Dylan Dreyer of ‘Today’ shares son’s celiac diagnosis journey

‘Today’ co-host Dylan Dreyer opens up about son’s celiac diagnosis

The Challenge of a Celiac Diagnosis

Dylan Dreyer, the co-host of the third-hour of “Today,” recently revealed that her son, Calvin Bradley Fichera, was diagnosed with celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract when gluten is consumed. Gluten is a protein that can be in wheat, rye, and barley. When a person with celiac disease ingests that protein, the small intestine’s lining can be damaged, and it won’t be able to properly absorb nutrients. The only available treatment for this condition is to adhere to a gluten-free diet.

The symptoms of celiac disease can range from cramping, amenorrhea, bloating, brain fog, canker sores, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, infertility, headaches, and rash, among others. Sometimes celiac disease can be challenging to diagnose as the symptoms can overlap with other gastrointestinal and derm conditions. The gold standard for diagnosis is a biopsy, which is taken during an endoscopy; however, there are some blood tests that can give clues.

A Parent’s Struggles with a Celiac Diagnosis

In the case of Dylan Dreyer’s son, Calvin Bradley Fichera, he was constantly complaining of stomach pain daily, and the pain was often so severe that Dreyer and her husband had to bring the young boy to the emergency room. After ruling out other potential food intolerances and checking with multiple doctors, Calvin had an endoscopy, which showed that he had a stomach ulcer. After antibiotics didn’t help, the family then found out that Calvin had celiac disease.

Worrying about a child’s health can be stressful for parents, and Dylan Dreyer and Brian Fichera were very concerned because they thought it was something much more serious because of the way some of the results came back. Even though celiac disease can be challenging to diagnose, they were grateful that it was something they could manage, though it meant changing their son’s life and diet.

Changing Eating Habits after Diagnosis

Since Calvin’s celiac disease diagnosis, the family has started following a gluten-free diet and is taking additional precautions like replacing cookware to avoid cross-contamination. Even though Dreyer and Fichera share Calvin Bradley, 6, Oliver George, 2, and Russell “Rusty” James, 1, the family has all started the new diet together, making it much easier to manage.

Advice

Often when someone receives a celiac disease diagnosis, it can be initially overwhelming and life-changing; however, it’s essential to focus on the positive aspects and learn to manage the disease. Changing one’s diet and taking precautions to avoid cross-contamination is imperative, but it’s also important to consult with a registered dietitian to develop an optimal gluten-free diet and find the advice and support necessary to succeed. It’s also critical to remain positive and encourage and educate others about the disease to reduce the stigma and empower those living with celiac disease.