Hi! I am Ayelet Ravera, a sophomore at Gann Academy living in Newton, Massachusetts.
I was diagnosed with celiac disease in kindergarten, which took me on a long and bumpy road, leading to who I am today. Before I was diagnosed, I would come home from school every day with a horrible stomachache, but my parents and I assumed it was nothing. This pattern kept happening until I was diagnosed, which put me on the path to feeling better.
While finding the key to staying healthy was a relief, I quickly realized that now I was “different” from everyone. I felt hurt and embarrassed when at birthday parties everyone would get to eat the pizza and cake, while I would have to bring my own. Meal plans with friends and vacations became harder to plan. I learned that to stay healthy, small sacrifices would have to be made.
For me, being a Reach Beyond Celiac Ambassador means that I can share information about celiac disease while also helping to form a loving and supportive community. No one should feel as if they’re going through this alone. Having celiac disease does not mean that our food “tastes bad because it’s gluten-free.” Beyond Celiac helped me realize that having celiac disease does not make you different, but makes you special, and that is why I am so beyond grateful to be a part of the community.
