Avery Leppo - Founder, Celiac Chat
Diagnosed with Celiac disease over ten years ago, I have spent much of my childhood and teen years living gluten free. As a second grader, I began suffering from a variety of symptoms, ranging from severe headaches and abdominal pain to extreme fatigue and forceful vomiting – all causing me to miss school often, and retreat socially.
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After many consultations in which doctors initially insisted I simply had anxiety – the proper blood work and an endoscopy confirmed I had Celiac. My parents immediately consulted with a dietician and transitioned our home to a safe, 100% gluten free space. Within weeks of altering my diet, I physically felt much better.
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However, receiving this lifelong autoimmune diagnosis as a child was challenging and scary. I longed to have a mentor or confidante who I could relate to in those early years. This is exactly what inspired me to begin Celiac Chat. I am determined to be a resource and support for newly diagnosed children and teens like I once was. Personally, I find these connections tremendously rewarding and truly inspirational and can only hope my mentees feel the same way.
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I graduated from the Dalton School in New York City and am currently attending the University of Virginia. I also spend a lot of time in Litchfield County, Connecticut. My passions include: music (I am a drummer and guitarist), playing softball and ultimate frisbee, nature and wilderness adventures, traveling to new places, working with children, and rooting for the Red Sox!
National Celiac Associaton - Partner
The National Celiac Association (NCA) is a proud partner with Celiac Chat in providing a peer-to-peer mentorship program for kids and teens. NCA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to educating & advocating for individuals with celiac disease and non-celiac related conditions, their families, and communities throughout the country. NCA has the largest, grassroots celiac support network in the United States and actively nurtures all of those who are a part of the gluten-free community through programs such as Supporting our Celiac Seniors and Raising our Celiac Kids (ROCK). You can find out more about our initiatives by visiting our website at nationalceliac.org.