Like many parents, Sean and Patrick had heard of celiac disease but didn’t know about the effects it can have on the immune system. “We have friends who are gluten-free,” Sean says. “They have stomach pains or cramps, but learning about the autoimmune aspect — it was just new to us. We were so ignorant to the actual facts about celiac disease.” Their son, Oggie, also has Down syndrome, which can affect the immune system and increase the risk of autoimmune diseases. In fact, children with Down syndrome have a risk of developing celiac disease that is six to 10 times higher than other kids. After the celiac diagnosis, Oggie joined a research study that revealed Oggie also has early-stage type 1 diabetes, which is another autoimmune disorder. Since getting their son’s diagnosis, Sean and Patrick have learned how to manage his celiac disease, and he's much healthier and happier. It’s not as simple as just avoiding bread, but the information they now have helps them make Oggie’s life bett...