It started with my son, Logan hospitalized five times in the first 17 months of his life. No matter how many doctor appointments or holistic methods we tried, we could not keep him healthy. Finally, we saw an immunologist who tested him for food allergies. Wheat was one of four that came back positive. I realized at that time that he probably had celiac disease, because we used to eat beef and barley soup, to which he reacted the same way as when we fed him wheat products. My assumption was the celiac was related to his Down Syndrome, as the risk for celiac is increased in that population. Nobody would test him for celiac until after he was five years old, so we just assumed.

Fast forward several years, we finally had Logan tested for celiac disease. No surprise, the results came back positive. However, the doctor recommended we test his siblings and ourselves as well. Again, thinking it was related to his Down Syndrome, I had no concerns for my other children. This time, SURPRISE, the other two tested positive for celiac as well. We became a strict gluten-free household. It became more evident that having homemade treats was vital to our children feeling included at family gatherings, birthday parties, and holidays. In June 2024, I was diagnosed celiac myself.

As a Physical Therapist by day, I understand how imperative a healthy diet is to a healthy body. I am motivated in life to help people, as that is what gives me the most satisfaction. I went back to school to obtain my MBA, thinking leadership was hopefully in my future. Instead, FLOURISH came about as a result of my MBA program and the desire to fulfill a need in our community for those who have gluten restrictions. My goal is to help make life a bit easier for those with gluten and other allergy restrictions.