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The phone call still haunts Michelle White after the collapse of her daughter Meegan.
Meegan, a 25-year-old mother of two, regularly spent two hours a day doing exercise and was very careful about what she ate.
But, tragically, no one knew that she was suffering from the urea cycle disorder, which meant that such a high-protein diet resulted in a deadly accumulation of ammonia in the blood.
Michelle was visiting her grandchildren when she received a call from an ambulance informing her that Meegan had been found collapsed at her home.
Two days later, she learned with devastating news that her daughter had been declared deadly brain.
Michelle held Meegan's hand and said goodbye before her death.
She has now explained how her daughter's obsession with fitness has proven fatal, in the hope that Meegan's death may serve as a warning to others.
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The story of Michelle in her own words
I never went to the gym, but seeing my daughter Meegan shine and admire her toned figure, I felt proud to take health and fitness seriously.
She spent weekends and evenings in her gym gear and she always talked about her new training program.
My sparkling and gorgeous girl had found a passion: to exercise.
One day she visited, she told me to get ready for news.
At just 18 years old, Meegan had become pregnant.
It took a while to get there, but eventually I became excited at the thought of my grandson.
(Image: The Sunday Times)
Having had babies myself, I offered him some comfort.
At least when her children have grown up, she still has so much to live on.
She married her partner Michael and shortly thereafter, Alexa was born and Meegan embarked on the movement of things as a new mom.
I lived only around the corner, so I was happy to watch the baby during his return to the gym.
She started becoming a true fitness fanatic and is sure to have time for herself as well as being a mom.
She spent so much time in her sportswear that I always knew what to buy for Christmas and birthdays!
I even accompanied her to the gym to see her in action and I was amazed by her bodybuilding abilities.
It seemed like she had the perfect life.
(Image: Getty)
Two years later, Meegan gave birth to his son Liam and everything changed.
She suffered from a disabling post-natal depression.
After consulting a doctor, he was prescribed medication, which helped – but there was a problem.
The tablets helped Meegan gain weight.
She had always been small and hated being bigger, so she decided to go back to the gym.
During the following weeks, I supervised the children whenever it was possible for her to train at night. As the pounds fell, her self-confidence skyrocketed.
Except that in a few months, her love of fitness has turned into an obsession for her body image.
If I was not free to take care of children and Michael was working, she would panic.
She begged me to cancel my plans to go to the gym.
I would say it's not the end of the world if she skipped a session, but it's true.
She was satisfied only if she could take two hours of training a day.
She then went one step further.
Seeing how she was able to transform her body, she became obsessed with participating in bodybuilding competitions.
Getting his body in an optimal state for them began to take over and soon his diet became increasingly restricted.
His meals were always the same.
Chicken, red meat and egg whites, sometimes with steamed veggies on the side and always a protein shake to thoroughly wash the whole thing.
I thought she looked healthier than ever before, so I did not think twice about the diet.
It sounded like healthy food because she ate a lot but avoided anything that was sweet.
She won trophies for her sculpted physique, but one morning, when I went to see her and the kids, I noticed that her hands were shaking as she absorbed another protein shake with her supplements. body strengthening.
Alarmed, I expressed my concerns that the gym was getting a little too much for her.
But she was determined.
I watched helplessly as she was getting ready for another session.
A few days later, she came back and told me that she felt exhausted.
She was burning the candle at both ends, so I suggested she give up a few days of training.
Fortunately, she agreed and she did not go to the gym the next day, instead choosing to relax on the couch, which I had not seen in months.
Two days later, I went camping with the kids to give Meegan time, but I could not feel uncomfortable.
(Image: © Michelle White / Facebook)
On the way, I received a call from a number that I did not recognize.
This is an ambulance attendant who told me calmly: "Your daughter has collapsed and was found unconscious".
Luckily, two women doing a rental inspection had found that she was not reacting on the floor of her room.
Shocked, I rushed to the hospital to see my daughter usually healthy and fit, lying on a bed covered with threads.
I calmed down thinking that she was just tired, she was healthier than most.
I tried not to let panic settle down.
But after two days, the doctor announced shocking news.
"Meegan has limited brain activity. I'm afraid she's very unlikely to recover. & # 39;
She did not look sick, she looked normal and beautiful, it was hard to believe.
But the next day, my beautiful Meegan was officially declared brain dead.
I could not take it.
I sobbed uncontrollably while the doctor explained what had happened.
Unbeknownst to all, Meegan was suffering from a urea cycle disorder, which meant that such a diet too rich in protein was causing an accumulation of ammonia in the body. blood.
It was a genetic disease that made it difficult for the body to eliminate the harmful waste resulting from the digestion of the proteins contained in the shakes eaten daily.
The ammonia had reached his brain, causing him irreversible damage.
It was a silent killer, and the endless loss of protein and dangerous diets was the fall of Meegan.
We had no idea that her obsession with health would eventually kill her.
A few days later, the doctor announced that it was time to let her go.
I sat next to her and kissed her on the forehead.
We said goodbye and made the decision to donate his organs.
Finally, the tragic death of my 25-year-old daughter saved four lives.
The doctors then wanted to pass tests and I was heartbroken to discover that I had the same inherited disorder as Meegan, just like her daughter Alexa.
Fortunately, if a diagnosis is made, it can be controlled with medication and diet, so that what happened to my daughter will not happen to her little girl.
Shortly after his death, I found in his car a diet plan set by a personal trainer.
It was full of protein.
I've also found protein supplements in his kitchen cabinets.
That made me feel so angry and desperately sad.
It has been two years since we lost it.
Alexa, now eight, and Liam, now six, have pictures of her everywhere and I often talk to them about her to keep her memory alive.
It is a comfort that his organs saved others, but his death should not have happened.
I therefore hope that the health industry will implement regulations on the sale of protein powder and supplements.
Only certified nutritionists should give advice on dieting, and I urge people to take medical exams before drastically altering their food intake.
It's too late for Meegan, but I hope that by telling her story, she can save another family from this pain.
Protein Shakes – The Facts
(Image: Getty Images / iStockphoto)
The term "protorexia" was coined to describe those who have an unhealthy relationship with protein shakes.
Protein powders often contain hidden chemicals.
Many contain small amounts of lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, pesticides, and other substances that, if heavily consumed, can be associated with a variety of diseases. such as cancer.
The gym supplement industry is £ 471 million worldwide.
Doctors recommend to naturally consume your protein in foods or, if you need a supplement, carefully check the product ingredients before introducing it into your diet.
The urea cycle disorder affects 1 in 8,000 people.
For those diagnosed, nitrogen, a protein waste, can not be eliminated from the blood or excreted by the body as urine.
It reaches the brain through the blood, where it can cause irreversible brain damage, coma or death.
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