finding normal

You will find a new normal.

Last year I wrote about wishing to find normal after Samuel was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Those early days without gluten seemed so challenging – the world seemed full of items that he couldn’t have. Often, while pushing my cart through Target my eyes would fill with tears as I watched people fill their cart with gluten items that weeks before I had without thinking thrown into my cart.

I didn’t want Samuel to miss out on those normals.

Yet, here we are, 19 months later, and I can tell you we’ve found a new normal.

On Monday, Samuel visits his pediatric gastroenterologist. On those days where I pack up my vibrant boy, my healthy boy, those are the days where I am reminded of those days, those weeks, those months without answers and those moments where just living without pain was a struggle for Sam.

I don’t take his health for granted. All it takes is one look back at the pictures in this post {Celiac Disease – One year later} to bring me to tears in gratitude for his health. I consider our story a lucky one. I just received a postcard from the University of Chicago’s Celiac Disease program where they listed facts. Like this: it takes an average of 8 Doctors Visits before a child is diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Eight visits. And these visits don’t mean that a healthy child is going. If they are anything like my Samuel, my Samuel who could NOT even walk anymore because his body was getting no nutrients, these are sick children. Waiting for answers.

The initial screening is a lab draw.

One lab draw to indicate if there is a possible issue in the body with gluten.

Why? Why does it take 8 visits? These are little children whose bodies are attacking themselves, whose bodies are no longer absorbing nutrients, whose bodies are worn. It shouldn’t be such a battle.

When I was at Blogher Katie Couric shared how she felt it was a responsibility for her to bring awareness to Colon Cancer after her husband died. She stated that the reason she did the on air colonoscopy was to bring awareness. That, my friends, is how I feel about Celiac Disease. I feel blessed to be able to be a voice in this community, to fight for the children and parents who are sitting at home seeking answers, and to continue to bring awareness to what can be a very silent disease.

Thank you for rallying behind me. Thank you for each share, retweet, comment, email and more. Our voices are changing lives – changing children’s lives. I am incredibly grateful.

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Part of my sharing is being involved in the Udi’s Gluten Free Community Boards {hosted by Blogfog}. This last month I’ve been involved in two live chats and have posted and answered numerous questions regarding gluten free living. If you ever have a gluten free question, please feel free to hop over to the site and ask away. The gals there are amazing {and I’ve met some at Blogher} and we will all work to get a good answer or offer an encouraging word.

For now, I’m going to leave you with a question why are you gluten free? that I recently asked on the Udi’s Gluten Free Board. Blessings and thank you again for fighting for Celiac Disease Awareness with me!

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