Katie Price opens up about her fears over losing Harvey
The mum speaks out about her worries for son Harvey
She’s been through so much of late, and last week, Katie Price spoke about her fears for her 18-year-old son Harvey, after he apparently reached almost 29st in the last couple of months. Doctors have warned that Harvey’s health is “critical”, and that he is likely to have a heart attack if he doesn’t lose the weight as soon as possible.
“He needs to lose weight or he’ll end up dead,” Katie said in a heartbreaking interview. “He doesn’t deserve that. I don’t want to lose him. He’s only 18, he’s got his whole life ahead of him. I will do anything to help.”
Harvey, who is autistic, also suffers from Prader-willi syndrome, which – among other things – causes excessive hunger. Katie called it “a cruel illness”, admitting that she feels guilty for feeding her son as she is adding to the problem, but revealed that if she withholds food from Harvey, he can get violent. She said, “I’ve had to replaster my walls because he’ll bash holes in them with his head. People say to me, ‘Why don’t you just not let him eat?’ But they don’t understand. He’ll smash things or headbutt the walls if I say no to him.” Earlier this year, Harvey was rushed to hospital with breathing problems and a high temperature. Katie was apparently worried he was having a heart attack. He remained in intensive care for ten days, due to the “complex” nature of his medical needs.
Harvey has multiple health issues, which 42-year-old Katie has had to contend with since she was left to raise him alone by his father, ex-footballer Dwight Yorke. Katie also went on to have four more children – Junior, 15, Princess, 13, Jett, seven, and Bunny, six, who all dote on Harvey. In the interview, Katie said, “I play the mum and dad role to [Harvey], so I am protective. He is a unique child and he’s very special.” She also called Dwight “a disgusting human, for not wanting to know his son”.
The former glamour model – who is having to learn to walk again after breaking both feet in July – now says she’s on a mission to get Harvey healthy. She recently asked her Instagram followers for help in finding a treadmill and a rowing machine, so that Harvey could continue to exercise while the gyms are closed during lockdown. She has also said she plans to paint their gym equipment green – frog-obsessed Harvey’s favourite colour – in a bid to get him interested in working out.
“There is no time to wait,” Katie said last week. “He has to lose weight now.” ■