Zoe was born at the Hospital de Castellón in Spain after only 36 weeks of pregnancy. The baby weighed just over three kilograms, and although weight loss in the first days of infancy is a natural occurrence, Zoe's case immediately drew the attention of everyone around her.
Doctors initially suspected she might have cow's milk protein intolerance and decided to conduct a series of tests and analyses. However, the doctors could not understand what was happening, and the girl continued to lose weight. At three months old, she weighed only 2.5 kg.
"We couldn't make her gain weight, and until she reached four kilograms, we couldn't take a biopsy because her life was in danger. It was a daily struggle, and eventually, we were able to do it when she turned five months old," recalls her mother, Melanie Lopez.
After collecting samples from her intestines and stomach, the final diagnosis was made: Zoe suffered from abetalipoproteinemia, a rare genetic disorder that impairs the body's ability to absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins.
According to her mother, Zoe is the only child known worldwide to suffer from this disease. "I know of three other cases, but they are in adolescents and adults," she shares. She also notes: "The hardest part is the lack of knowledge. I would like to know about the daily lives of people with this illness. I know there is no cure, but I would like to learn something about how they live to give my daughter the best possible life," quotes Telecinco.
In recent months, the girl has spent days in the hospital, and every gained gram is marked as a victory. "It's like a roller coaster because she gains some weight, and then she can suddenly lose a lot," laments the mother, who must dedicate herself entirely to caring for the girl.
Since she cannot work, and the family relies solely on the father's income, they created a fundraising page so that those who wish to help the family cover the child's medical expenses. The page states: "This is a girl with an extremely rare disease; there are 4 cases worldwide, but she is the only one diagnosed in childhood. Other people were diagnosed with the disease at a later age." The mother points out that the collected funds "will be used to find answers for Zoe and provide her with all opportunities for the best life."
