Path to Diagnosis
Growing up, I was constantly sick, suffering from strep throat, bronchitis, and pneumonia to the point where I was told that I wouldn’t be able to sustain a corporate job when I was older due to how often I was missing school. After going to an integrative medicine doctor and receiving tons of tests, I was told to go on a strict elimination diet. Within days of cutting gluten and dairy out of my system, I felt like a new human. With the celiac gene running in my family, I was tested and, to no surprise, my results came back positive for celiac disease in 2013.
Life After Diagnosis
Growing up in a household with a little brother who had celiac disease, going gluten-free was not foreign to me. I grew up with a pantry full of gluten-free snacks and desserts, with separate shelves and drawers specifically labeled “gluten-free” for my brother.
As I’ve navigated high school, college, and adulthood with celiac disease, I want to advocate for the gluten-free community. I’m super excited to be a part of this organization as my parents, Jamie and David, got involved with Beyond Celiac over 20 years ago to support my brother, Daniel, who is an ambassador as well. I’m looking forward to connecting with others who understand the anxiety and stress that can sometimes be attributed to having celiac disease. These days, you can find me in Manhattan searching for the best gluten-free food near me.