Doctors accused this mom of harming her own child until one test revealed the terrifying truth hiding in her daughter’s food
Medical negligence?
A number of doctors accused a U.K. mom of harming her own child until one test revealed the terrifying truth hiding in her daughter’s food. Freya, now 4, spent her first year screaming for up to 20 hours a day, leaving her parents desperate for answers. What they eventually discovered was hereditary fructose intolerance, or HFI, a rare genetic disorder that makes common foods like fruit and vegetables toxic to her body.
According to People, Freya’s mom, Dannie, first noticed something was wrong when her daughter struggled to breastfeed and was switched to infant formula. Almost immediately, Freya started vomiting, bloating, and dealing with constant diarrhea. By the time she was 8 months, Dannie suspected HFI after frantic, detailed Google searches, but doctors dismissed the idea. Instead, they suggested reflux or colic – common explanations for a fussy baby.
When Freya’s condition worsened, health professionals took a far more alarming approach. They accused Dannie of fabricated or induced illness, or FII, a serious allegation that led to a court order forcing the family to be monitored at home. For a period, Dannie wasn’t even allowed to be alone with her children.
The turning point came when a genetics test confirmed Freya had HFI
“The consultant explained, ‘The genetics test has come back as positive,’” Dannie said. “I went out into the garden and just sobbed and sobbed, because there was an answer and it wasn’t me.” The diagnosis changed everything. Freya transformed from a lethargic, inconsolable child into a happy, playful one. Her blood sugar stabilized, and the constant screaming stopped. For Dannie, the relief was overwhelming, but the journey to that moment had been traumatic.
HFI is caused by a missing enzyme that prevents the body from breaking down fructose, a natural sugar found in fruits, some vegetables, and even certain processed foods. Without that enzyme, fructose builds up in the liver and kidneys, leading to severe complications like organ failure if left untreated. The condition is rare, affecting about one in every 18,000 people in the U.K., according to Professor Tim Cox, the country’s leading HFI specialist.
But because it’s so uncommon, many doctors don’t recognize the symptoms right away. Some children have even died when HFI went undiagnosed or was mistaken for other conditions. Adults with the disorder can suffer long-term liver or kidney damage if they don’t adjust their diets early enough.
Right now, HFI is part of a newborn screening study in the U.K., but that trial only runs until 2027. Dannie and other advocates want the test to become a permanent part of the national neonatal program. Bill Armstrong, co-founder of the Hereditary Fructose Intolerance UK charity, explained that early diagnosis could save families years of stress, unnecessary medical costs, and emotional turmoil.
“A cheap, quick genetic test at birth removes all of this and the parental stress of being sent home with a ‘failure to thrive baby,’” he said. The U.K.’s Department of Health has acknowledged the evidence supporting expanded screening, but no final decision has been made yet.
Dannie isn’t alone in her fight for better awareness
Carol Westwood, another U.K. resident with HFI, wasn’t diagnosed until her 20s. Like Freya, she spent her childhood being told her symptoms were all in her head. She told the BBC, “I was encouraged to eat fruit and vegetables, and I was disbelieved when I said it made me sick.”
Decades later, she’s adjusted her diet to avoid fructose entirely, but it’s a constant challenge. She eats meat, fish, cheese, homemade white bread (wholemeal contains fructans), and pasta, but even then, she has to scrutinize every label. Unlike allergies, food manufacturers aren’t required to warn consumers about natural sugars, which means hidden fructose can lurk in unexpected places.
Westwood now runs HFI UK, the same charity Dannie is involved with, offering support and resources to others with the condition. The organization also pushes for research and early detection. “It’s included in the national neonatal screening programme in a trial, but lives will be saved if this becomes permanent,” Westwood said.
For families like Dannie’s, the change can’t come soon enough
Before Freya’s diagnosis, the accusations and constant monitoring left Dannie feeling helpless. Now, she’s focused on making sure other parents don’t have to go through the same ordeal. “I appreciate you can’t screen for every condition,” she said, “but this is so simple to solve if you detect it early. We could have avoided so much trauma.”
Living with HFI means sticking to a strict, fructose-free diet, but the payoff is huge. Once Freya’s meals were adjusted, her health improved dramatically. Armstrong emphasized that people with HFI don’t need constant medical intervention, just an annual blood test to ensure their diet remains safe. “All HFI people need is a safe diet,” he said.
For Freya, that means no apples, no bananas, and no sneaky fructose in processed foods. But it also means no more screaming, no more hospital visits, and a childhood that finally feels normal.
The push for newborn screening is gaining momentum, but for now, families are left navigating a system that often overlooks rare conditions. Dannie’s story is a stark reminder of how quickly medical professionals can jump to the wrong conclusions when they don’t have all the facts. Her hope is that no other parent has to endure the heartbreak of being accused of harming their child when the real culprit was hiding in plain sight.
(Featured image: Championship Catering)
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