Broadside Correspondent Erin Thompson

In my own words…

Hi, my name is Erin Thompson and I am a senior in the George Mason University LIFE Program. I have been eating a gluten-free diet since I was 7 years old.
At the beginning, my parents and I didn’t exactly know what the problem with my health was. I was sick and was losing weight. I went to many doctors, and one told me that I had celiac disease. Celiac is made of oats, barley and rye. The only foods that are safe for me are rice, gluten-free bread, gluten-free English muffins, gluten-free muffins and shrimp.