Deven Minke grew up in Mid-Michigan and has lived there his whole life. He was officially diagnosed with celiac disease in October of 2021, though he suspects it had been affecting his health since he was a teenager. The path to his diagnosis began with his grandmother, who had been told by a doctor that she may have celiac disease herself. At her age, she felt there was little point in pursuing it further, but noticing that Deven was struggling with some of the same symptoms, she suggested he look into it. That offhand comment turned out to make all the difference.
In 2023, Deven participated in a celiac disease clinical trial. He is grateful for the opportunity to participate and hopeful that the research will one day benefit others living with the disease.
Caregiving and advocacy have been a steady part of Deven’s life. He spent 14 years caring for his mother, who lived with chronic and critical illness, as well as his grandparents in their later years. Those years shaped his understanding of what it means to show up for people who are going through something hard. He is also a devoted brother to Drew, who has autism and is himself a champion and advocate for the neurodivergent community. Outside of his health journey, Deven enjoys swimming, hiking, foraging, target archery, tomahawk and knife throwing, and has a genuine love of medicine, mythology, and history. He shares his home with his Ragdoll cat, Chino, and spends time in Traverse City with his wonderful and supportive partner, Britney. He is glad to be part of the Beyond Celiac community and looks forward to connecting with others who understand what living with this disease is really like.