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</div></span>​</div><span style="font-size: 18px"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf">The first thing Caterina Mireles noticed after she stopped breastfeeding her <a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.theconversation.com%2Ffiles%2F20294%2Fwidth926%2Fh2b5dv5s-1360904434.jpg&amp;hash=ab869dbef5d2afc1bc37d567e201f9ec" href="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/20294/width926/h2b5dv5s-1360904434.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">six-month old son, Luca,</a> and placed him on a cow's milk based baby formula was that he wouldn't stop crying, no matter what she did. Luca cried regardless of the fact that she just fed him, changed his diaper, and wrapped him in a soft blanket. The word <i>crying</i> didn't even describe the almost window-shattering screams emanating from her son as he voiced his discontent with the world around him. Luca's pediatrician shrugged her shoulders and said that there was nothing more she could do, and the colic would probably subside after a few months.<br/>
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<i>It didn't. </i>Night after night, Luca's inconsolable crying was accompanied by projectile vomiting and diarrhea. Finally after seven months of sleepless nights and multiple trips to various doctors, the pediatrician referred Catarina to an allergy specialist. The cost of the appointment would cost the single mom four months in tips, but after performing several tests, the doctor was able to establish a diagnosis. Luca was severely allergic to casein and whey, proteins that were the components of the milk he was drinking. Not only that, Luca had to avoid all milk and dairy products, including “lactose free” versions of milk products for the rest of his life.<br/>
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<div class="bbCodeBlock-content">Definition: <i>Whey</i> is a milk protein that stimulates protein synthesis and is digested fast, meaning it is emptied from the stomach quickly, resulting in a rapid and large increase in plasma amino acids.</div>
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<div class="bbCodeBlock-content">Definition: Casein is a milk protein that is the most abundant protein in milk. It is relatively insoluble. During the processing of milk, which usually involves heat or acid, a gelatinous material is formed. This is the basis for why casein has a slower rate of digestion, and results in a slow but steady release of amino acids into circulation.</div>
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It wasn't easy to completely avoid any products containing traces of milk ingredients in it, especially on Caterina Mireles' paltry income as a waitress. Sometimes Luca ate something that disagreed with him because it was all she could afford. Luca grew up using the trial and error method of discovering what foods to avoid and what he could eat without gastrointestinal distress. It was now habit to carefully check the labels of everything he consumed, including food in the freezer in Marcus' cellar. Aside from some all beef hot dogs and frozen steam-in-the bag vegetables, there wasn't much for him to eat that didn't contain traces of milk protein.<br/>
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Luca made a tuna fish sandwich, but the brand's hidden milk proteins wound up making him ill. More problematic was the fact Luca couldn't translate English words to Portuguese very well on American food labels. Luca didn't want to stress to Marcus how important it was to not foods that contained milk products, hidden or obvious. Regardless, Luca was happy that Marcus remembered he couldn't eat cheese. Deciding to wait until Marcus was ready to discuss his shopping list, he scrutinized the aluminum container of food before he started eating. Luca had begun to associate Marcus with aluminum take-out containers from his favorite Italian restaurant, so he had assumed that Marcus had ordered there again.<br/>
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"Herb crust? I taste lemon, its very good," luca replied, with obvious enjoyment of the cuisine after his first bite. "I not have this before. You buy for me Italian food last time. It good too."<br/>
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Luca heard Marcus say something about the list, and that was a good segue to let him know about the kinds of food he couldn't eat. With the list still between them, Luca translated for him. "<i>Rádio</i> is same as radio, to listen to music."<br/>
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Luca read the contents of the list aloud for Marcus to hear. "<i>Lápis de cor</i> is drawing pencil for colors, um..<i>papel de desenho</i> is drawing paper."<br/>
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Luca's face tipped down to look at his progress with the meal, he had eaten half already and he really liked the way the rice pilaf tasted. It was as close to<i> arroz e feijao</i> (rice and beans) without the beans,  the plump rice grains reminding him of home. Having a radio downstairs made the difference between listening to silence and hearing another human voice.<br/>
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His blue gaze lifted when Marcus asked if he was afraid of the dark. "Yes, Marcus. I not like dark place since I was little. I sleep with <i>luz noturna,</i> a night light."<br/>
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Luca consumed the rice, but decided to peel off the rest of the coating on the herb crusted chicken because he didn't know whether it would trigger off an evening of heaving over a toilet and he didn't want to ruin the evening by having Marcus watch him getting sick. "I ask also for eh special <i>bolinhos de sal, its</i> like saltine cracker. Please<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.neocate.com%2Fimages%2Fuploads%2FImages%2Fmilkkk.png&amp;hash=cf527b6ea8ad2ddc6ae6e8db2d0c9970" href="http://www.neocate.com/images/uploads/Images/milkkk.png" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank"> check label for milk protein,</a> if you not buy the brand I can eat. Same for<i> chiclete</i>, chewing gum. I write down brand for you to buy, okay Marcus?"<br/>
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Next to the lines where he'd written<i> bolinhos de sal</i> and <i>chiclete</i>, he wrote the word <i>Ritz </i>and <i>Juicy Fruit gum</i>. The words might not have been spelled correctly, but would be clear enough for Marcus to read. Now that the crust from the chicken was removed, Luca cut it up holding the fork and knife in both hands. Using the knife and fork like extra appendages, he ate the same way. Hungrier than he thought, Luca released a soft moan of satisfaction and smiled at Marcus' compliment about his English. Luca's eyes sparkled animatedly while teaching Marcus the Portuguese words. As Marcus made a special toast, Luca held his glass of wine, pausing the word game he initiated.<br/>
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"I teach you more word upstairs in bath, if you wish. Words like please, thank you, yes and no," Luca suggested, but would only teach him more words if Marcus was willing.<br/>
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Seeking Marcus' approval to share a bath and give him a massage to wind down their first evening together since his return, was validated when Marcus said<i> yes</i>. Luca was eager to sleep in a real bed and felt his idea was valued by Marcus. Luca was looking forward to lingering in the bath with him, if only for the prolonged human contact. The last thing Luca wanted was to be stuck downstairs in the basement again, or tied up on the cold floor. Luca's head tilted a little to one side as Marcus called him boyfriend.<br/>
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He didn't say anything at first, but when he found his voice again, Luca replied with a smile, and a cheer of "Saúde!"<br/>
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The game continued while Marcus finished eating. "Magazines I like are fitness, and fashion. Like GQ and Men's Health. I learn to play spades game with cards but you need two people, I play Solitaire with <i>cartas de jogar</i>, alone. Playing cards. The next word is <i>bola de borracha</i>, the kind of ball you bounce off wall downstairs. Now the big test, Marcus! Let's see if you remember any words I say. What this word?" Luca asked, pointing to <i>bolinhos de sal</i>.  It would be easy for Marcus to guess since <i>Ritz</i> was written down on the same line on the paper.<br/>
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Luca's hand touched the back of Marcus' when it seemed like something he'd said caused him to worry needlessly about his comfort. He reassured Marcus, answering his questions. "It was cool, I use extra blanket. The toilet flush and shower works. But I want to sleep in bed with you and take bath with you in tub. We light candles, for romance, yes?"<br/>
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The only thing that caused an obvious change in Luca's mood was when Marcus mentioned going into town for a few things. Worry knitted his brow, and his hand shot back to his lap as if Marcus' hand was covered with battery acid.<br/>
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"Please Marcus, no leave me down there again. Why not take me with you? I show you things to buy. I...be good!" Luca stammered, trying to regain his composure, crumbling away in front of Marcus.</span></span>