Teen unable to eat due to rare digestive condition

Like most teenagers his age, Finley is given a cake every year to celebrate his birthday, but he can never eat it - or any other food. If he did, he would bleed internally.

The 14-year-old's digestive system cannot tolerate lipids - fatty compounds or oils which are found in foods - so he has them injected directly into his heart.

The treatment is a six-hour process which he has undergone every week since he was four years old, and over the past year it has increased to twice a week as he has grown.

Finley's case is so rare that doctors have considered presenting it to a medical journal, as they believe he may be one of the only people whose body reacts to lipids in this way.

Finley receives a lipid infusion via a portacath, or tube, which enters his chest and links directly to the central vein in his heart.

"We have to bypass the gastro-intestinal tract completely," Dr Datta said.

"Not only the fat, but he even cannot tolerate the normal carbohydrates and proteins as well," he added.

Finley receives carbohydrates and proteins - along with vitamins, minerals and electrolytes - three times a day into his stomach via a different tube.

"I can't remember when I had [the infusion] first because it's just my life now - I can't really escape it," Finley said.

"There isn't a name for what Finley has" said Rhys, adding her son called his condition "Finley-itis".

"There's no-one else that we know that has the lipid element infused directly."

"We are actually thinking about reporting this case to some sort of journal because it's such a rare condition," Dr Datta said.

The hope is that Finley will be able to eventually do infusion treatments at home, instead of travelling to Broomfield Hospital twice a week.

"There might be a time that he is able to tolerate fat," Rhys said, "but if not, we just carry on with what our 'normal' is and go from there."

Finley has plans to abseil down a tower block at Southend Hospital on 16 May to raise money for the Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity.

"The building is 154ft (47m) - it's a bit high, but I feel like I'll be all right," Finley said.

"The hospital and all the [staff] have given me care through my life, and I just wanted to give back and raise money for them to help other people."

Finley's mum - who completed the same abseil on Finley's behalf a couple of years ago as he was too young - said her son was "remarkable".

"He's the most lovable little boy who wants to help other people because of what he's gone through - I'm so proud of him."