A mother who thought her newborn smelled of pancakes because of a spilled breakfast learned it was a warning sign of a rare genetic disorder that could have been fatal.
Sweet Smell Led to Diagnosis
Megan Popps and Devaughn Debelak welcomed their son, Leo Debelak, in February 2026. After his routine heel prick test, they were discharged home, but days later were told there was an anomaly in his results.
Megan, 30, who works in accounts, noticed her baby 'smelled sickeningly sweet' with a distinct odour of pancakes and maple syrup. She initially thought it was from a pancake breakfast on the maternity ward that had spilled onto Leo's blanket.
A Rare Disorder Uncovered
Concern grew when Leo's amino acid results came back 'inconclusive', leading Megan to search online and discover Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD), a rare but treatable inherited metabolic disorder that prevents normal breakdown of protein. It gets its name from the sweet smell of maple syrup in urine, sweat, and earwax of affected infants.
Untreated MSUD can cause seizures, long-term health problems including brain damage, and can lead to a coma, which can be life-threatening.
Rush to Hospital
When the entire house began smelling of syrupy pancakes, Megan took Leo back to hospital. Doctors found his amino acid levels were critical, diagnosed MSUD, and he spent three weeks in the NICU. He was put on haemodialysis to clear toxins from his blood.
Megan, from near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US, said: "While we were still in the hospital, Leo had the heel prick test done and we were discharged home before the results came back."
She added: "We had mentioned to each other a few times that Leo smelled very sweet. It's a very sugary, pancake smell, it's sickeningly sweet like maple syrup."
Lifelong Diet and Risk
Leo now must follow a life-long protein-restricted diet, avoiding meat and dairy completely, and must count his protein intake. He is at risk of metabolic crises triggered by too much protein, fasting, sickness, or stress.
Megan said: "MSUD within a few weeks can be fatal if left untreated. Leo would've slipped into a coma within days or even lost his life. I think that pancake, maple syrup smell absolutely helped save his life."
She advised: "One of the most important things for people to know is to trust their instincts."
