Upstate boy known as G3 visits DC to lobby Congress

WASHINGTON (FOX Carolina) –
Most 6-year-olds don’t lobby Congress on important health issues.

However, Giles Martin Schanen III, or G3 as he’s called, isn’t your typical 6-year-old.

During a visit to Washington on March 27, G3 talked to Senators Jim Demint, Lindsey Graham, Congressman Trey Gowdy and others about a disease he suffers from: eosiniphilac esophagitis.

Because of EE, as it is also known, Schanen has allergic reactions to every food except milk, wheat, beef and pork.

“I had a wonderful time visiting with Giles,” said Gowdy. “He has tremendous courage and I told him we needed people like him in public service. He went on the floor and voted for me and met 15 to 20 of my colleagues. I talked with his parents about how to bring increased awareness and funding to the condition he suffers from and we have a plan in place on how to do that.”

There is no known cure for EE, and right now there is no FDA approved treatment for this obscure disease that affects 50 people out of every 100,000.

Through all the pain, the allergy testing and endoscopies, Giles continues to focus on the positive things in his life. For example, he just built a 2,000-piece Lego tower, and he’s a big fan now of NASCAR Nationwide series driver Jeremy Clements of Spartanburg, since he’s racing to raise awareness about the disease.

– Trent Butler (source: Fox Carolina)