{"id":201605,"date":"2019-05-11T11:30:32","date_gmt":"2019-05-11T16:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=201605"},"modified":"2019-05-10T00:46:16","modified_gmt":"2019-05-10T05:46:16","slug":"adoption-united-family-same-genetic-condition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/adoption-united-family-same-genetic-condition\/","title":{"rendered":"Adoption united a family that shares the same rare genetic condition"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kristi and Matt Smith are the parents to four rambunctious boys brought together by a rare condition. NPR<\/a> recently shared the unique journey that brought the Smiths their four sons, who were all adopted from China and all have rare genetic disorder called phyenylketonuria<\/a>, often called PKU.<\/p>\n

Adoptive mom Kristi has PKU, and her parents tried to make her life as normal as possible throughout her childhood. People with PKU<\/a> can\u2019t break down an amino acid called phenylalanine, which is found in all protein. A buildup of phenylalanine in children with PKU can cause brain damage, which is irreversible, and intellectual difficulties in adults with PKU. In order to prevent these dire consequences, people with PKU must maintain a strict, low-protein diet, carefully monitoring protein consumption and drinking medical-grade formula for supplementation.<\/p>\n

“A glass of milk is actually one day’s worth of my protein intake that my body can handle,” Kristi explained. Maintaining this low-protein diet is not easy. A specialty box of low-protein pasta costs the Smiths about $12.<\/p>\n

Despite the difficulties of her condition, Kristi was able to excel in school and became a nurse. After a few years of marriage, Kristi and Matt discussed how to grow their family. They decided on adoption and were open to adopting children with PKU, because they were well versed in the care required for the condition. What they didn\u2019t expect was that the child they would find would be in China. And they found several children.<\/p>\n

In 2015, Matt and Kristi flew to China and adopted two 2-year-old boys, both of whom have PKU. There were many unexpected challenges that came with raising toddlers on a strict diet, but the boys developed and are thriving.<\/p>\n

READ:\u00a0Beauty of adoption: Couple with special needs adopts teen with same condition<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n