Annie is a rookie with the Houston Texans cheerleading squad. This beautiful, talented, kind hearted girl has had some major struggles in her young life that aren’t apparent at first glance. Annie has struggled with Celiac’s disease for most of her life. Celiac’s disease is a disorder that results in impairment to the lining of the small intestine when foods containing gluten are consumed. Annie tells us that, “I was not aware of the fact that Celiac’s disease was hereditary in my family. The disease actually skips a generation, so we didn’t know to look for it”.
Annie was constantly sick as a child with stomach pains, nausea, headaches and digestive problems, but she thought it was normal. She struggled with weight and malnutrition because she was dancing so much and not able to hold her food down. Her family wasn’t able to diagnose the disease until years later when she was at the Doctor’s office to have blood work and a biopsy done. Annie tells Pro Player Insiders, “discovering I had Celiac’s disease was hard to understand. I didn’t know how not to eat wheat, rye and barley. ”
“Montana, which is where I’m from, is a big producer of grain, so bread was always on the table. We had toast with breakfast, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch, rolls with dinner and cookies for dessert. I knew I had to learn my new diet and I’m still learning today.”
Annie learned of options such as Quinoa and rice flour to get the proteins she was lacking from not consuming gluten. Her new diet would be 100% gluten free, which Annie tells us, “on a positive note I am swayed to choosing healthier options and I am much more energized.
Annie says, “Celiac’s disease has taken a toll on her social life. I struggle with wanting to go out with my friends and family, but when eating out I take the risk of coming into contact with gluten through cross-contamination. It’s hard to be social because there aren’t the same options offered to people with Celiac’s disease.” Annie sometimes brings her own prepared foods to restaurants, that way she will be able to participate in the action.
She shared with us an issue she had a just a few weeks ago. “It was after the first game and the girls wanted to go out and eat to celebrate the pre-season opener for the Houston Texans. I wanted to go, so I tagged along and I ended up being exposed to gluten. I was severely sick for the entire week after and I had a really hard time getting through our practices with my lack of energy and my constant nausea.”
Coach Alto for the Houston Texans Cheerleading Squad is being extremely supportive in helping Annie and her fellow cheerleaders stay healthy. Alto is bringing more foods into the Game Day locker room to help the girls with eating healthier and that also gives more options for Annie to be able to eat gluten free items.
Annie struggle with celiac’s disease hasn’t stopped her from pursuing her dreams. Not only is she a Houston Texans Cheerleader, but she also holds the Miss Montana USA 2010 title and founded an Anti-bullying program in Montana that has been implemented in K-12th grades across the state.
“I was bullied from 8th grade all the way through my freshman year of college by a certain group of people. I chased my dreams of being Miss Montana and use the Anti-bulling program to educate others and hopefully help at least one person who might be experiencing my same struggles.”
“I hope I have created more awareness today on Celiac’s disease and help individuals know that whatever disease or obstacles you have in life, keep fighting and follow your dreams. Never let anything hold you down. Go Texans!” says Annie.
I will be giving up gluten on my date with Miss Annie. Hold the bread!