<<Disclaimer:  Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

This subject has been discussed in some depth on this mailing list earlier.
Spelt is very closely related to wheat, and the prevailing view is that
individuals allergic to gluten will react to spelt in most cases.

In the case you described, where small deviations from a gluten-free diet can
be fatal, it is essential that the parents find out in detail and with
precision what a true gluten-free diet entails.  E.g., "natural flavorings"
in tomato sauce usually have some form of MSG and gluten.  There are a few
 dozen such ingredients that can contain gluten with no apparent connection,
in addition to grains closely related to wheat such as spelt which are easier
to identify and avoid.

I have found this mailing list very helpful, and the family you mentioned may
find it worthwhile to get an EMail connection at $10-$15 per month (even
American Online would be fine for this purpose) just to monitor it.  This
could be a small health care investment with a big payoff from the situation
you describe.  -- David Scheim