January 29, 2016 is a day Meredith Miller will never forget. It’s the day she found out her diagnosis – that she has celiac disease.
For those of us with celiac disease, we all remember the moment we felt as though our entire life was about to change. We felt nervous, overwhelmed, and deprived. However, Meredith Miller took this moment and created an opportunity to build up a community of positivity instead.
“I never knew, even with a supportive family, how alone Celiac would make me feel at times. How bad my body would react to the changes I had to undergo or just how many times I could be humiliated at a restaurant,” Meredith said.
Meredith started the t-shirt brand Celiac Cutie to bring about fun, laughter and empowerment to those affected by an autoimmune disease, as well as other challenges. A portion of all t-shirt sales goes back to the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University, where she personally found help after her diagnosis.
The Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Medical Center is one of a few centers in the United States that provides comprehensive medical care, including nutrition, for adult and pediatric patients with celiac disease and is diagnosing and treating thousands patients annually from around the world.
Not only will a purchase help fund research, but you can also have a good laugh while giving back!
“I knew there were others out there who intimately understood what I was going through and each time I found one, they became an instant friend,” Meredith said. “Whether it was the doctors and researchers at the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University or the random people that shared their stories with me from around the world thanks to social media.”
Celiac Disease is not curable, which means those affected by this disease will have to avoid eating gluten their entire lives. This can be a daunting realization and an experience that needs recognition. With the onset of anxiety and depression commonly surrounding food allergies and autoimmune diseases, it’s the perfect opportunity to remind someone to see the humor in the situation instead and not get too hard on themselves.
Celiac Cutie is also another way for those simply practicing a gluten-free diet to poke fun at their dieting habits as well. Preparing for a marathon and trying to avoid those cookies? Why not sport the “When Life Gives You a Cookie, Run!” tank top?
Celiac Cutie features t-shirts with cute quirky slogans such as “Dear Gluten, we are never ever getting back together,” “My body is a rebel force,” and “Food allergies because I like to live dangerously.” With v-necks, tank tops, and various colors, each shirt offers the right fit from daytime to workouts to lazy evenings on the couch.
Celiac Cutie celebrates the journey we are all on together. We know the downsides to an autoimmune disease – we live it every day. But what if we could create a community where we celebrate and share our message with a little humor and some fun products that we enjoy? What if those products were cute enough to start discussions and help us raise awareness. Together, we can do all of this while we raise money and help fund the research so many amazing people have started.
Meredith encourages others to become part of the community by sharing their photo with the hashtag #CeliacCutie. It’s important to remember that you’re not alone in this and that this doesn’t need to be defeating.
According to Celiac.org, 1 in 100 people have celiac disease. Furthermore, 1 percent of the population has a gluten intolerance and must avoid gluten. By building a community around Celiac Cutie, we can all empower ourselves and fund research along the way.
