In comic book terminology, an origin story is an account or back-story revealing how a character or team gained their superpowers and/or the circumstances under which they became superheroes or supervillains.*

In the comic books, these moments of transformation are always very pronounced; weakling to Spiderman, scientist to Hulk, etc. In all of these stories, the moments shortly before and after these changes are incredibly interesting. The own reaction to their situation, along with those of friends and family, plays out page by page. Their old life is gone. They will never go back to being ordinary. Eventually, the hero gets themselves together and makes the most of it.

Okay, it isn’t always that clean and clear, and, frankly, the best stories are the ones with massive conflict, life and death decisions and some pain. Somehow, though, our caped crusader makes it to the end of the book or movie. Maybe a little worse for wear, maybe with more questions than answers, but ready to start fighting again tomorrow.

Those people who have celiac disease might not wear capes and tights (or they might, I won’t judge) and the only superpower they may have is detecting the most minute amount of gluten. But they have experienced that same moment of realizing their “old life” is gone. Whether it was a specific diagnosis of celiac disease or the realization that they were gluten intolerant/sensitive, their lives changed. Their movie trailer voiceover would begin “IN A WORLD WITHOUT GLUTEN…”

As part of Celiac Awareness Month, we want to link to several celiac/gluten sensitive “origin stories”. Just like the superheroes in the comics, the stories aren’t perfect and tied up in a bow at the end. Until there is a cure, they can’t go back. There are complications, lessons learned and drama. These are some of the online heroes and heroines that helped me deal with my own transition to being gluten free and we hope that their stories will ultimately educate and inspire you.

• Jessica from wtfCeliac was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in November of 2010.
• Karina, who is a gluten free goddess, listened to her body and gave up gluten.
• Getting a diagnosis wasn’t easy for Shirley. She now shares how to live gluten free easily.
• There is a double header at iamjtheblog. First, J tells her story and then begins an interview with “Gluten Dude” about his own.
• Paula considers herself fortunate.
• “I felt like I had come across some food Holy Grail,” says Brian after eating Gluten Free.
• Have you ever gotten an Autoimmune Disease for Valentine’s Day? Alissa did.
• Glamorous Without Gluten navigates hospitals and bathrooms on her way to discovering she has Celiac Disease.
• TR has posted a video talking about his accidental celiac diagnosis. Went to the doctor for one thing, found out he had celiac!

New! (From reader wtfCeliac)

• Listen to Ken Scheer’s story on the radio!

There are so many of these out there. I know more will be posted specifically for Celiac Awareness Month. I will add more as I find them or you let me know about them. Please post a comment below, send an email to gfc_steve@glutenfreecity.com or let me know on twitter.