Small Fry

Alyssa sporting her "small fry" shirt that we got for her at the Shake Shack in New York City.

It was the moment we'd all been waiting for.  The moment the doctor would take Alyssa's measurements and announce to us how much she'd grown since going gluten-free.  After all, that's what was supposed to happen.  Imagine my disappointment to hear that she'd actually fallen in the growth curve and added a mere 3 cm to her stature in the last 8 months.

Naturally, the doctor questioned how the diet was going.  In my utter shock, I tried to explain just how fastidious we'd been about everything she ate.  He wasn't necessarily accusatory but there really was no other explanation for her lack of growth other than gluten contamination.  He suggested blood work to see if the Celiac was under control.  If the panels showed contamination, we'd be sent to the gasteroenterologist and dietian.  If it came back clear, we could entertain the idea of growth hormone even though we already determined she does not have a deficiency.

I was disheartened.  I couldn't stand the thought that all my gluten-free efforts had come up short.  (No pun intended.) If the Celiac was not in control, I just didn't know what more I could do.

Well today my mind was set at ease when the doctor called to give the results of her blood work, "Her Celiac is completely under control!" 

Indescribable relief.  I did do a good job after all.

Now what about her short stature?  Evidently she falls into the "grab bag of idiopathic short stature" or in other words, the medical world has no explanation for her pint-sizedness.  And you know what, we're OK with that.  Tiny is who she is and we kinda like her that way.  She's the epitome of health which is why we've all decided it's best not to mess with growth hormone injections.  Why put her through that for the sake of a few inches?

Our naturally mild-mannered girl literally jumped for joy and shouted, "Yeeessss!" when we told her that her Celiac was under control.  She's had to sacrifice so much in changing her diet and she's done it with a remarkable attitude.

What a little--and I mean little--gem!