In 1994 I was diagnosed with celiac disease, which led me to create Celiac.com in 1995. I created this site for a single purpose: To help as many people as possible with celiac disease get diagnosed so they can begin to live happy, healthy gluten-free lives. Celiac.com was the first site on the Internet dedicated solely to celiac disease, and since then it has become an invaluable resource to people worldwide who seek information about celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. In 1998 I created The Gluten-Free Mall, Your Special Diet Superstore! which was also another Internet first—it was the first gluten-free food site to offer a shopping cart-style interface, and the ability for people to order gluten-free products manufactured by many different companies at a single Web site.
I am also co-author of the book Cereal Killers, and founder and publisher of Journal of Gluten Sensitivity.
Subject: Case Histories
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2000 14:12:55 -0500
I am sending you a copy of a letter I am sending to my brothers doctor.
My brothers story is sad as you will read from the letter. In fact, unknown
to us, my entire family has suffered from celiac disease over many generations.
Information from your web site has been copied and handed out, faxed,
or emailed to many people, including doctors. . It has been our main source
of insight and information.
It is always a good feeling to know that your life has touched many and
helped many, and your life has indeed done that. Thank you from my family.
As a family we have only discovered celiac disease in our midst in the
last few months. Here is the letter. Bruce probably would have gone on
to become progressively more ill were it not for the information on related
disorders that you provide. We await his biopsy results with hope for
his renewed health.
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2000 13:56:57 -0600
Subject: Website
I would just like to thank you and anyone else that is responsible for
providing such an excellent website. I am a new sprue and
also a RN.
I have been quite frustrated in the huge amount of conflicting and anecdotal
information available to me. Your site seems to be balanced
and has more primary source material.
Thanks,
Sharon Ward
Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2000 23:20:32 -0500
Subject: Please Add Me
The hour is late, however I have to tell you just how much your site helped me tonight. My 8 year old son was just diagnosed with Celiac Disease - never having heard of it, you can imagine what all was running through my head as they explained to me the whys and wherefores!!! We return to the docs on Tuesday, your site helped me link to some very valuable information, giving me of course, a very long list of questions.... and the knowledge, that I should be tested, as I was told I had any number of things, the latter being IBS, I am also have thyroid disease, Hypothyroid, which too has been difficult to manage. I am just overwhelmed with the information so carefully laid out here. Im sure there have been those that have said Thank You - let me be counted among them - truly, you gave me a place to start from, where I had nothing... *smiles* thank you!!!! thank you!!!! thank you!!!!
Please add me to your mailing list!
Christine Schettig
Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 11:03:03 -0400
Dear Sir, Ive just received my first Celiac Support Page and want to
tell you how very much it means to receive such current information.
Ill not continue to bother you with e-mails but must thank you very sincerely
for what you are doing. Sincerely, Joyce Dozois
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 2000 15:07:27 EDT
Subject: celiac websites
Bless you or whoever put out the safe & forbidden food list, recipes,
info, products etc...thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!! I have been omitting
foods for 4 years, some which I dont have to omit. A whole new world
just opened up for me between buying a computer and finding you guys.
All too often people complain, so heres a compliment to brighten your
day!! thanks again!
From: Scott Wilterdink
Subject: thanks!
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2000 04:13:06 -0600
My name is also scott and Im writing to tell you how wonderful your web site is and will be for my friend Linda. She was recently diagnosed
with celiac sprue disease, and like you, it took many doctors and many years of pain before someone came about this diagnosis. When i talked with her tonight, she was feeling really depressed because she was worrying what shed be able to eat, how she could find gluten-free products, and how she could stop the pain from coming back. Then, we found your wonderful web page! Not only do you explain more about the disease and give first hand experience to dealing with the disease, but u have gone out of your way to list countless numbers of web sites that will be beneficial to Linda, and other celiac sufferers.
I just thought Id let you know that your hard work and effort has given
Linda a much needed boost and change in attitude. They always say if
i can just reach one person and help them, all the work is worth it.
well my friend, your work was well worth it because you have helped put
a smile back on Lindas face and hopefully it stays there for many
years to come!
Thanks again!
Scott Wilterdink
Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 21:31:24 -0600
I am the Linda that Scott Wilterdink wrote to you about a
couple of days of ago. I was in really getting in a deep depression and
wondering how I was going to continue my own existence! I mean in order
to eat I had to find something I could eat. However, every thing I was
finding was just telling what the disease was. NOT what I do about being
able to find the proper foods to heal my pain and suffering. You have
been a God send to me as well as my friend Scott. I cant thank you enough.
You have gone to an enormous amount of work to build your web site and
I for one, cant tell you what it has meant to me. I will go through it
like a fine tooth comb.. I dont want to miss a word or meaning. I want
to also go just as thoroughly through the other web sites. Again I thank
you so much for some hope that I was being to think was hopeless. I was
worried about 2 sons and one son has 3 children of his own. I couldnt
imagine passing on a gene that could make my grandbabies or my own babies
suffer as I have without having a way to help them. And thanks to you...
I have that answer now. I could go on forever on my feelings of your help
and I wouldnt come close to how much it means to me. You have done a
great job and great justice to anyone with celiac. I will surely send
anyone in our position straight to you. I wish there was something I could
do to repay you the life you have given back to me. I had given up. I
was depressed and now I see a light at the end of the tunnel and with
a husband that loves the challenge to help me and so VERY supportive..
I am one of the luckiest women in the world. and you have been a big part
of me feeling so good about me again for the first time in many years!!
I know that Scott W. has thanked you but I wanted to do that personally
myself. What you are doing is so wonderful. So God bless you....you have
to be one of his guardian angels.. I think maybe you have this disease
because He knew how useful you would be to all the rest of us that just
sit around feeling sorry for ourselves instead of doing what you have
done. But no more of that. I intend to learn everything about this that
is I possibly can and look at life as a positive thing rather than one
that is just pain and suffering every morning. Thanks to YOU. That isnt
true anymore.. I wake up feeling little pain to none on some days. And
that my, guardian angel... is due to your efforts and hard work! I thank
God every minute for friends like you and Scott W. Without people like
you in the world...well it just wouldnt be the wonderful place that people
like you two make it!!!! Thank you so much again..
From a fellow celiac from depression to loving life without pain again!!!
Linda Koenig
Date: 5 Dec 2000 19:06:58 -0800
Hello, My name is Anna and I take care of an geriatric patient and have
had my first encounter with a gluten intolerant person. I have visited
this site many times and have received countless amount of help. w/o this
site, Im sure this patient would be dead or close to it. At the time
I started research on gluten intolerance and what it was exactly...she
had already lost 35 pounds and was steadily losing. I emailed this site
and received via snail mail various articles, cook books, pamphlets. Need
I say...they have become our bibles and w/o them, we would
be totally lost. I have emailed this site many times and my questions
have always been answered quickly. I was truly surprised of the amount
of ppl who arent even aware of this disease/condition....even her own
doctor and our dietitian was not even aware of things she could or couldnt
have. But, needless to say, with the help of this site...I have enlightened
them!! I would really appreciate being put on the email list of updates
and various a
Sincerely,
Anna Gibson