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Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Meal Plan for Kids That Actually Works With Their Brain (Not Against It)
Look, feeding kids is hard enough without worrying about whether you're doing it 'right.' Whether you're stretching every dollar or have a full pantry, most of us are just trying to get through the day without a food fight – literally. But what if I told you the secret isn't finding the 'perfect' foods, but figuring out when and how your specific kid's body actually wants to eat? It's like finally getting the instruction manual that should have come with your child. Table of Contents Why Traditional Kid Nutrition Advice Falls Short Your Child's Internal Clock Controls Everything The Gut-Brain Connection Your Pediatrician Didn't Mention When Picky Eating Isn't Really About Food Making This Work in Real Life (Without Losing Your Mind) Emergency Plans for When Life Gets Messy TL;DR Your kid has an internal clock that's way more sophisticated than anything Apple makes – timing matters more than you think Tiny creatures in your child's belly are literally talking to their brain, affecting mood and focus (it's not just about digestion) Many 'picky eaters' aren't being difficult – their brain just processes textures and flavors differently You can start with simple changes like adjusting breakfast timing and gradually build from there This approach works even with busy schedules and tight budgets when you know what to prioritize Why Traditional Kid Nutrition Advice Falls Short Ever wonder why your kid comes home from school acting like they haven't eaten all day, even though you know they had lunch? Turns out, feeding millions of kids the same thing at the same time doesn't work for everyone. Shocking, I know. Most parenting advice treats all children like they're identical little robots, ignoring the fact that kids have vastly different ways their brains work, sleep patterns, and how they experience different textures and flavors. I've spent years watching families struggle with the standard 'balanced meal' approach because it doesn't account for when a child's body can actually use the good stuff or how their unique brain chemistry affects their relationship with food. Over 95,000 schools and institutions serve school lunches to 29.7 million students each day, including 20.5 million free lunches, yet standardized meal timing and composition often conflicts with when individual kids' bodies are actually ready for food. The School Nutrition Association data shows we're feeding millions of kids without considering their individual biological needs. Take Sarah – her 8-year-old Jake turned into a monster every day after school. Everyone kept saying 'more protein at lunch!' But here's the thing: Jake is naturally a night owl who was being forced to choke down eggs at 6:30 AM when his body was basically still asleep. Once she figured out his natural rhythm and shifted things around, the after-school meltdowns disappeared. Like magic, but with science. Understanding your child's unique nutritional needs goes beyond conventional approaches, much like how Dr. Mark Hyman's breakfast principles emphasize timing and individual body chemistry over one-size-fits-all recommendations. When we create a meal plan for kids that honors how their individual body works, everything changes. Your Child's Internal Clock Controls Everything Understanding Your Kid's Natural Rhythm Your kid has an internal clock that tells their body when to wake up, when to get hungry, and when to crash. The problem? Most of us are trying to force our kids to eat on OUR schedule, not theirs. Working with this natural rhythm instead of against it can dramatically improve both behavior and how well they actually absorb nutrients. I've watched families transform their daily struggles simply by paying attention to these biological patterns. If your kid bounces out of bed ready to conquer the world, they need protein ASAP to keep that energy stable. But if they're like my friend's daughter who needs 20 minutes just to remember her own name in the morning? Forcing a big breakfast is like trying to fuel a car that's still warming up. I've seen too many parents battle their naturally late-rising kids over breakfast when the real issue is timing, not appetite. There's a specific window after waking when your child's stress hormones naturally peak, making this the optimal time for their first meal. Missing this window often leads to afternoon crashes and difficulty focusing on homework later in the day. The difference between hitting this window and missing it can be the difference between a smooth day and constant behavioral challenges. Creating nutritious morning meals that work with your child's natural rhythm is similar to the principles found in perfecting oatmeal preparation – timing and technique matter more than ingredients alone. Child Type Optimal Breakfast Timing Best First Foods Energy Pattern Morning Lark Within 30 minutes of waking Protein + complex carbs High energy AM, steady decline PM Night Owl 60-90 minutes after waking Light protein + fruit Gradual energy build throughout day Balanced Type 45-60 minutes after waking Balanced macro mix Consistent energy with minor fluctuations Strategic Timing for Maximum Impact Beyond breakfast timing, there are specific windows throughout the day when children's bodies are primed for different types of nutrients. Understanding these windows allows you to maximize both physical growth and brain performance without turning into a nutrition scientist. After physical activity, children have a brief window where their muscles can rapidly absorb carbohydrates for recovery. Kids who get the right fuel during this window avoid that 4 PM witching hour when your angel turns into a tiny tornado. I've noticed this pattern repeatedly – the children who eat strategically after recess or sports practice maintain better focus and emotional regulation throughout the evening. Certain combinations of foods consumed 2-3 hours before bedtime naturally support your child's sleep hormones. Better sleep quality directly impacts next-day appetite regulation and emotional stability. When you get this timing right, you're setting up a positive cycle that improves everything from morning mood to afternoon attention span. Math homework requires different fuel than creative projects. I've learned to align glucose-rich snacks with analytical tasks while providing sustained energy sources during activities that benefit from deeper thinking. This isn't about micromanaging every snack – it's about understanding that your child's brain has different fuel needs for different types of thinking. The Gut-Brain Connection Your Pediatrician Didn't Mention Specific Bacteria for Specific Behaviors Forget everything you think you know about probiotics. We're not talking about expensive yogurt here. Specific tiny creatures living in your kid's belly are literally talking to their brain, influencing whether they're anxious, happy, or ready to flip tables. The research on this connection keeps expanding, and the practical applications are game-changing for families dealing with behavioral challenges. Certain beneficial bacteria produce calming chemicals that naturally reduce anxiety. Foods containing Jerusalem artichokes and green bananas feed these specific bacteria, potentially helping with test stress and social anxiety. I've worked with families who saw significant improvements in their child's test performance simply by incorporating these foods into their regular rotation. Here's something that blew my mind: most of your kid's 'happy chemicals' aren't made in their brain – they're made in their stomach. So when people say 'trust your gut,' there's actually some serious science behind it. Strategic inclusion of fermented foods beyond basic yogurt – kefir smoothies and fermented applesauce – can support more stable moods throughout the day. Supporting your child's gut health naturally aligns with understanding how drinking vinegars can enhance digestive wellness as part of a comprehensive approach to family nutrition. With meal delivery services becoming increasingly popular for busy families, 'Best Meal Delivery Services for Families' from Bon Appétit highlights how services like Hungryroot and Green Chef are making it easier for parents to provide organic, gut-health supporting meals without extensive meal planning. Fighting Inflammation at the Source Many childhood behavioral and attention issues stem from chronic low-grade inflammation that standard approaches only mask rather than address. Think of your kid's gut like a garden – the good bacteria are like helpful plants that need the right food to grow and crowd out the weeds. Creating anti-inflammatory meal patterns tackles the root cause rather than managing symptoms. I've seen children's focus improve dramatically when we address inflammation through strategic nutrition. The typical American diet creates an inflammatory ratio that can worsen attention and behavioral issues. Achieving the optimal balance requires strategic meal planning that reduces processed food inflammation while incorporating marine-based omega-3s in formats kids will actually eat. This means getting creative with fish preparation and finding plant-based omega-3 sources that don't trigger texture sensitivities. Weekly rotation of colorful plant compounds prevents adaptation while maintaining maximum anti-inflammatory benefits. I use a 'rainbow tracking' system that turns nutrition into a game kids want to participate in. When children feel involved in the process rather than controlled by it, compliance becomes cooperation. When Picky Eating Isn't Really About Food Working With Sensory Processing Differences Before you blame yourself for raising a 'difficult eater,' consider this: your kid might not be picky – their brain might just process textures, smells, and tastes differently than yours does. It's not defiance, it's neurology. Many children have undiagnosed sensory processing differences that dramatically impact their relationship with food. What looks like 'picky eating' is often a brain response that requires specialized approaches honoring how their nervous system processes sensory information. Systematic introduction of new textures through carefully designed meal progressions can expand palate acceptance without triggering sensory overwhelm. This isn't about forcing foods – it's about creating safe pathways for exploration. The key is moving slowly enough that the child's nervous system can adapt without going into protective mode. Some children seek deep pressure sensory input through chewy foods, crunchy vegetables, and resistance-based eating. Understanding whether your child is sensory-seeking or sensory-avoiding changes everything about meal planning. A sensory-seeking child might thrive on raw carrots and chewy granola bars, while a sensory-avoiding child needs smooth textures and mild flavors. Emma used to think her 6-year-old Maya was just being stubborn about crunchy foods. Turns out, those textures felt overwhelming to Maya's nervous system – like nails on a chalkboard, but in her mouth. Once Emma understood this wasn't about willpower, she started with smooth vegetable purees mixed into familiar foods, then gradually introduced finely minced vegetables, then small soft pieces, and finally regular textures over a 4-month period. Maya now enjoys roasted vegetables because her sensory system was gradually prepared for the texture changes. Pairing specific food temperatures and textures with strategic meal positioning can support children who struggle with sensory overwhelm during eating times. Sometimes the environment matters as much as the food itself. Dimmed lighting, reduced noise, and comfortable seating can make the difference between a successful meal and a meltdown. Neurodivergent-Friendly Approaches Children with ADHD, autism spectrum differences, and other neurodivergent traits need meal plans that work with how their brain works rather than against it. This requires understanding how executive function, hyperfocus, and sensory processing affect eating patterns. Simple, predictable meal structures reduce the mental load on children who already struggle with executive function while ensuring optimal nutrition for brain development and focus. When every meal requires multiple decisions, neurodivergent children can become overwhelmed before they even start eating. Grab-and-go nutritional options that can be consumed during periods of intense focus allow neurodivergent children to maintain their flow states while still getting proper nutrition. Interrupting hyperfocus for a formal meal can be counterproductive, but having nutrient-dense finger foods available maintains both focus and nutrition. Rather than eliminating preferred foods, I've learned to maintain a core group of accepted options while gradually expanding choices through strategic nutrient fortification and gentle exposure techniques. This approach respects the child's need for predictability while slowly building flexibility. Supporting children with different brain wiring requires understanding how digestive wellness impacts behavior and focus, making gut health a cornerstone of neurodivergent-friendly nutrition. Making This Work in Real Life (Without Losing Your Mind) Honest Assessment of Your Family's Reality Let's get real for a minute. If you're already running on fumes and can barely get dinner on the table, this needs to make your life easier, not harder. We're talking about small tweaks that fit into your actual life – not some Pinterest-perfect fantasy. The most sophisticated meal plan fails if it doesn't account for your actual available time, energy, and skill levels. Realistic planning prevents the all-or-nothing mentality that derails most nutrition efforts. Honestly assessing available time, energy, and cooking skills allows you to create meal plans that reduce rather than increase family stress. This isn't about perfection – it's about sustainable progress that actually fits into your real life. Family Capacity Assessment Checklist: ☐ Available cooking time on weekdays (be realistic) ☐ Weekend meal prep time available ☐ Number of family members with dietary restrictions ☐ Budget constraints for specialty ingredients ☐ Kitchen equipment and storage limitations ☐ Child's current accepted foods list ☐ Family stress tolerance for food changes You don't need to become a meal-prep influencer or blow your grocery budget on superfoods. Sometimes the biggest win is buying the right basics and knowing how to use them when you're exhausted on a Tuesday night. Strategic shopping, batch preparation, and multi-purpose ingredient selection can maximize nutrition while working within budget and time limitations. With 2.6 billion breakfasts served annually through school programs and varying reimbursement rates from $2.37 for free breakfasts to $0.39 for paid breakfasts, many families are looking for ways to supplement institutional meals with targeted nutrition that supports their child's individual needs, according to the School Nutrition Association. Step-by-Step Implementation That Sticks Please don't try to change everything at once. Pick ONE thing that makes you think 'oh, that might explain why…' and start there. Maybe it's just shifting breakfast 30 minutes later. That's it. See what happens. Build from there when you're ready . Introducing advanced nutritional concepts requires a systematic approach that doesn't overwhelm families or trigger child resistance. I've developed a progressive protocol that builds success upon success, because sustainable change happens gradually. Track current eating patterns, mood correlations, and energy levels to establish baseline data before making any changes. This observation period often reveals patterns you never noticed before. You might discover your child's afternoon meltdowns consistently happen exactly two hours after lunch, or that their best focus occurs at specific times of day. Introduce one element (adjusting meal timing) while maintaining familiar foods to isolate the impact of each change. This prevents confusion about what's actually working. When you change multiple variables simultaneously, you can't identify which interventions are creating the positive results. Systematically layer additional elements while monitoring child response and family stress levels. This gradual approach prevents overwhelm while building sustainable habits. Each new element should feel manageable rather than overwhelming. Customize the approach based on observed outcomes and family feedback to create a sustainable long-term system that fits your specific situation and your child's unique needs. By this point, you'll have enough data to know what works for your family and what doesn't. Meal Prep That Supports Brain Development Strategic preparation methods maintain the integrity of time-sensitive nutritional elements while accommodating real family schedules. This isn't about spending entire weekends cooking – it's about smart preparation that saves time and preserves nutrition. Preparing base ingredients that can be quickly assembled into meals that work with your kid's natural rhythm throughout the week, including pre-portioned protein sources for morning energy support and pre-prepped complex carbs for afternoon energy stability. I focus on components that can be mixed and matched rather than complete meals that lock you into one option. Specific storage techniques maintain beneficial bacterial cultures and prevent the degradation of sensitive compounds such as probiotics and omega-3s, ensuring your prep work doesn't undermine your nutritional goals. Heat-sensitive nutrients require different handling than stable compounds, and knowing these differences prevents wasted effort. Effective meal preparation techniques can be enhanced by understanding how to preserve nutrients in homemade preparations while maintaining both flavor and therapeutic benefits. Nutrient Type Storage Method Maximum Storage Time Preparation Tips Probiotics Refrigerate in glass containers 3-5 days Add to meals just before serving Omega-3 rich foods Freeze in single portions 2-3 months Thaw in refrigerator, never microwave Prepped vegetables Store in breathable containers 5-7 days Blanch briefly to maintain nutrients Cooked proteins Vacuum seal or airtight containers 3-4 days refrigerated Cool completely before storing Using Technology Without Obsessing Modern tools can help identify patterns between meal timing, food choices, and child behavior without turning mealtime into a clinical experience. The key is using technology to support intuition rather than replace it. Digital tools that help parents identify patterns between specific foods/timing and their child's emotional regulation, attention span, and energy levels can reveal insights that transform your approach. Simple photo logs of meals paired with brief behavior notes often show correlations that surprise parents. Monitoring how different evening meal compositions affect sleep quality and next-day behavior creates personalized bedtime nutrition protocols that improve the entire family's rest. When you can see the direct connection between dinner choices and morning mood, meal planning becomes much more purposeful. Emergency Plans for When Life Gets Messy Maintaining Nutrition During Crisis Because life happens. Your kid gets sick, work explodes, or you're dealing with family drama – and suddenly your carefully planned meals go out the window. Here's how to keep the important stuff going even when everything else falls apart. Simplified approaches that maintain core nutritional principles during illness, family emergencies, or high-stress periods ensure that nutrition goals aren't completely abandoned when elaborate meal planning isn't feasible. Modified meal plans that support immune function while maintaining gut health during illness, including easily digestible options that still provide mood-stabilizing nutrients when regular meals aren't appealing. Illness disrupts normal eating patterns, but strategic nutrition choices can actually speed recovery. When Marcus got hit with a stomach bug, his mom Lisa didn't panic about 'ruining' his nutrition. She just focused on the basics – keeping him hydrated, supporting his gut recovery, and maintaining his usual eating rhythm with gentler foods. She offered bone broth with a pinch of sea salt for electrolytes, mashed banana with a tiny amount of probiotic powder, and small sips of ginger tea with honey. Even during illness, she maintained his natural eating rhythm with lighter versions of his usual meal timing, which helped him recover faster and return to normal eating patterns without resistance. Portable nutrition solutions that maintain natural rhythm support and sensory processing accommodations while away from home, because vacation shouldn't mean abandoning everything that helps your child thrive. Planning ahead prevents the complete dietary chaos that often accompanies family trips. Disney's announcement of 'free dining plans for kids ages 3 to 9' from ABC7 New York shows how even major family destinations are recognizing the importance of making nutritious meals accessible to families, though parents still need strategies for maintaining their child's specific nutritional timing and sensory needs even during vacation dining. Navigating Social Eating Situations Strategies for maintaining nutritional goals while allowing children to participate fully in social eating experiences such as birthday parties, school events, and playdates without creating food anxiety or social isolation. Social eating presents unique challenges that require advance planning and flexibility. Nutritional strategies implemented before social eating events minimize the impact of less optimal food choices on behavior and energy levels, allowing kids to enjoy celebrations without major consequences. Pre-Party Preparation Checklist: ☐ Serve protein-rich snack 30 minutes before party ☐ Ensure child is well-hydrated before leaving home ☐ Pack familiar backup snacks if needed ☐ Review social eating expectations with child ☐ Plan post-party recovery meal timing ☐ Coordinate with host about food options if necessary Specific meal compositions designed to rebalance blood sugar, support gut health, and prevent behavioral rebounds after consuming party foods or restaurant meals help get back on track quickly. Recovery doesn't mean punishment – it means strategic support for your child's system. Post-celebration recovery strategies work similarly to how immune system support requires strategic timing and nutrients to help the body bounce back from stress or disruption. When you're ready to dive deeper into supporting your child's unique nutritional needs, Organic Authority offers carefully vetted supplements and wellness products that align with this neurodevelopmental approach. Their rigorous evaluation process ensures you're getting clean, effective options that support your child's brain development and overall health. Advanced Troubleshooting for Complex Situations When Multiple Issues Overlap Many children deal with combinations of sensory processing differences, attention challenges, and gut health issues simultaneously. Addressing these overlapping concerns requires a nuanced approach that doesn't overwhelm an already sensitive system. Children with both sensory processing differences and gut health issues need meal plans that address texture sensitivities while supporting beneficial bacteria growth. This often means finding creative ways to deliver probiotics and anti-inflammatory foods in sensory-acceptable formats. Smoothies become vehicles for fermented ingredients, while familiar textures hide nutrient-dense additions. Kids dealing with both attention challenges and anxiety need carefully balanced approaches that provide focus-supporting nutrients without triggering overstimulation. Timing becomes even more critical when managing multiple brain factors. What supports attention might increase anxiety if given at the wrong time or in the wrong combination. With schools serving meals between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM according to federal regulations, children with complex needs often require additional nutritional support outside these windows to maintain optimal brain function throughout the day. Seasonal and Developmental Adjustments Your child's nutritional needs change with growth spurts, seasonal light exposure, and developmental phases. What works perfectly in summer might need adjustment during the shorter days of winter or during periods of rapid physical growth. Ever notice how your kid can survive on air and attitude some days, then eat you out of house and home the next? During rapid growth periods, children's nutritional needs can increase dramatically and unpredictably. Understanding how to scale portions and adjust macronutrient ratios prevents the behavioral instability that often accompanies growth spurts. Suddenly increased appetite isn't defiance – it's biology demanding more fuel for development. Changes in daylight exposure throughout the year affect children's natural sleep-wake cycles and hormone production. Adjusting meal timing and composition seasonally helps maintain optimal energy and mood stability year-round. Winter requires different nutritional support than summer, and recognizing these patterns prevents seasonal behavioral challenges. Building Food Relationship Resilience Beyond getting proper nutrition, this approach helps children develop a healthy, sustainable relationship with food that serves them into adulthood. The goal is raising kids who understand their bodies' signals and can make good choices independently. Many children lose touch with their natural hunger and satiety signals due to external meal scheduling and food rules. Reconnecting kids with these internal cues while maintaining nutritional goals creates lifelong healthy eating patterns. This requires patience and trust in your child's innate wisdom about their body's needs. Balancing the structure needed for optimal nutrition with enough flexibility to handle real-world situations helps children develop confidence around food choices rather than anxiety or rigidity. Structure provides security while flexibility builds resilience. Building a healthy relationship with food parallels the principles found in intuitive eating approaches that honor both nutritional needs and psychological well-being. For families ready to take this approach to the next level, Organic Authority's carefully curated selection of children's supplements and gut health products can provide additional support for the more complex nutritional needs we've discussed. Their commitment to transparency and quality ensures you're getting products that align with this science-based approach to children's nutrition. Final Thoughts Look, I'm not trying to turn you into a nutrition scientist or make every meal feel like a chemistry experiment. Some days, getting any food into your kid without a battle is a win. This is about having a few tricks up your sleeve for when you're ready to try something new. Start small. Pick ONE thing that makes you think 'oh, that might explain why…' and start there. Maybe it's just shifting breakfast 30 minutes later. That's it. See what happens. Build from there when you're ready. Your kid is not your neighbor's kid, your sister's kid, or that perfectly behaved child at the grocery store. They're uniquely theirs, which means what works for them will be uniquely theirs too. Stop comparing and start observing. Here's the truth: you already know your kid better than any expert ever will. You see the patterns, you know their quirks, you can read their moods from across the room. This information is just here to support what you're already noticing, not replace your parental superpowers. And on the days when everything falls apart and you're serving cereal for dinner? Your kid will be fine. Tomorrow is a fresh start, and you're doing better than you think you are. The post Meal Plan for Kids That Actually Works With Their Brain (Not Against It) appeared first on Organic Authority. Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Shocking behavior of Oklahoma pediatrician arrested for 'murdering daughter,' then claiming girl had drowned
A pediatrician mother hid in the laundry room from police as they beat down her door to arrest her for the death of her four-year-old daughter. Dr. Neha Gupta, 36, of Edmond, Oklahoma, was hiding in her home on July 1 when Oklahoma City Police Department and the US Marshals came banging on her door to arrest her. Gupta, who had recently been let go from her job and was in the midst of a custody battle, has been accused of killing her four-year-old daughter, Aria Talathi, while vacationing with her in Florida in June. Police have now accused the pediatrician of smothering her daughter to death and then placing her body in the pool in the backyard of the rental home in hopes of passing it off as accidental drowning. Marshals banged on the mother-of-one's door and yelled at her to come outside, but the mother did not, bodycam footage obtained by Daily Mail showed. After busting in the door, police found the mother hiding in the laundry room in what appeared to be her pajamas. Authorities searched her home with guns draw, finding children's toys - a reminder of the innocent life lost. After opening the laundry room door, they found the mother cowering in a corner. 'Hands, hands,' an officer yelled. 'Come out!' She came out of the room without incident, silently falling to the ground as officers handcuffed her. She was led out through the garage. Police had earlier observed Gupta near the door before retreating into the laundry room, the incident report obtained by Daily Mail said. Aria was vacationing with her mother when she was found unresponsive in the backyard pool of their El Portal, Florida, rental house on June 27. Aria's death came nearly a month after her mother was suspended from her job at OU Health and the University of Oklahoma in May and given a notice of termination. Gupta was also going through a custody battle with her ex-husband, Dr. Saurabh Talathi, after they divorced last year. Talathi, also of Edmond, told investigators that he wasn't aware his ex-wife had taken the toddler out of state, Local 10 News reported. Gupta told police she was awoken by a strange sound on June 27 and found her daughter unresponsive in the backyard pool around 3:30am. Aria was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 4:28am. However, while doctors were examining the little girl, they found cuts and bruising inside the toddler's mouth, suggesting she may have been smothered to death and had her body placed in the pool, NBC Miami reported. They also didn't find water in the girl's lungs - disputing the mother's story that she drowned. Gupta was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The mother-of-one had told authorities she and the little girl had enjoyed dinner around 9pm before going to sleep in the same bed in the master bedroom of the rental home around 12:30am. When she was awoken by an 'unidentified noise' hours later, she claimed she saw her daughter submerged in the pool. She claimed she had attempted to save her daughter, but was unable to as she didn't know how to swim. Gupta also told police she had attempted to 'assist the deceased victim' for approximately 10 minutes before calling 911. The girl's stomach was also found empty, which contradicted Gupta's claim that she had fed the child earlier that evening. Detectives said surveillance video and the autopsy report burn holes in Gupta's account and suggested she had staged the girl's death. 'The subject attempted to conceal the killing of the deceased victim by staging an accidental drowning within the swimming pool of a rental property,' the affidavit said. The doctor was arrested in Oklahoma City on July 1 by US Marshals and the Oklahoma City Police Department. She was booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center and was held without bond until her extradition. Gupta is still being held without bond at the Miami-Dade Jail in Florida. Miami-Dade Sherriff's Detective Joseph. R. Peguero Rivera told Daily Mail earlier this month that they did not know what the motive was for the brutal crime. It is also unclear if the child's remains are in Florida or if they have been transferred back to Oklahoma. Gupta's lawyer, Richard Cooper, previously told Local 10 that police 'rushed to judgement' and 'as a result, a grieving mother who just lost her daughter is in jail.' 'We look forward to a full investigation which will uncover the truth of the matter,' he said. Gupta is expected back in court for her Florida arraignment hearing on August 7. Daily Mail has reached out to Gupta's attorneys for comment.
CBC
22-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Alberta mother feared the worst for 4-month-old with measles
Months after fearing she would lose her baby girl to measles, Morgan Birch says she wants Canadians to educate themselves more about the importance of vaccines. Birch's daughter, Kimie Fukuta-Birch, was too young to be eligible for the vaccine, which is not routinely given to children under a year old. But she feels her baby would not have been infected if more people around her had received the vaccine. "Basically as parents, it's your responsibility to educate yourself with the help of your pediatrician and health-care professionals," she said. "I feel this was completely preventable." Birch, who lives in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., said she is also worried that her daughter may suffer long-term health complications as a result of her getting measles at such a young age. "It's not just that parent or child who it affected when they don't vaccinate, there's a whole other population that needs to be protected by vaccines." Birch isn't certain where her daughter got infected, but said she took her out in the Fort Saskatchewan community before she got sick. Alberta has become a hot spot for measles, with the province reporting nearly 1,380 infections since the beginning of March. This is more than the total number of cases reported in the United States. Ontario has also reported more than 2,270 infections since an outbreak began last fall. Alberta's immunization rates against measles for children fall below the recommended rate of 95 per cent that scientists say is needed to prevent the illness from spreading. The province's 2024 data shows that by age two, 80 per cent of children received one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, and 68 per cent received both doses. Alberta's vaccination schedule for the two-part shot calls for the first dose at 12 months and the second at 18 months. But even by age seven, only 71.6 per cent had received both doses, provincial data shows. However, it's not the only province with low immunization rates against measles among children. Three out of the four Atlantic provinces told The Canadian Press they also had immunization rates below the 95-per-cent threshold, while one province, Newfoundland and Labrador, has not responded to requests for its data. WATCH | Canada measles outbreaks are preventable, says family doctor: Family doctor says measles outbreaks in Canada are entirely preventable 5 days ago While B.C. has recorded a little over 100 cases of measles as of July 5, neighbouring Alberta has recorded more cases than the entirety of the U.S. despite having a fraction of the population. Dr. Susan Kuo, a Richmond family physician, said the current outbreak could be prevented with up-to-date vaccinations, and the COVID-19 pandemic had led to an increase in vaccine skepticism and poor disease mitigation. Last week, Dr. Kimberley Barker, regional medical officer of health for Sussex, N.B., said measles cases were rising due to factors such as vaccine hesitancy. In some cases, she said parents are too busy and may underestimate the seriousness or risk of infection. Barker said officials are ramping up immunization campaigns when schools start in September to make it easier for kids with busy parents to get vaccinated. Other provinces are also making it easier to get immunized through walk-in clinics, community health centres and health-care providers. Birch explained how the consequences could be severe for those who don't follow recommendations from their local public health officials and doctors. She recalled that before her daughter's bout of measles, she was a happy baby. But it took a month for Kimie to recover from the infection. And although she is now back to her "happy self," Birch said she seems to be falling sick more than she used to. "Her immune system has to be built up again." Overall, Canada has a total of 3,822 confirmed measles cases from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, as of July 5. New Brunswick has confirmed 14 cases. Lingering risks Shelly Bolotin, director of the Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases at the University of Toronto, said the first does of the measles vaccine is usually given at 12 months. But children as young as six months can also be given the shot if they are travelling or living in an area with an outbreak. Although, she added those children who receive a dose at six months will still need to receive two subsequent doses. "As people are going out of town and taking trips — if they are going to measles endemic areas — they can protect their infant if they're a minimum of six months old," Bolotin said, adding it takes up to two weeks for the vaccination to take effect. Bolotin said the incubation period for measles is up to three weeks from the time a person is exposed to the disease until they start experiencing symptoms. Measles infects the immune cells, erasing a lot of the previous immunity and leaving the person susceptible to other bacterial and viral infections for several years, she said. "The technical term is measles immune amnesia." Children who recover from measles can experience other infections more frequently because they have lost this immunity and don't realize that this is a long-term effect of measles infection, she noted. There is also a rare and fatal form of neurological deterioration — subacute sclerosing panencephalitis — that happens in four to 11 in every 100,000 cases, she said. This disorder occurs when measles remains in the body latently, she added. Some of the symptoms include behavioural changes, cognitive decline, jerks, and seizures,with the onset of the disease being late childhood or adolescence. Childhood complications "Canada worked very, very hard to eliminate measles, and we achieved measles elimination in 1998 which means the World Health Organization has recognized that it wasn't circulating regularly in our country, and now we're at risk of losing that," Bolotin said. "And that would be a shame." Dr. Anna Banerji, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Toronto, said some children suffer from complications after measles such as pneumonia, hepatitis or encephalitis. Measles can also cause deafness and blindness, especially if the child is malnourished. Measles cases in Alberta surpass 1,300 4 days ago As Alberta's measles outbreak continues to grow, some residents are reconsidering travel plans — particularly families with young children or individuals with autoimmune concerns. Dr. Christopher Labos addresses and debunks common misinformation about measles vaccines and preventative treatments. CORRECTION (July 18, 2025): A previous version of this title incorrectly stated the number of confirmed measles cases in Alberta as 13,000. In fact, the number of cases in the province is 1,300. After recovering from a bout of infection, Banerji said some children have temporary low immunity. "It can take a while to recover," she said. Meanwhile, Birch said she will carry the heartbreak, frustration and feeling of helplessness as she watched her four-month-old daughter fight measles. "She could have died," she said of her daughter. "A lot of kids died from measles back before there were preventive measures in place."
CTV News
22-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
‘She could have died.' Alberta mother feared the worst for 4-month-old with measles
Four-month-old Kimie Fukuta-Birch of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., seen in this undated handout photo, was diagnosed with measles. Her mother, Morgan Birch, says she feared the worst for her daughter. While Kimie has now recovered, Birch says she faces a long road to recovery. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — Morgan Birch (Mandatory Credit) Months after fearing she would lose her baby girl to measles, Morgan Birch says she wants Canadians to educate themselves more about the importance of vaccines. Birch's daughter, Kimie Fukuta-Birch, was too young to be eligible for the vaccine, which is not routinely given to children under a year old. But she feels her baby would not have been infected if more people around her had received the vaccine. 'Basically as parents it's your responsibility to educate yourself with the help of your pediatrician and health-care professionals,' she said. 'I feel this was completely preventable.' Birch, who lives in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., said she is also worried that her daughter may suffer long-term health complications as a result of her getting measles at such a young age. 'It's not just that parent or child who it affected when they don't vaccinate, there's a whole other population that needs to be protected by vaccines.' Birch isn't certain where her daughter got infected, but said she took her out in the Fort Saskatchewan community before she got sick. Alberta has become a hot spot for measles, with the province reporting nearly 1,380 infections since the beginning of March. This is more than the total number of cases reported in the United States. Ontario has also reported more than 2,270 infections since an outbreak began last fall. Alberta's immunization rates against measles for children fall below the recommended rate of 95 per cent that scientists say is needed to prevent the illness from spreading. The province's 2024 data shows that by age two, 80 per cent of children received one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, and 68 per cent received both doses. Alberta's vaccination schedule for the two-part shot calls for the first dose at 12 months and the second at 18 months. But even by age seven, only 71.6 per cent had received both doses, provincial data shows. However, it's not the only province with low immunization rates against measles among children. Three out of the four Atlantic provinces told The Canadian Press they also had immunization rates below the 95-per-cent threshold, while one province, Newfoundland and Labrador, has not responded to requests for its data. Last week, Dr. Kimberley Barker, regional medical officer of health for Sussex, N.B., said measles cases were rising due to factors such as vaccine hesitancy. In some cases, she said parents are too busy and may underestimate the seriousness or risk of infection. Barker said officials are ramping up immunization campaigns when schools start in September to make it easier for kids with busy parents to get vaccinated. Other provinces are also making it easier to get immunized through walk-in clinics, community health centres and health-care providers. Birch explained how the consequences could be severe for those who don't follow recommendations from their local public health officials and doctors. She recalled that before her daughter's bout of measles, she was a happy baby. But it took a month for Kimie to recover from the infection. And although she is now back to her 'happy self,' Birch said she seems to be falling sick more than she used to. 'Her immune system has to be built up again.' Overall, Canada has a total of 3,822 confirmed measles cases from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, as of July 5. New Brunswick has confirmed 14 cases. Shelly Bolotin, director of the Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases at the University of Toronto, said the first does of the measles vaccine is usually given at 12 months. But children as young as six months can also be given the shot if they are travelling or living in an area with an outbreak. Although, she added those children who receive a dose at six months will still need to receive two subsequent doses. 'As people are going out of town and taking trips — if they are going to measles endemic areas — they can protect their infant if they're a minimum of six months old,' Bolotin said, adding it takes up to two weeks for the vaccination to take effect. Bolotin said the incubation period for measles is up to three weeks from the time a person is exposed to the disease until they start experiencing symptoms. Measles infects the immune cells, erasing a lot of the previous immunity and leaving the person susceptible to other bacterial and viral infections for several years, she said. 'The technical term is measles immune amnesia.' Children who recover from measles can experience other infections more frequently because they have lost this immunity and don't realize that this is a long-term effect of measles infection, she noted. There is also a rare and fatal form of neurological deterioration — subacute sclerosing panencephalitis — that happens in four to 11 in every 100,000 cases, she said. This disorder occurs when measles remains in the body latently, she added. Some of the symptoms include behavioural changes, cognitive decline, jerks, and seizures, with the onset of the disease being late childhood or adolescence. 'Canada worked very, very hard to eliminate measles, and we achieved measles elimination in 1998 which means the World Health Organization has recognized that it wasn't circulating regularly in our country, and now we're at risk of losing that,' Bolotin said. 'And that would be a shame.' Dr. Anna Banerji, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Toronto, said some children suffer from complications after measles such as pneumonia, hepatitis or encephalitis. Measles can also cause deafness and blindness, especially if the child is malnourished. After recovering from a bout of infection, Banerji said some children have temporary low immunity. 'It can take a while to recover,' she said. Meanwhile, Birch said she will carry the heartbreak, frustration and feeling of helplessness as she watched her four-month-old daughter fight measles. 'She could have died,' she said of her daughter. 'A lot of kids died from measles back before there were preventive measures in place.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 22, 2025. Hina Alam, The Canadian Press
The Guardian
22-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
My daughter's health was a mystery. The answer was on the other side of the world
Right after my daughter, Maggie, was born in 2012, she held her hands clasped together against her chest. 'Like she's praying!' a nurse said in a singsong voice. But when the pediatrician walked in, the mood changed. 'Praying?' she asked, her voice tight. The nurse and I stepped back while the pediatrician gently moved Maggie's limbs, testing how much they could straighten or bend. While some tightness in the hips or knees can be normal for a newborn, Maggie's joints were unusually tight and her limbs could not straighten all the way. The pediatrician pointed out the rounded soles of Maggie's feet. 'A handful of genetic conditions can cause the shape of her feet. Most of them are fatal,' she said. I stared at her, unable to process the word 'fatal' in connection to the brand new, six-pound person I'd brought into this world. Over the next seven days, I rarely slept. The children's hospital put me up in a Ronald McDonald house a mile away from the NICU, where Maggie had been transferred. Every three hours, I walked to the NICU to breastfeed and pump. I was anxious and scared, signing off on procedures and tests, and answering dozens of questions about my pregnancy, diet, lifestyle and family history. By the time Maggie left the hospital, she had been seen by neurology, genetics, internal medicine and orthopedics. Then the results came: she had tested negative for the scary fatal conditions. The relief floored me. But she also tested negative for every other known diagnosis. 'Why are her joints stiff?' I asked her last doctor right before discharge. He shrugged and said, 'We can only get to know her as an individual. Sometimes it is not a bad thing to see how unique each person really is.' I agreed that accepting my daughter's differences was essential. But I worried that the physicians had missed something. For the next two months, I sat in front of the computer, flipping through Maggie's 50-page medical chart and searching terms like 'multiple joint contractures', 'vertical talus', 'high arched palate' and 'micrognathia'. Eventually, I discovered pictures of children with similar limbs in medical journals and studies about arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, or AMC – an umbrella diagnosis describing infants born with multiple contracted joints. I showed Maggie's new pediatrician screenshots. The condition was incredibly rare, he said; in his 30-year career, he had met only three babies who looked like my daughter, all during his time as a military physician overseas. He referred us to the closest specialty clinic, which was five states away in Philadelphia. 'She has a community. You just haven't met them yet,' he said. I knew the trip would be daunting with an infant and Maggie's two-year-old sibling in tow. But for the first time, I had some answers and knew where to look for more. Six months later, Maggie and I arrived for her first appointment at the clinic. We saw five specialists, which took nine hours. Some mysteries were solved. I learned the term for her feet: 'rocker bottom', the soles curving like the bottoms of cartoon boats. Surgery could guide them to grow flatter and arched, so she could learn to bear weight and eventually walk. Since birth, Maggie's elbows had loosened, but her knees still didn't flex all the way. We would need to take annual weeks-long trips to Philadelphia so the doctors could slowly stretch Maggie's ankles and knees, wrap them in casts, saw off the casts a week later, stretch a little farther, and cast again. Still, we had no diagnosis. 'What caused all this?' I asked the doctors. I was afraid to voice my other questions: Will she walk or talk? How different will she be from her sibling? What decisions will I have to make? How will I know what is right? In the United States, parents of the one in six children with developmental delays ask such questions every day. For the approximately 15 million children who have received a rare diagnosis, defined as one that affects fewer than 200,000 people, the future is unknowable. Some diagnoses, like Maggie's, are so rare that they aren't seen as profitable subjects for research funding. People with these 'orphan conditions' have to rely on themselves, their families, and grassroots endeavors to fund and discover treatments. Navigating the maze of anxiety and 'what ifs' felt relentless. Then I joined a Facebook group dedicated to the AMC specialist clinic we had visited, where parents shared pictures of their children, diagnoses, concerns, treatments and contact information for specialists. I introduced myself and posted pictures of Maggie. Immediately, Alyssa Wolfe, a mother and nurse, messaged me. She pointed out that her daughter, Delaney, had the same rocker bottom feet as Maggie, a rarity in the group. Our daughters both had one middle finger stuck flexed at the joint, and similar faces: a small chin, and a broad nose bridge that makes their eyes look farther apart than most babies'. Delaney was three years older than Maggie. For years, I tracked Alyssa and Delaney's progress through treatments, surgeries and diagnoses. Having another parent to talk to about major decisions was a huge relief. Maureen Donohoe, a physical therapist, was also in the group, as she worked with many children with arthrogryposis. She had been gathering stories from patients like Maggie and Delaney because they 'were different from the others with AMC, but they had so many of the same characteristics, it was impossible to ignore', she said. Alyssa had met Maureen at an arthrogryposis conference before I joined the group. 'In an elevator, Maureen approached me, listing off Delaney's attributes. I asked her if she somehow read my child's medical chart. Maureen told me, 'No,' but she had been hypothesizing with a geneticist about a syndrome, and she thought Delaney had it,' Alyssa said. After coming across six patients with these characteristics, Maureen had told Dr Judith Hall, a clinical geneticist and pediatrician, this might be a genetic anomaly worth studying. 'After Dr Hall looked at her own notes, she called me and said, 'I have 10,'' she said. Connecting with Alyssa and Maureen was the first major step in identifying Maggie's condition. But what was the next step? As Maggie grew, her development continued to be markedly different from that of other kids her age. By the time she was three, she could scoot but not yet crawl. Most kids her age with AMC had been mobile for at least a year. But one day, in physical therapy, she suddenly stood with the help of a toy shopping cart. Then she learned to use a walker. Over the years Maureen noticed a similar trend with kids like Maggie. 'They do their best weight-bearing and walking around preschool age,' she said. 'When they get older, they seem to have a harder time maintaining a center of gravity.' Sign up to Well Actually Practical advice, expert insights and answers to your questions about how to live a good life after newsletter promotion There was another big difference. Maggie was talking constantly, but her sounds were disorganized. Nobody could understand her. Most children with AMC alone had no speech problems at all. It was hard to find resources, but our speech therapist helped us get an iPad program that Maggie could use to talk. She'd press a button on a grid of images and common words, and the iPad would say the word. Her first sentence blew me away. Maggie was sitting at the dining room table eating breakfast while I washed dishes. 'I need money,' her talker said in a mechanized child's voice. I paused, holding a bowl. Maggie pressed the 'talk' button again, and the sentence repeated. She pointed at my purse and threw her head back, guffawing. She'd made a joke. I said, 'You need money!' over and over, laughing, nearly sobbing, dripping soapy water everywhere. Within a year, Maggie was using her talker to ask for snacks and toys, to complain, to tell her new baby brother, 'You're cute!' At school, Maggie verbally repeated every word she or her friends pressed. By the end of the school year, the talker was gathering dust in our coat closet. Maggie's limitations and sudden moments of progress surprised even the doctors who specialized in arthrogryposis. At every turn, I wanted to celebrate her success, but the gap widened between her and the other kids with the condition. Isolating a genetic anomaly is a 'diagnostic odyssey' that many families embark on, said Dr Michael Bamshad, head of genetic medicine in pediatrics at the University of Washington. 'There's all this data that sits locked away in medical records. A physician in one state may know of three similar cases, a physician in another state may know about five,' said Bamshad, 'but there aren't many ways for those families to find each other.' Bamshad, his colleague Jessica X Chong and their colleagues have researched the power of social media in genetic discovery. They launched a secure, free genetic information sharing site, MyGene2, in 2016. 'Families and clinicians can share their genetic information to help them find answers,' said Chong. Alyssa and I input our daughters' data and hoped for more information. But the waiting game was long, and we felt powerless. Alyssa recently described it to me as a three-part process: 'In the beginning, parents are typically very active on social media, trying to understand their kid and hoping to give them as normal of a life as possible,' she said. Then, 'sometime in elementary or middle school, their development stalls' and the focus shifts from 'fixing' the issue to maintenance through puberty. This can all be 'very isolating', she said. 'Parents with typically developing kids often stop hanging out with you.' But 'an acceptance stage' can come via social media groups like ours, which are 'sometimes the only place to find connection and friends who understand'. In 2017, Catherine Paul-Fijten, a mother and molecular biologist who lives in Dubai, used Facebook groups to connect with parents whose kids resembled her daughter, Milou. I didn't know about Milou yet, but she had the same physical traits as Maggie, who was five by then. Milou's doctors had located a difference on the ZC4H2 gene shortly after birth, and Catherine organized a meeting of doctors and geneticists – including Maureen and Dr Bamshad – to review the current, albeit limited, research. Maureen sat next to Bamshad, scrolling through pictures of Maggie, Delaney and other children with rocker bottom feet and tiny chins. Bamshad suggested that we both report our daughter's symptoms on MyGene2 and apply for testing. Within a year, the diagnosis was confirmed: Maggie also had an anomaly of the ZC4H2 gene. At the time, fewer than 50 people with a similar genetic difference had ever been identified. Catherine used personal resources to start a foundation to research the impacts of this new genetic diagnosis, updating a new, dedicated Facebook group regularly with insights. The diagnosis gave us a sense of belonging through the shared goal of understanding our kids and learning how to help them grow. The dramatic impact of online support groups for children with rare diagnoses has been well documented for more than 20 years. Online information sharing among parents has been found to strengthen treatment and mental health support for families and children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), neurologic disorders and other rare genetic disorders as well as more common diagnoses like diabetes and childhood cancers. While the ZC4H2 gene difference is rare, research into rare conditions is crucial – 'not just for the people who have that diagnosis – but for humanity as a whole', Catherine said. That's because 'much of what we know about the function of the human genome comes from understanding the genetic basis of rare diseases', said Bamshad, citing examples including common heart conditions and vaccine research. 'What we've learned about rare diseases helps us understand the genetic and molecular basis of common conditions as well.' The ZC4H2 group has nearly 200 members, though nearly 250 people with this condition have now been identified globally. Because of their stories, I was prepared. In 2023, at the beginning of sixth grade, Maggie suddenly presented with severe scoliosis, and I knew she would probably need a full spinal fusion because I'd heard about related complications from our ZC4H2 community. I shared this information with Maggie's spinal surgeon, as well as a list of other surgeons who had had to manage these complications, and she formed a pre-emptive plan. During Maggie's spinal surgery, I let myself get lost in the labyrinthian halls of the hospital for hours, cellphone in one hand, operating room pager in the other. As with her previous 10-plus surgeries, I didn't allow myself to imagine what was happening or what could go wrong. As I stood in the hallway, I scrolled through encouraging comments and messages from Alyssa, Catherine and others. Despite our different jobs, family culture and background, we'd collaborated with doctors, scientists, physical and speech therapists – and each other – for more than a decade. Their support didn't guarantee a perfect future for my daughter, but their generosity was a profound gift. The operating room pager went off. My phone rang. The charge nurse told me my daughter was waking up, that surgery had been a breeze. I rushed to the recovery room, tapping the app to share the news while I waited for Maggie to be wheeled in. At the top of the feed, a new member had posted about her child's fresh diagnosis, her questions, her fears. I abandoned my own update to type the words that changed the course of my life and Maggie's childhood: Welcome! You are not alone. Asha Dore is a journalist, illustrator, and speech-language therapist.
