Woman who refused to eat for first decade of her life dies aged 26
Tia-Mae McCarthy had to have nutrients pumped directly into her digestive system while she slept during her childhood.
She was the subject of a TV documentary as Sue, her mother, searched for answers. She even travelled abroad to find help for her daughter.
The mystery was never solved – though Tia-Mae eventually started eating and by 15 had a normal diet and appetite.
Her family have expressed their 'shock' at her sudden death and described the loss as 'unexpected'. Her cause of death is not yet known.
Tia-Mae was born 12 weeks premature and weighed 2lb 3oz. She also had a rare congenital disorder called oesophageal atresia, which meant her oesophagus and stomach did not connect.
She spent most of her first year of life in hospital and had an operation when she was three months old to move her stomach into her chest.
While Tia-Mae did have other disabilities, there was no medical reason after the surgery why she could not eat food, and her case baffled experts.
Her mother suspected it was a psychological problem that stemmed from the early months of her life when Tia-Mae stopped breathing multiple times and had to be resuscitated.
When she was seven, she featured in a 2006 documentary called The Girl Who Never Ate. Her mother took her to a specialist clinic in Austria that ran a controversial research programme, which included periods of controlled starvation.
When she was 10, Tia-Mae started to show an interest in food. The tube that had kept her alive was removed in December 2012 and by the age of 15 she had a normal diet.
Tia-Mae remained under observation by a dietitian and continued to live at the family home in Alderholt, Dorset. Tia-Mae was never able to live independently because of her disabilities.
Her brother Fin, 22, said: 'There was nothing abnormal. She had a bit of a cough, but was otherwise well.
'Her mindset was a lot younger than her physical age, so she couldn't live independently or have a job but she had a very full life. She loved horse riding and she was really into her arts and crafts.
'It's a real shock to all of us that she's gone.
'Everyone loved Tia, she put a smile on everybody's faces. She brightened every room she entered and to lose her so unexpectedly has been incredibly difficult for all who loved her.'
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