Chatterbox: Down to Earth

I'm concerned. As you might know, but probably don't, I have celiac disease, which is  a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food that are important for staying healthy.

Now, isn't that fun?

So, basically since I was diagnosed only 2 years ago, I was deep into the damage to begin with. I was 11 years old and I weighed under 60 pounds, because of the growth delay due to the not-absorbing-nutrients thing. Now for the past 2 years I've been on a gluten-free diet and I've been feeling much better. Still, I'm 13 years old and I weigh...

74 pounds.

Yes, 74. I know. I'm as skinny as a stick. And it REALLY bothers me because ALL of my friends are taller than me, and I'm 4'11. Whenever I go to a public place alone someone asks me where my parents are. I'm 13, for crying out loud! I look like I'm 10 years old, at the oldest. It's so annoying, especially because of the people at my school aren't the most sensitive and they find it hilarious to criticize me.

Person: Wow, you're so short!

Me: NO FREAKING WAY, SHERLOCK.

Or:

Person: Why are you so teeny?

Me: *explains celiac disease, going into vivid detail for 15 minutes)

Person: *backs away like I'm a contagious germ or something*

Or: 

Person: So what can't you eat?

Me: Gluten. You know, pizza, pasta, cookies, cake, bagels, bread, doughnuts, cereal, croutons..."

Person: You can't eat ANYTHING?

Me: Well -

Person: I feel so BAD for you!

Me: That makes me feel so much better. :I

Just UGHHH! 

Nora, Olympic Gold Metal figure skater Scott Hamilton has/had some intestinal condition that kept him very small. He was a very sickly child, and look what he went on to achieve. At first doctors thought it was celiac disease, but it turned out to be something else. In his adult life, he's fought cancer. What a postive person he is. He just takes what comes his way and makes the best of it.

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