Hi, I’m Erin, founder of Gluten-Free Globetrotter! I have lots of new readers here and it’s been a minute since I posted to my blog.
This summer, I celebrated 45 years of living with celiac disease. I mark July 9, 1981, as my celiac anniversary because that was the first time “celiac” appeared in my pediatric medical charts. Whoa, let that sink in for a minute. Four and a half decades of living gluten-free with celiac disease. I literally have a lifetime of experience with celiac disease and I have been sharing it through my blogs, social media platforms and support groups for more than twenty years.
Since I was diagnosed so young, I’ve never known life with gluten. From sleep-away camp and college to travel and my gluten-free wedding, living gluten-free has completely shaped so many aspects of my life. My mission has always been to show that a celiac diagnosis isn’t a death sentence, it’s a LIFE sentence. You can truly thrive with celiac disease, and I love sharing my story so you feel inspired and never feel alone.
Whether you are brand new here or have been following along for years, welcome! Here’s to staying safe, living fully, and feeling kinda chic* with celiac.
These photos are from a summer internet post where I shared what I thought was “kinda chic” about growing up with celiac disease. Just explaining the trend behind this post for those who were wondering.
How long have you been living with celiac disease? Whether it has been 45 years like more or 45 minutes, you are always welcome here. Please drop a comment below and say hello!
Hi Erin,
Your pictures bring back a lot of memories of our last 43 years of being gluten-free. Our youngest daughter was diagnosed with “failure to thrive” as a baby in 1983. All your milestones were very similar to our life. Music camp for a week, a gluten-free wedding, and our older daughter was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2006, so she has a sister with Celiac Disease. Grandparents live a long way, so lots of travel in the US, and a trip to revisit Newberry, England and Normandy, France in 1998. Strangely enough, after I was officially diagnosed in 1997, my sister was diagnosed too. I probably have a lot in common with your Mom! I would have loved being able to talk to her so many years ago, when we were both scrambling for recipes. We have followed you since you began your blog, and we wish you the very best as you continue with all that you do for Celiac Disease.
Marie Carter
Oh wow, Marie! We really do have so many similarities in our celiac stories. I really appreciate you leaving this comment. And yes, it would have been so great to know others with celiac way back forty years ago. I didn’t meet another person with celiac until I was a teenager. Thank you so much for sharing.