Chloe Has Celiac Disease

Over the past year, Chloe’s pediatrician had becoming concerned over her failure to gain appropriate weight. At her “2 Year” check up, she had significantly fallen off the curve for weight gain, in comparison to her height and head circumference. Her doctor ordered a series of blood tests. The blood tests came back with a strong indication that Chloe has Celiac disease. Celiac Disease is a life-long autoimmune disease that causes damage to the small intestine when gluten is consumed. So, what’s gluten? Everything! Kidding: it’s a form of protein found in many grains including wheat, barley and rye. She had endoscopic surgery a couple weeks ago to confirm the diagnosis. The pictures from the endoscope were disturbing. My poor baby had sores lining her small intestines: no wonder she hasn’t gained any weight – her body can’t absorb anything. The good news is that a couple months on a gluten-free (GF) diet should allow her body to heal up, and then all we have to do is maintain a GF diet. Which, sadly, is easier said than done! But, we’re making it work.

This is a picture of Chloe eating her last "Gluten" Birthday Cake.

Thanks to Mom and Alex for the wonderful gift of the bread maker; now, whether I like it or not – I’m going to become the Betty Crocker of the Gluten-Free diet – who I NEVER aspired to be.

As a special plea: please keep your eye out for any products that are specifically labeled “Gluten-Free” or recipes that are GF. Thanks!