A desperate mother has nicknamed her son ‘Wreck it Ralph’ and is seeking assistance for his rare condition, which leads him to damage the home and consume his bedroom walls.
Leigh Murphy, 29, has to constantly monitor her six-year-old, Steven, to stop him munching on potentially dangerous items around the house.
The child was diagnosed with severe autism and experiences the unusual eating disorder pica, which causes cravings for non-food items, just four months ago.
He eats sand, mud and his bedroom walls even exposing electrical wires.
Mrs. Murphy and her husband, also named Steven, 28, reside in a private rental and have been requesting a council home from local authorities for three years, hoping to adapt it for their son’s safety.
They aim to install padding in his bedroom to prevent him from eating the plaster, along with a wet room and vents to ensure he gets air without attempting to climb out.
The family, from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, said their current home is not safe.
Mrs Murphy said: ‘It’s horrendous – there is no safe space to put him.
Leigh Murphy, 29, has to constantly monitor her six-year-old son Steven
The family, from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, said their current home is not safe
‘He destroys everything.
‘He’s so strong. He just knocks me over.
‘It’s terrifying.
‘Where do we go from here?
‘I’ll walk in and he’s got wires hanging out the wall.’
Her son’s grandmother picked up signs Steven could be autistic when he was just a one-year-old as he would not make eye contact.
Steven has had a multidisciplinary team supporting him for the past five years, but he only officially received diagnoses of autism, pica, and intellectual disability in May due to lengthy waiting lists and referral delays.
His mother decided to step back from her work as an A&E clinical support worker when Steven was four-and-a-half to care for him.
The youngster suffers from unusual eating disorder pica – which sparks cravings for inedible objects
Steven eats sand, mud and his bedroom walls even exposing electrical wires
She said as a precautionary measure the boy’s bedroom now has nothing but his mattress and added: ‘He eats the carpet, his own poo.
‘He constantly has a husky throat.
‘You can’t turn your back for a second.
‘You turn your back for a second to check on dinner and the wallpaper is off the wall.’
The family are desperate for a council house but after three years are still on the waiting list.
Mrs Murphy who also has daughter Isla-Mae, nine, with her lift-installer husband, said her son’s illness impacted every aspect of their lives.
But she insisted Steven is a ‘loving wee boy’ and added: ‘We nicknamed him Wreck it Ralph.
‘In the living room we only have two couches and telly – that’s it.
‘In the kitchen everything is locked away.’
The family are seeking an adaptable bungalow that suits Steven’s needs
She continued: ‘Just to know he’s going into his room and it’s a safe space will mean I can sleep.
‘For once in six years I’ll be able to take a breath and know he’s OK.
‘I’m running on air.’
A North Lanarkshire Council spokesperson said: ‘We understand the family’s situation and are working closely with social work colleagues to address their needs.
‘The type of property required, an adaptable bungalow in Cumbernauld, is in very short supply, and most homes in the area are owned by housing associations rather than the council.
‘We currently have no suitable council housing available but, with the family’s agreement, we are engaged with our partner landlords to explore every option. While this is being treated as a priority, finding the right property may take time.’
