evie Morse, Age 11, Feeding Superstar

Most kids can quickly be born and start eating grown up foods, but not me! My mom was very sick. The doctor demanded that she should have me now, and she’d survive. It was the only way. So I was born early, but it was worth it! I had trouble eating because of when I was born—on June 4, by the way. I had to eat by using a thing in my belly called a G-tube. (I don’t know what the G is for, just so you know.) When it was time to take the G-tube out, I did not want to. But somehow I was convinced to take it out anyway. But I still wanted something in that spot! Sure, it did not hurt to take the G-tube out but my parents suggested to put a bandaid in its place. We took the bandaid off more and more every day, so when it was time to take it off for good, I was less worried about it.

My parents took me to eating places all over the country that tried to teach me to eat. I started off with small food, but even that was hard for me. So one day, my parents took me on vacation to Virginia. In Virginia, there was a nice eating teacher named Brianna. Brianna suggested that it did not matter if I could learn to chew and swallow. All that mattered was if I liked the food. For the next ten days, we spent time in our apartment in Virginia, with Brianna coming for each meal.

After ten days, I was better at eating. I got the hang of chewing and swallowing. I could eat solid food, but at school I had the same meal: blended up vegetables and yoghurt. So when I told my parents that I was ready to eat solid foods at school, too, they gave me notes that said what my new food was.

My favorite saying is “What are we havin’?” (said in a southern accent) when I come down from my room for lunch or dinner. My breakfast routine is fun, too, on the weekend. On school days, I have to get up and hurry to the van to my school. I hate being rushed. I eat oatmeal for breakfast and rush on school days.

But on weekends, I’m much happier. The day starts off lazy, and so do my parents. I watch videos with the sound down while my lazy parents sleep. And then what do we have for breakfast when my parents wake up? Oatmeal. Because there’s more time, I can chillax and drink my juice and milk upstairs on the bed. I drink out of a plastic bottle called a squeeze bottle. A squeeze bottle is a plastic bottle that is squeezable. You put a blue top with a hole in it on the opening in the bottle. Then put a straw in the hole. When I squeeze the bottle, the liquid in the bottle goes up the straw and into my mouth. That is, unless there’s a hole in the straw! Can you guess what happens then? Yep. It spills everywhere.

I can eat bread, too. I can eat sandwiches, hamburgers, and hot dogs. I love spicy food too, like Thai food. So can you even believe that I used to have to eat with that G-tube? I’m so glad I can now experience the tastes of things. So, parents, if you have a kid struggling to eat, have them read this story. You could even go to Virginia to visit Brianna!