Being a Grandmother to my Awesome Grandson Connor ... with Celiac!

Hello and welcome to my thoughts on being a grandmother to my awesome CONNOR diagnosed with Celiac at age 2 1/2.

He was a typical toddler...played hard, active and potty trained! What a blessing to us all!  My daughter told me he was recovering from the stomach bug as was his sister, Madelyn BUT...

I was babysitting and saw that Connor just did not feel good. He did not want to play, or eat.  He asked to be held and just seemed so fragile that I was moved to tears. WHAT could be wrong?  The pediatricians were convinced it was still the stomach bug...even after 21 days! My daughter was like a mama bear. She had that "GUT" mama feeling that something else was going on and literally phoned them every day with updates and pleas to find a solution to Connor's problem. She did not let up and although they probably chalked her up to a new "paranoid" mom, they did comply and order GI Pediatrician consults!  Celiac does NOT run in our family so when this test was ordered I more or less thought to myself...NO. Imagine my surprise. After a multitude of tests and weeks gone by...the diagnosis of celiac and a quick endoscopy to ascertain the damage to his intestines!  

NOW...we have the cause and we KNOW the solution. Gluten-free diet! This is not just a week or a month of treatment; this is a lifelong commitment. OMG. How is it doable with a toddler?

How hard is it for a toddler to go to a pizza party and not eat the pizza?  How about the many birthday parties and not eat the cake or cupcakes? There are SO MANY issues with eating out/eating at school where an unsuspecting friend is eating a muffin and wipes his crumbs with his hands and touches the table and toys that Connor will play with! What about the soap he washes with/the toothpaste he brushes with, the lipstick his mom kisses him with...

UGH!

I am beyond what is happening and focusing on WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN! My quest is to make restaurants AWARE, with great kitchen certification to become not only gluten-free but CELIAC FRIENDLY! Most restaurants are not willing to make the commitment. Some are TRYING. WE NEED to make restaurants more accountable for this celiac necessity. Not gluten-free as a fad but gluten-free to live!

An awareness in schools, of the need for handwashing after all snacks and meals, and an attentiveness to food allergies with a new awareness, maybe a separate ares for food allergies whether it be gluten/peanut/egg, these kids NEED our support and our commitment to their well being.

I am so open to others' thoughts and actions and welcome your valuable input! I am only a grandmother who is looking ahead...

Thank you in advance.

MIMI