Our Celiac Cuties Story
This is Norah! Our very own Celiac Cutie. Around one year old, she had a nasty bout of RSV that turned into pneumonia. After being hospitalized and recovering, we noticed that she was having strange vomiting bouts. Her hair turned brittle and stopped growing. Her cognitive functioning and awareness began to decline. Her little "toddler belly" was no longer little... and became alarmingly round. We went to several doctor appointments to figure out what was going on, to receive advice like "oh, this is normal," and "maybe it's acid reflux, let's give her some meds for this" and "just give it some time." We knew there was something more going on, but couldn't put our finger on it.
Enter Grandma (who was also a pediatric nurse) who introduced us to the possibility of Celiac Disease. At that time, we had no idea what this was! We went back to the doctor and requested lab work... which came back undeniably positive and numbers off the chart. This began our journey down the gluten free road as a new Celiac Family...
...aaand we were so overwhelmed!! Lots of tears, frustrations, and a ton of money spent on new foods, restocking our pantry, even needing to purchase new cookware in order to eliminate chances of cross-contamination. Many experiments in cooking and baking, brand-trying wins and losses. We felt very alone in this journey but knew we had to be successful for the sake of Norah.
Fast forward many years and Norah is LIVING LIFE! She is strong, intelligent and a fierce advocate for celiac-related needs, as well as for others who have dietary restrictions. We want you to know that this journey is possible and it gets easier! Your kiddo will thrive in time!
Our story might sound similar to yours. Through the years, we wanted to give back and somehow ease the gap of this transition, and Norah was the one that pushed us to create this mission.
Enter Grandma (who was also a pediatric nurse) who introduced us to the possibility of Celiac Disease. At that time, we had no idea what this was! We went back to the doctor and requested lab work... which came back undeniably positive and numbers off the chart. This began our journey down the gluten free road as a new Celiac Family...
...aaand we were so overwhelmed!! Lots of tears, frustrations, and a ton of money spent on new foods, restocking our pantry, even needing to purchase new cookware in order to eliminate chances of cross-contamination. Many experiments in cooking and baking, brand-trying wins and losses. We felt very alone in this journey but knew we had to be successful for the sake of Norah.
Fast forward many years and Norah is LIVING LIFE! She is strong, intelligent and a fierce advocate for celiac-related needs, as well as for others who have dietary restrictions. We want you to know that this journey is possible and it gets easier! Your kiddo will thrive in time!
Our story might sound similar to yours. Through the years, we wanted to give back and somehow ease the gap of this transition, and Norah was the one that pushed us to create this mission.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower and support children newly diagnosed with celiac disease by providing welcome boxes filled with gluten-free goodies, helpful resources, and encouragement—bringing comfort, confidence, and a sense of community as they begin their gluten-free journey.
A new diagnosis of celiac disease can be overwhelming for children and families. Common challenges include:
A new diagnosis of celiac disease can be overwhelming for children and families. Common challenges include:
- Fear and confusion around food restrictions
- Feelings of being “different” or excluded
- Limited access to gluten-free samples due to cost
- Lack of emotional support at diagnosis
Our Program Services
Each welcome box will include:
- Individually packaged gluten free food samples
- Coupons from gluten free brands
- Encouraging notes or affirmations
- Stickers or small comfort toy
- Resources for families (safe food tips, trusted organizations)
Boxes are designed to be cheerful, age-appropriate, and comforting.