[Going Gluten Free] With My Son

After months of pain that had steadily worsened, my wife finally convinced me to visit my doctor. Visits to 3 other doctors followed, but the headaches and stomach pains remained. And they still remain, but at least now I have some ideas as to why.

Celiac Disease disallows those diagnosed to eat any food containing gluten or wheat. Lactose intolerance is less severe but possibly more annoying, especially considering my undying love for ice cream.

I couldn't choose how to depict ice cream. This is it. Enjoy.

You can study up on any of these subjects later. You can also just simply go have some ice cream and taunt me about it next time you see me. Whatever you prefer is fine with me. What you choose to do won't be nearly as thoughtful, sweet, respectable or especially admirable as what Deacon has done. When my wife and I told him that I could no longer eat anything with wheat or gluten, he asked if there was anything he could do to help his daddy. There certainly was -- if he wanted to be able to give his daddy a kiss, he would have to join us in saying goodbye to regular bread, cookies, crackers (no more Cheez-Its or Goldfish, most specifically) and pretty much any processed food that can be picked up at the local grocery store. Mommy promised to make snacks just like these for him, and he readily agreed to do whatever he needed to do in order to make sure I would be just fine.

One reaction Deke seemed to experience when I first started admitting that there was something wrong with me was sympathy pain. His belly hurt, he was having uncomfortable... moments, and he even complained about headaches. His symptoms mirrored mine but have since subsided and he's doing just fine, so don't worry. My favourite Deke response to this new development in our lives is how he has been very careful to make sure that what he is eating is Gluten Free.

"Oooh, you made steak! Can you cut some up for-- hey, is this gluten free?"

And he does that for almost everything.

At Shoprite the other day we were searching for some of the many different flours needed to produce gluten free breads and pastas, and Deacon walks up to me with a box in his hand.

Always thinking of his daddy!

We weren't in a gluten free aisle nor were we in a section in which all of those products were grouped together. The one he grabbed and offered to me was on the shelf next to the rest of the run-of-the-mill cookie mixes.

It's not going to be an easy -- or cheap -- transition, but the support of my family is going to keep my spirits up and make my life a whole lot less stressful. And I love them for it. I really don't think they realize how much.


- Nicholas A. Marsico

Other Sources:
Celiac Disease (Celiac.com)
Gluten Free Registry
Celiac Disease (NDDIC)