Ree Drummond Admits Her Family Is in 'Disbelief’ Over Son-in-Law’s Medical Diagnosis

The Pioneer Woman star Ree Drummond is speaking out about her son-in-law’s medical diagnosis, sharing details about the difficult health journey her family is currently facing.

Mauricio Scott, husband of Drummond’s oldest daughter Alex, was recently diagnosed with Alpha-Gal Syndrome. The medical condition hails from a tick bite.

In an essay for her Pioneer Woman website, Drummond explained what Alpha-Gal Syndrome is and what is being done to help Scott. She also shared new details about the lifestyle changes and ongoing support he will need in managing the condition.

Drummond wrote, “Mauricio, my son-in-law and Alex’s husband, was just diagnosed with Alpha-Gal syndrome, which is an increasingly common allergy that can develop after a tick bite. I have heard about Alpha-Gal over the past couple of years, but like many things you hear about in passing, I haven’t given it much thought except that distant sense that it’s definitely not something anyone in my world would want to be afflicted with.”

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Scott reportedly was bitten by a tick on the Drummond ranch. This is a common occurrence, so after he found the tick on his body he removed it.

“The good news is that Alpha-Gal is manageable; one just has to be aware of the foods to avoid. The bad news is that the foods Mauricio has to avoid are the ones he loves most in the world,” Drummond continued.

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The tick that carries the disease is called a lone star tick. It has a white dot on its back.

After returning home from the ranch, Scott went back to work on a Thursday and ate a burger for lunch. He had serious stomach pain thereafter.

Drummond wrote, “Not just a little stomachache, but a burning kind of pain that he didn’t recognize. Alex says Mauricio isn’t usually dramatic about things like that, which made it stand out to her even more.”

The next day, the couple ate steak tacos for dinner. Scott had the same reaction after the meal.

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On Saturday, the couple enjoyed a baby sprinkle for their second child, a boy, given by family and friends. Scott ate brisket and had the same reaction.

It was then that Alex’s friend told the couple they sensed red meat was the culprit. Scott avoided the food for a few days and seemed to feel better. A medical test ultimately diagnosed the condition.

Drummond wrote, “We were all immediately bummed for him! There were a lot of ‘NO WAYs’ and a few four-letter words of disbelief. There’s no other way to say it: Mauricio loves ribs, steaks, burgers, tacos, and all the things one would expect a person in our family to love, so again… we were all so bummed for him.”

“Pork is also on the list of meat that trigger the allergy, so bacon, pork ribs, carnitas…all of those faves are out. The allergic reactions can range from stomach pain to hives to severe anaphylaxis, so it’s definitely considered a condition to take seriously.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Alpha-Gal syndrome (AGS) can go away, but it is not guaranteed. For many people, the allergy improves or fully resolves within 1 to 5 years, provided they avoid further tick bites and strict triggers.

Related: Ree Drummond’s 51-Year-Old Family Photo Has ‘Pioneer Woman’ Fans Doing a Double Take