Latest news with #TiaMaeMcCarthy
The Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Woman who refused to eat solid food until she was 15 ‘found dead in bed by her mum after choking on her own vomit'
A WOMAN who refused to eat solid food until she was 15 was found dead in her bed after choking on her own vomit, an inquest has heard. Tia-Mae McCarthy, 26, baffled the medical world as a youngster as she refused to eat and was subsequently peg fed until she was a teenager. 3 3 Despite being the subject of a TV documentary as her mum Sue looked for answers to her quirk, Tia-Mae suddenly started eating solid foods in her teens, before adopting a perfectly normal diet and appetite at 15. Tragically, however, her life was cut short after she was found unresponsive in her bed at her family home in Alderholt, Dorset, on April 28. An inquest into her death heard today that aspiration - foreign material such as food or liquid getting into the airway - was a common risk factor of the surgery she had as a child. The court heard that this ultimately led to her death. Tia-Mae had been suffering a "rattly" cough for about a week before her death, the inquest in Bournemouth was told. As a result, her step-dad Jason Allman had propped her up with extra pillows the night before she died - in order to help her cough and breathing issues. A post-mortem exam found vomit in Tia-Mae's main and peripheral airways, with stomach fluid and remnants of the mac and cheese she had consumed for dinner the night before. The inquest heard that Tia-Mae had undergone vital oesophageal surgery as a child but that this increased her risk for aspiration. Her risk meant she could suffer from aspiration "at any time", with her cause of death being listed as aspiration due to gastro-oesophogeal surgical procedure (post operation). Tia-Mae was born 12 weeks premature, weighed a minuscule 2lb 3oz and had a rare congenital disorder - oesophageal atresia - which meant her oesophagus and stomach did not connect. I vomit 60 times a day and have to eat standing up or risk choking to death Despite spending much of her first year of life in hospital - including an operation when she was three months old to move her stomach into her chest - Tia went on to live at home with her family. While she did have other disabilities, there was no medical reason post-surgery to why she could not eat solid food. Experts were left baffled by the case but mum Sue believes it was a psychological problem that stemmed from the early months of Tia's life. This included occasions where the young girl stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated. Despite her family's efforts to try and get Tia to eat solid food, she didn't budge. A 2006 documentary titled The Girl Who Never Ate sees a seven-year-old Tia and her mum travel to a specialist clinic in Austria to see if they could solve her eating issues. The controversial research programme even included periods of controlled starvation. However, after turning ten, Tia began to suddenly show an interest in food. Sue recalled being amazed when her daughter wilfully accepted an offer to eat some yoghurt. From this point on, she began to eat all kinds of soft foods, including soup, custard, ice cream and mousse. Eventually, the tube she had once relied on to keep her alive was removed in December 2012. Just years later aged 15, she finally adopted a normal diet, with salmon, venison and scallops among her new favourite foods. A dietician still monitored her, ensuring her weight was in-check and to see if any additional supplements were needed. Since Tia had learning difficulties, she could not live independently and continued to stay at home with her mum. However, this didn't stop her enjoying riding horses, and Tia also attended an adult day centre. Reading a statement from Mr Allman, coroner Brendan Allen said: "About a week before Tia had a cough, which was not odd for her due to her underlying health conditions. "On April 27, Tia seemed fine. She asked for mac and cheese for dinner. I though her cough was a bit croaky, she sounded a bit wheezy. "I put extra pillows on her bed so she could sit up a bit. I went back upstairs about 10.30pm, she was dozing but she was alright. I propped her up a bit, I heard her coughing occasionally." Tia's mum called the GP surgery the following morning to make an appointment for her cough, but when she went to the bedroom Tia was unresponsive She called 999 and attempted CPR but she could not be revived. Mr Allen said: "The surgical procedure left her at an increased risk of aspiration. "I find she died as a consequence of a recognised risk factor associated with a previous surgical procedure and that death was unnatural." 3
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Woman who refused to eat for the first decade of her life choked on her own vomit, inquest hears
A woman who refused to eat for the first decade of her life choked on her own vomit, an inquest heard. Tia-Mae McCarthy, 21, baffled doctors as a child with her refusal to eat, surviving on tube feeds until she was a teenager. Her case drew national attention and was the subject of a 2006 TV documentary, The Girl Who Never Ate, which followed her mother Sue's search for answers. The 21-year-old from Fordingbridge, Hampshire, was born 12 weeks premature and weighing just 2lb 3oz, spent much of her first year in hospital. She was diagnosed with oesophageal atresia, a rare condition where the foodpipe does not connect to the stomach. She underwent surgery at three months old to move her stomach into her chest. Although the surgery meant she was physically capable of eating, she refused all food and had to be fed through a tube while she slept. Her mother, Susan McCarthy, believed it was psychological, linked to repeated medical trauma in her early months when she stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated. Then, at the age of ten, she suddenly accepted a spoonful of yoghurt – the start of a remarkable transformation that saw her ditch her feeding tube by the end of 2012. By 15, she was eating a full diet, from mac and cheese to salmon and venison. But she was found unresponsive in bed at her family home on April 28 this year. An inquest in Bournemouth heard the oesophageal surgery she had as a baby left her at lifelong risk of aspiration, food or liquid entering the airway, which could 'happen at any time'. The inquest heard she had a 'rattly' cough for about a week before her death. In a statement read to the court, her mother said her daughter had developed a cough about a week before her death, which was not unusual for her. She added: 'We were planning to go on holiday. 'On Sunday, I noticed her cough was a bit rattly. I was with Tia all day on Sunday - we went out for a coffee. 'She was really bright and cheery and enjoyed her time at the riding club. 'I messaged Jason (Tia's stepfather) and asked if Tia was OK, he told me she was still croaky. 'I messaged Tia to see if she was OK, and she replied to say yes, and this was the last time I had communication with her.' Her step-father, Jason Allman, had propped her up with extra pillows the night before she died to help her cough and breathing. The mother said she went upstairs the following day and discovered her daughter unresponsive in bed with the covers off, and realised she had died. Her step-father, Jason Allman, had propped her up with extra pillows the night before she died to help her cough and breathing. A post-mortem found vomit in the main and peripheral airways, with stomach fluid and remnants of the mac and cheese she had for dinner the night before. While Tia did have other disabilities, there was no medical reason after the surgery why she could not eat food and her case baffled the experts. Tia was featured in the documentary in which her mother took her to a specialist clinic in Austria. The controversial research programme even included periods of controlled starvation. Tia had other learning difficulties, which meant she could not live independently, and she still lived at home with her mother. She enjoyed riding and attended an adult day centre. In a police statement read to the court, officers said there were no suspicious circumstances and praised the care Ms McCarthy received from her family, saying: 'We attend a lot of vulnerable people - Tia was incredibly well supported and cared for by her mother and stepfather.' Recording his conclusion, Mr Allen said: 'I am satisfied on the basis of the circumstances that the cause of death is gastro-oesophageal aspiration. 'Tia-Mae McCarthy had a past medical condition which left her at increased risk of aspiration. She died as a consequence of a recognised risk factor of a previous surgical procedure.'
Telegraph
12-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Woman who refused to eat for first decade of her life dies aged 26
A young woman who refused to eat any food for the first decade of her life has died at the age of 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.'
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Woman who did not eat solid food and was fed vital nutrients through a tube for the 10 years of her life dies aged 26
A young woman who was fed through a tube for the first decade of her life has died aged 26, her family have announced. In a case which baffled medical experts across the world, Tia-Mae McCarthy had to receive all her vital nutrients through a tube while she slept for the first 10 years of her life. Her unexplained aversion to food was the subject of a TV documentary as her mother Sue desperately searched for answers, even travelling abroad to get her daughter help. The mystery was never solved, but eventually Tia surprised her family when she started eating at age 10 - and by 15 she had a normal diet and appetite. Tragically she died suddenly on April 28, with her mother, Sue McCarthy, finding her unresponsive in her bed. Her cause of death is not known yet and more tests are being carried out to ascertain how she died. Tia's family are now fundraising to organise a celebration of life to 'honour Tia with the send-off she truly deserves'. Tia was born 12 weeks premature, weighed a tiny 2lb 3oz and had a rare congenital disorder - oesophageal atresia - which meant her oesophagus and stomach did not connect. She spent most of her first year in hospital and had to have an operation when she was three months old to move her stomach into her chest. While Tia did have other disabilities, there was no medical reason after the surgery why she could not eat food and her case baffled the experts. Her mother suspected it was a psychological problem that stemmed from the early months of her life where Tia stopped breathing multiple times and had to be resuscitated. But nothing they tried could convince the youngster to eat anything. Tia was featured in a documentary, The Girl Who Never Ate, in 2006 when she was seven and her mother took her to a specialist clinic in Austria. The controversial research programme even included periods of controlled starvation. Eventually when she was ten, Tia suddenly started showing an interest in food. Ms McCarthy was amazed when she offered her daughter some yoghurt and she said yes. She started eating all kinds of soft foods - soup, custard, ice cream and mousse - and eventually had the tube she had once relied on to keep her alive removed in December 2012. By the time she was 15 she ate completely normally, with salmon, venison and scallops among her favourite foods. Although she was still monitored by a dietician to check her weight, what she was eating and if any additional supplements were needed. Because of her disabilities, Tia could never live independently and still lived at the family home in Alderholt, Dorset. 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. 'She didn't have an easy childhood, she faced many medical challenges in her short life, but whatever life threw at her she just took it on. She never let it dim her spirit or sense of humour. 'We are not a religious family and she wouldn't have wanted a traditional funeral so we're hoping to organise more of a celebration of life. 'We will ask everyone to wear orange and yellow, because they were Tia's favourite colours. 'We want to honour Tia with the send-off she truly deserves - one to reflect the joy she brought to us and to show our immense love for her.'
