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This story is taken from the Fall 1998 issue of National PKU News, the Hang in There section for teens and young adults.
Adam Kemple, age 20, is another 1998 Guthrie Merit Award winner (the other five winners were featured in the Spring/Summer 1998 issue). He has been called "a remarkable man with a refreshing willingness to succeed." "Not only is he a responsible student and exceptional athlete, he is an exemplary role model for other children and adults with PKU," wrote one of his references for the scholarship. Another wrote, "Adam is someone with exceptional concern for the quality of his work. He enjoys life, and is a joy to others. He will be successful in anything he attempts because of his perseverance and determination." A 6’ 4" athlete with a great attitude about PKU, here is Adam’s own story:
I was born on June 8, 1978 in Louisville, Kentucky. My classical PKU was diagnosed a few weeks later. My mother’s cousin, born in 1946, also has PKU, but he was not diagnosed until he was 11 or 12 years old. He never had treatment and is very affected by PKU. He doesn’t talk at all. But my family knew little about PKU, even after all of that; PKU was just something that made mom’s cousin retarded. No one knew it was genetic. When I was first diagnosed, my family thought it meant I was already retarded or destined to become retarded. Thanks to the diet, that was not true.
I have one sister, Sunshine, age 23, who is living in Terre Haute, Indiana, with her husband. Sunshine and I have always been close. She has always been my "watchdog." As I was growing up, she not only reminded me of my diet, but made sure I wore the "right" clothes to school (socks matching, etc.)!
My mother used to be a special education teacher, but is now a housewife and works with relatives on organic farming. My stepfather works for Indiana University Southeast, in New Albany, in computer services.
I grew up on a 10 acre farm with a few farm animals, dogs and cats. My entire family, including grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, have been supportive of my diet since I was a baby. My Grandma, Mary Kemple, still bakes breads, pizzas, and cakes for me. My Grandma Liz always has plenty of vegetables on hand. Her nephew has the untreated PKU, so she knows only too well how important the diet is for a normal life.
Can you describe your academic history, career and personal goals?
I am a sophomore at Vincennes University in Indiana, majoring in printing technology. I am also very interested in science and how things work, especially the weather. But most of my high school and college recognition has been for my participation in athletics.
My career goals include getting a job in the printing field. I got interested in this field by taking art and graphic arts classes as electives in high school. We did a lot of screen printing and shooting line shots. In my junior and senior years, I took classes that actually did jobs for small businesses. I also apprenticed in a T-shirt screen printing business.
As for personal goals, I hope to get a job that suits me well. Also, while I’m still in college, I would like to break the Vincennes University high jump record! Eventually, I would like to get married, start a family and own a house—but that won’t be for awhile.
What can you tell us about your diet monitoring?
I try to keep my phe level at 10 mg/dl (600 µmol/L) or lower. My levels were an average of about 8 (480 µmol/L) when I was a preteen. Occasionally it has gone as high as 18 (1080 µmol/L) when I am away at college and "eyeballing" food portions. But I try hard to keep my level low.
I go to the Louisville PKU center. I see Dr. Andrews about once a year. We take a blood test, measure height/weight, talk about my level, and about how and what I’ve been doing since my last visit. The clinic staff really cares about me, and my family talks to the staff all the time. Everyone at the Indianapolis clinic knows me also, since I’ve been there for one evaluation and I participated in a workshop.
What formula do you drink and how much phe do you strive to take in?
I drink Phenyl-Free, one can mixed with 3 1/2 cups of water in a blender. This usually lasts me two days. Sometimes, I drink the whole can of Phenyl-Free in a day. I take about 575 mg phe a day. My parents used to write everything down when I was younger, but now I just know about when I have had enough phe for the day. This summer, we are going back to some stricter counting and using records since my levels have been too high on several occasions. Part of my problem is that I eat most of my food at the end of the day. Since I get up early and run, this dampens my appetite for part of the day.
How has your diet worked out since you have been in college?
The college dietitian and the track coach knew about my PKU well before I arrived at Vincennes. This made it easy to set up diet arrangements. I can store some of my special foods in the dining hall’s kitchen and in their large industrial refrigerator and freezer. My coach has asked me what sort of things to take on the road when we participate in track events away from campus. His system is to take food along for the athletes, a barbecue grill, and several coolers. This works perfectly for me!
I eat at the dining hall as much as possible. I am like any other student who barely has time to eat because of all the studying and activities. At breakfast, I usually eat a boxed cereal with Coffee Rich and fruit or juice in the dining hall. I drink some of my Phenyl-Free before leaving my room in the morning. I keep it in my dorm room, in the "micro-fridge," and drink it before each meal. Sometimes I take it with me and take swigs during the day.
At lunch and dinner, I often have vegetables cooked plainly and a salad with Italian dressing. In the evenings, I may eat one of my PKU pizzas or a few chips as a snack. When others order pizza delivered, I just pull out a pre-made low-phe pizza from my fridge. I finish my Phenyl-Free every night and make more for the next day (in the kitchenette on our floor). I also take slices of my bread, put jam or pizza sauce on top and pop it into the microwave for snacks. I drink lots of water, juices and soft drinks. An athlete needs lots of liquids! I have some pot and pans to cook up a batch of pasta occasionally. The carbohydrates keep my energy up for sports. I go home once a month, or relatives visit and replenish my supply of homemade PKU breads, pasta, pizzas, cookies, etc. To me, managing the diet is just another routine, like brushing teeth. I had more problems being homesick my first year away from home than I did with the diet.
I have learned that to successfully maintain the diet, planning ahead is a "must"! This summer, I carried a cooler around in the car everyday with PKU foods and my Phenyl-Free to take to work or to have on hand since I didn’t know what I’d be doing for the rest of the day. I unload the cooler every night, put the freezer bricks back into the freezer, and repack the next morning.
What was your feeling about diet when you were younger and what is it now?
When I was young, I remember a few kids in elementary school would say I wasn’t normal because of my diet or they made a remark about my chocolate chip cookies. I remember a kid saying, "Must be somebody’s birthday today. The teacher is getting out Kemple’s doggie biscuits." Naturally, that bothered me some. But I didn’t pay much attention because I had other things to think about. When I got into middle school and high school, people started to understand that being on a diet really makes you no different from anyone else. The fact that I was able to keep up academically and excel in sports helped me. Also, I was always taller than most kids and I don’t think anyone wanted to mess with me!
My present feeling about PKU is a positive one. I feel like I am on a better diet and am healthier than other people who don’t have PKU. I rarely get sick. Also, my build (tall and lanky) predisposes me to athletic activities The PKU diet, with an abundance of vitamins, minerals and nutrients, helps me maintain that build and keeps me energetic.
What do your friends at college think about your diet?
My friends at college don’t care much about my diet one way or the other. Either I can or can’t eat a certain food. That’s all they really know and I don’t get treated any differently. One of my friends, Joe Schindler, always asks questions and learns more about the diet everyday. He keeps hoping they’ll find a cure some day so I can eat other foods.
Recently, I have developed a very special friendship with Corinna Vonderwell (who is on the staff at Vincennes University) and her 3 year-old son with PKU, Kaleb. I have helped her with two classes, talking about PKU; we have been asked to do more classes. She has been a great ally and friend, and I really enjoy being a "role model" for Kaleb.
Can you please tell us about your many athletic activities?
Just to show that PKU is no obstacle to athletic achievement, I am the school record holder at Charlestown High School in the high jump (at 6 feet 8 inches) and high hurdles (14.9 seconds)! In college, I am jumping 6 feet 11 inches. I was the NJCAA Super Region Champion in the high jump, and placed fourth in the 110 hurdles. In high school, I was the 95-97 sectional champ and regional runner up. I placed fourth in the state in high jump. Also, I was the first person from my high school ever to make it to regionals in all four events: long jump, high jump, 110 hurdles, and pole vault.
I am involved in track at college, and in my free time, when I am not training for track, I play basketball, soccer, football, go swimming, roller blading, etc. I love almost any sport. I won the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Super Region high jump competition the weekend before I came home for summer break. I also got a second place in the decathlon event that weekend.
Do you have dating experiences that would be useful to describe?
In all of my dating experiences I have never had trouble because of the diet. None of my friends or dates have ever commented on my diet or even cared about it. They’ve asked about it, but never treated me any differently. Mom jokes that the girls are too busy staring at me and sighing!
Do you have any advice for parents, teens or young adults?
It is important to get kids used to the special "low" foods, right from the start. Get them used to a variety of fruits and vegetables, too. Also, parents should not worry if their child will have trouble competing in sports because of PKU. Having PKU does not inhibit that talent, and it is possible to be on the diet and compete athletically. Any teens who are not on the diet, get back on it while you still can—why risk the brain problems and memory loss, etc. that can come with high phe levels? To be your best, diet is the only way!