Sweet Faces of Celiac Disease: Meet Adisyn

Adisyn is 8 years old and was 
diagnosed with celiac disease 
when she was 18 months old.

What symptoms was your child having before being diagnosed?

Adisyn began experiencing symptoms when she was just 6 months old; severe constipation, night terrors every night, and a distended, rock hard tummy.

Any other family members diagnosed with celiac disease?

No - she is the first and only to be diagnosed in our entire extended family.  

Her sister was tested one year after Adisyn's diagnosis and after the test came back negative,  with relief in her face, told me "Oh good, mom, because I just LOVE gluten!"

How has your child’s life changed since being diagnosed?

A diagnosis gave Adisyn's life a 180° turn! 

After one week of gluten free living, the night terrors (that she had been having nightly) were gone. Her tummy distention was non-existent and her constipation had ended. 

Adisyn is entering second grade this year, she is beginning her fourth year of dance, just wrapped up her first year of fastpitch softball, loves gymnastics and spending time tubing at the lake with her little sister. She is learning every day to identify gluten in food products, eats better than most adults and will explain to any one what gluten does to her body. I am so proud of the little lady that she is!

What advice would you offer a parent who’s child was just diagnosed with celiac disease?

Having a child diagnosed with any medical condition is terrifying. I remember feeling so scared and so overwhelmed with her diagnosis because I had no idea what it was. I researched endlessly to try to figure out how to make this better for her. If I messed up, I felt so defeated and like I was failing her. It is such a learning process though, with new information coming out all of the time, I had to give myself a little grace and learn to take things one day at a time. 

If I could offer any parent whose child was just diagnosed with celiac, it would be to allow yourself some grace. Join Facebook groups in your area to help you identify safe places, tips and tricks, and just provide you with some moral support as you learn to navigate a new lifestyle.

WOW Adiysn! Look at you! You look healthy and FULL OF LIFE! You are ready to take on the world! I hope you have a great school year! Also, I grew up playing softball and I still LOVE it to this day. Just keep your eye on the ball and swing away! ;)

Great advice Mom. And yes, we have to give ourselves a break! We will make mistakes and there will be surprises we won't be prepared for. All we can do, is do our BEST!