Rare Diseases In Babies: Infant Born With Two Rare Diseases Require Conflicting Diets

An 11-month old baby from Pennsylvania is the first person in the U.S. born with two rare diseases at the same time. The odds of contracting this condition is about 1 in 46,250,000.

Johnny Bricker was diagnosed with Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) when he was just four days old. According to Daily News, although MSUD requires a special diet, the condition is completely manageable. However, things got complicated after the parents of the infant brought him to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where he was also diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

Thus, both parents of the infant got worried as they find it difficult to balance the conflicting diets of the infant -- considering Johnny's diet for MSUD conflicts with the one for cystic fibrosis. "CF Kids need a high protein, high- fat diet. Johnny can't have that so we are still in the process of figuring all that out," Ashley, the mother of the infant said to WPMT.

As of the moment, the diet of the infant is predominantly fruits and vegetables. His parents also put oil on all of Johnny's food. The infant also drinks a special formula mixed with breast milk.

According to National Institutes of Health, cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease and it mainly affects pancreas, lungs, intestines, liver, sinuses and sex organs. Meanwhile, Maple Syrup Urine Disease is an inherited disorder and affects certain amino acids and cell metabolism. If left untreated, MSUD can lead to seizures, comas and even worse, death.

The worried mom said her son's rare condition has made her whole family appreciate the smaller things. "When he eats a new food it is the biggest accomplishment in the world," Ashley said.

She also said her family take everything one day at a time. Moreover, the family believed with the help of medical advancement, the infant will live happily and longer.