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Hello one and all, I just recently joined this group and have read each
response with great interest.  I have a 12 year old daughter with CD.
Taylor was diagnosed at the age of 18 months after many tests were
adminstered for "failure to thrive" and finally a biopsy was completed.
She was glutenfree for another 12 months when a second biopsy was
preformed.  The results were that her small intestine was 100% better
but still not 100% healed.  We are very strict and follow the diet to
the best of our ability.  Her doctor recommended that we have a gluten
challenge and then do another biopsy, but at this point Taylor has no
interest in it and if you knew her at 18 months and then saw her just 4
months later, there would be no doubt in your mind that the GF diet was
agreeing with her.  After reading all the postings here I have begun to
wonder if Taylor truly has CD. So many of you have other health problems
or food intolerances, while my daughter is as healthy as a horse.  She
has not had the slightest cold or stomach virus since she was 5 years
old. (Nor has she been on any type of medicine).  One of the things I
saw here that really got my mind thinking was when I read how some of
you have such severe reaction to even the smallest trace of gluten.
There have been a few times when I know Taylor ingest a small amount and
nothing of note occurs.  Could it be that she is not celiac?  Could she
have just had some type of allergic reaction to wheat when she was
younger?  (That wouldn't destroy your small intestine would it?)  I
guess what I really want to know is.....are there people out there with
CD who follow the diet and are healthy in all other ways?  If so, please
let me know.  Every night when I sit and read these things I think that
I should insist upon a gluten challenge because Taylor does not sound
like all the other celiac's out there.  Also, if there are any of you
out there in the Tampa Bay area who have young children, I would love to
hear from you.   By the way, neither my husband or I have any history of
CD in our families, nor do either of our other two daughters.  Just
something to think about. Please let me know any thoughts you might have
on our situation.

       Thanks,
       Lori & Taylor
       Bradenton, FL
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