Hometown: Etna, OH
Age on Race Day: 15
Diagnosis: Celiac Disease
As a first-grader, Michaela often complained of her stomach hurting both at school and at home. Her family struggled to determine a cause for her aches, but when discussions revealed that she was consuming a lot of dairy, her pediatrician suggested eliminating it to see if that would help.
Three months into her dairy-eliminated diet, Michaela was still experiencing frequent stomach aches throughout the day. Continuing to search for answers, Michaela’s parents requested that she be tested to see if she was allergic to gluten. Testing specifically for a gluten allergy was like searching for a needle in a haystack, but a needle they found. Lab results showed that Michaela was allergic to gluten. She was quickly diagnosed with celiac disease.
Though relieved to have an answer to her pain, Michaela’s journey was far from over. Referred to the Gastroenterology (G.I.) Department at Nationwide Children's Hospital, she underwent an endoscopy, a procedure where a doctor uses a flexible tube with a camera to examine the digestive tract and other organs. Results indicated that Michaela had a special case and only parts of her intestine were allergic to gluten.
Her care team helped Michaela and her parents modify her diet to eliminate gluten.
“Since then, we have kept up her care with regular check-ins at the G.I. Department and look forward to them as we know the care we will receive for her there is always top-notch,” shares Michaela’s mom, Kristi. “Anytime we come across a family that is struggling as we were, we instantly tell them all about our great experience with Nationwide Children’s.”
