Elijah Gammon is a very picky eater. So picky, in fact, that the three-year-old was losing weight. Taylor Gammon, Elijah’s mother, shared her concerns with Dr. Danielle Allen, a board-certified pediatrician with Macon Community Hospital.

“Dr. Allen is awesome,” Taylor says. “She really listens to me and my concerns as a parent. You can tell Dr. Allen is really on your side.”

Dr. Allen referred Elijah to Pediatric Therapy Services at Macon Community Hospital. Pediatric therapy offers everything from speech language therapy for dyslexia to physical therapy for developmental delay. Elijah started a 20-week program that treats food disorders. “Elijah can be a bit standoffish with other people, but he loves going to therapy,” says Taylor. “When it’s time for us to leave, Elijah says he wants to stay there all day!”

One of the techniques the therapist uses with Elijah is “food for play.” The food is first used as a toy or learning material—like making smiling faces with vegetables—so the child becomes more comfortable with eating.

“It’s just comforting to know we’re getting on top of Elijah’s condition before it becomes something serious,” Taylor says. “He’s making real progress. And all the help he needs is right here in our community.”