Describe your life prior to diagnosis.
I was skateboarding all the time, like always. But sometimes I had really bad stomach aches and had to run to the bathroom at school a lot. I also didn’t sleep as well and I wasn’t as energetic as I am now. Also, I was even skinnier than I am now.
How did you find out that you had celiac disease? Did you suspect it beforehand?
My parents just thought I had a sensitive stomach, but then I had a while of really bad pain and barfing and we went to the doctor.
How long did it take for you to get diagnosed since your first symptoms? Is there anything that could have led to you being diagnosed sooner?
My doctor told us after my blood test, and then also after my endoscopy. It was really bad. But I kind of liked it when the did the blood tests and when I drank the sleepy juice and then woke up in a room with giraffes on the walls. If my parents had taken me to the doctor sooner. (Parent here: we feel terrible that we just passed it off as a sensitive stomach!)
Describe your experience living with celiac disease.
It’s mostly better because I started Devious Skateboards, which is a skateboarding brand that I draw all the designs for. We sell shirts, and hoodies, and skateboards, and then we give all the money away help celiac research and people with celiac disease. Everyone is super hyped on Devious so that gets me hyped. We even have some skateboards going into a skateshop soon. My dad helps a lot too with the site and stuff. (Parent here again: Some of the art on Devious is Dad’s:) ) I also feel better. Like I almost never have stomach aches or reflux or have to run to the bathroom any more. Even though I get a little sad when I can’t just eat delicious stuff with my friends, it’s okay because I don’t want to be sick again.
What would a cure mean for you?
Then I would stop being so small and I could eat whatever I wanted and I wouldn’t always have to worry if I was being contaminated or if there was gluten in any food.