We are raising money to help our daughter learn to eat. She is now 5 and has been tube fed since 6 weeks old due to failing to thrive and chronic vomiting. She has never eaten or drunk anything in 5 years! She has an undiagnosed genetic condition that affects her size, growth and her development.

The first step we have taken to help Bella learn eat and stop the vomiting is to have another tube placed into her stomach from which she is fed for 16 hours at night. This has reduced the vomiting episodes

. Along with other family members we have covered the cost in taking her private for this procedure. The waiting list on the NHS was 12 months and we could not wait another year watching Bella vomiting daily. We are all hoping that this is the first step to wean her off the tube and hopefully learn to eat independently. Feeding therapists believe the daily vomiting had caused food aversions. We fear that the longer she is tube fed and the longer the daily vomiting continues the harder it is going to be to wean her off the tube.

The next step is where we need your help, this is to take her to Marcus Autism Center based in Atlanta, America. They are very successful on weaning tube dependent children off there tube and onto oral eating and drinking on there own.

We need your help to raise the money to give Bella the best chance possible in weaning her off the tube! This kind of treatment is not available on the NHS or in the UK but will give Bella the best chance to learn to eat and enjoy food! Even though she has difficulties you would never know as she always has a big smile and carries on as normal. She's small but mighty with a huge personality and brings joy to anyone she meets! We would love for her to have the opportunity to enjoy food and have pleasure in eating and a positive experience with food and drink. We would be very grateful for any donations towards what would be life changing for Bella.

https://www.instagram.com/helpbellalearntoeat/