Our Celiac Story
We’re Krista and Brandon, and this is our daughter Sylvia’s story — though these days, it’s really our whole family’s story.
We didn’t set out to become celiac experts. Like most families in this position, we started with a diagnosis, a long list of questions, and a very real fear that one small mistake could hurt our daughter.
My Celiac Compass grew out of that experience — learning to make our kitchen safer, read labels like second nature, navigate school and restaurants, and help Sylvia grow up without letting celiac disease define her.
How Our Celiac Journey Began
Our journey began when Sylvia was ten. A bad case of strep throat, followed quickly by influenza A, seemed to set everything off—we believe it triggered what came next. When her bloodwork finally came back, her celiac markers were off the charts—literally. Depending on the specific marker, a normal result was listed as less than 4 to less than 15 U/mL. Sylvia’s result exceeded 600 U/mL, the highest level the test could measure, so we still do not know exactly how high her number actually was. Almost overnight, our family was learning an entirely new way to shop, cook, and eat.
It took about six months to reach a full diagnosis. At the time, that felt like a long road — but we’ve since learned it’s actually fast. For many families, a celiac diagnosis takes years. We count that as one of our first strokes of luck.
At first, everything felt urgent. We questioned every ingredient, every kitchen tool, every restaurant menu, every school snack — wondering if one innocent mistake could cause harm. Decisions that used to take no thought at all suddenly felt like they mattered enormously.
That didn’t last forever. Confidence came slowly, one understood label and one safe meal at a time. Sylvia is eleven and a half now, and most days, that early fear has settled into something closer to routine.
Why We Created My Celiac Compass
We started this site because newly diagnosed families deserve more than a stack of medical terms and a list of foods to avoid. They need to know what those instructions actually look like in an actual kitchen, grocery store, classroom, restaurant, and family celebration.
We’re not medical professionals, and we’re still learning ourselves. What we can offer is honest experience, information we’ve actually taken the time to research, and the reminder that you don’t have to figure this out alone.
What You’ll Find at My Celiac Compass
Our goal is to make the practical side of celiac disease easier to understand. Everything we create is organized around the questions families face in everyday life
- Understanding the diagnosis — Clear explanations of testing, healing, follow-up care, and common celiac terms.
- Creating a safer kitchen — Practical help with cross-contact, shared kitchens, appliances, utensils, and food preparation.
- Shopping and meal planning — Label-reading guidance, grocery strategies, family meals, snacks, and gluten-free products.
- School, restaurants, and travel — Tools for communicating, planning ahead, asking questions, and helping children participate safely.
- Real family life — Honest experiences with celebrations, mistakes, anxiety, advocacy, and gradually building confidence.
Meet the Family Behind My Celiac Compass
As Sylvia’s parents, we’re the ones behind everything you’ll read here. When she was diagnosed, our whole household had to learn what “gluten-free” really means — not just at the dinner table, but at school, at birthday parties, on vacation, in all the small ordinary moments of family life.
We don’t pretend to have it all figured out. We’re still asking questions, still double-checking labels, and still weighing risk versus reward before new restaurants or new situations. What’s changed since day one is how much we’ve learned — and we’d rather share it than let another family start from zero.
This site isn’t a substitute for advice from your child’s medical team. It’s a place for practical, well-researched guidance — and the honest perspective of parents walking the same road you are.
Ready to Find Your Next Step?
Whether your child was diagnosed yesterday or your family has been gluten-free for a while, you do not have to solve everything at once. Begin with the step that feels most important today, and return whenever you need help finding your direction.