Hi, I’m Leeza! I am from eastern Iowa. My favorite hobbies are reading, playing video games, spending time with family and friends, traveling, and trying new gluten-free foods.
Life with Celiac Disease
I got diagnosed with celiac disease in April of 2019. When I first went to my primary doctor with my list of symptoms, my doctor tested me for numerous things to narrow it down to celiac disease. My diagnosis and blood test results were confirmed a couple months later with an endoscopy.
After diagnosis, I felt completely lost. Even after speaking to a nutritionist, I did not fully understand what it meant to be 100% gluten-free. Every year has been filled with so many ups and downs while I have learned to navigate this lifelong disease.
Making a Difference
My goal as a Beyond Celiac Ambassador is to bring awareness to celiac disease and help others with the disease to not feel alone. When I was first diagnosed, I really wished I had someone to turn to that understood what I was going through. It can be very physically and mentally draining. My wish is to make things less stressful for someone who might be struggling with navigating a gluten-free lifestyle.
I hope to bring the community together and help others find joy. When you have others around that show you that you are not alone, it helps take some of the weight off. I am so thankful for the gluten-free community that I have found online. I hope to bring this sense of community to others. We are better together.
