Please feel free to contact us about any questions you may have, or if you want to volunteer! The contact form is below but, first, allow the expo organizers to introduce themselves to you……
Christine Carr is a CRNA at Shelby Baptist, wife to Jay (publisher of Birmingham Kids and Family), and a mother of four, of whom her third child, Bryan, has Celiac disease. Born completely healthy, Bryan started to show developmental delay around 3-4 months old. Too slight to cause much concern, the coexisting ear infection, “spit up,” and fussiness all seemed to be manageable and separate events. However, the delay continued and Bryan was taken to a neurologist at 10 months, given the diagnosis of Benign Congenital Hypotonia. While focusing on his muscle weakness, celebrating achieved milestones (sat up at 14 months, walked at 30 months), and seeing a neurologist at the Johns Hopkins Hypotonia Clinic, frequent wheezing, bronchial/sinus/ear infections, pale color, borderline anemia and even a discovery of osteopenia continued to puzzle Christine and the doctors.
After Bryan turned 3, his pupils changed size unequally and his tremors worsened. He then came down with a terrible case of right trigeminal shingles,
photo by Nicole Robertson
followed by two rounds of MRSA infections in his ears. During this time, Christine was reminded of a friend’s migraine relief after going GF as well as advice another friend gave her one year before, “Rule out gluten intolerance for Bryan. It couldn’t hurt.” So, she did. Bryan’s IgA for gliadin came back very high. Two weeks after going gluten free, Bryan’s pupils became normal, his tremors stopped, he had a growth spurt, his energy levels evened out, his stools were normal for the first time, he was weaned off of his Prilosec, his skin had a normal color, the eczema and dark circles under eyes disappeared, and he stopped getting sick!
Bryan still has low muscle tone and often falls. Time and more testing will tell if all of his neurological problems are caused by Celiac disease. He continues therapy and now eats based off of the GAPS diet, because of a few relapses. The family’s hope and prayer is to see Bryan’s gut totally healed, his muscles strong, and his balance improved so that he can play and learn just like his brother and sisters.
Rebecca Kinney of the Birmingham Celiac Disease Support Group!
Rebecca Kinney is Director of the Birmingham Celiac Disease Support Group, in addition to her full time work in international community relations. After a lifetime of illness, surgeries, and misdiagnosis – Rebecca was finally shocked when diagnosed at 42 with celiac disease – to find that the healthy foods that she had been relying on as an athletic and health conscious person – were actually killing her. As leader of the group, Rebecca works toward building greater awareness about the disease. She is a vital resource for newly diagnosed Celiacs, and encouragement for many people suffering from years of damage done to their bodies. She coordinated disaster relief for gluten intolerant people after the Alabama tornadoes in April, 2011, and is currently creating a disaster relief system with local hospitals for future natural disasters. Rebecca combines her experience with international relations and gluten free cooking to create truly delicious and creative dishes almost everyone can enjoy!
Jenny Basselin, of www.GlutenFreeBirmingham.com!
Jenny is a telephone triage nurse for Children’s Hospital, and also homeschools her four children. While in nursing school, her daughter, Elyie Brooke, began having strange symptoms in her head. What first started as a lump, then a soft spot in her skull, many specialists were led to the diagnosis of Langerhan’s Cell Histicytosis, an autoimmune disorder that causes white blood cells to clump together and damage tissue and bones. Fortunately, Elyie Brooke did not require chemotherapy and was helped with surgery.
Shortly after, however, Elyie Brooke started to complain of stomach pains and was placed on reflux medication. After two 
years of seeing a Pediatric Gasteroenterologist and given more reflux related medication, tests were finally done to test for Celiac disease. Soon after going gluten free, Elyie Brooke began to thrive! Jenny started Gluten Free Birmingham in 2010 to help families learn more about Celiac disease, live gluten free easily, and be aware of the many resources available to them. Their whole family eats gluten free in the home, to avoid contamination risk.
Shea Maple, 5K Organizer, is an RN at St. Vincent’s Hospital and was first acquainted with Celiac disease when her niece, Emily, was diagnosed at 15 months, over seven years ago. When her daughter, Bella, age four, began having severe pains in her abdomen, it did not take long to discover the same disease. Already well versed in living gluten free, Shea embraced the lifestyle changes and saw immediate improvement in Bella’s health!
