“The blood test came back WithThe results that he had celiac disease,” Dreyer said.
“I didn’t know anything about celiac disease. I knew a friend of a friend had it and she couldn’t eat bread. That’s basically The knowledge I had.”
Image size-large”>Image-6907953 lazyload” srcset=”https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662910.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=300 300w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662910.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=640 640w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662910.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1080 1080w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662910.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024 1024w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px”/>Her son also had other symptoms such as hair loss and trouble holding things InHis hands. dylandreyernbc/Instagram
Celiac disease Is an autoimmune disease that Is very different from gluten intolerance or a wheat allergy.
“In this condition, eating gluten triggers an immune response that can cause a variety of symptoms In patients,” Dr. Lisa Fahey, co-director of The Celiac Disease Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, told Today.com.
A doctor who IsNot involved In Calvin’s treatment added that celiac disease can cause serious damage to The intestines and does Not always cause symptoms.
Image size-large”>Image-6907947 lazyload” srcset=”https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662891.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=300 300w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662891.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=640 640w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662891.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1080 1080w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662891.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024 1024w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px”/>When Calvin was diagnosed, They had to change His diet to exclude gluten.dylandreyernbc/Instagram
But abdominal pain wasn’t The only serious symptom little Calvin was experiencing.
According to Dreyer, he also had throbbing earaches and developed a rash on His scalp that caused His hair to fall out.
Calvin would also Have trouble holding things and would constantly drop what he was carrying.
“He was eating and he just dropped His fork,” said Dreyer. “We joked With him and called him banana hands.”
Image size-large”>Image-6907962 lazyload” srcset=”https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662897.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=300 300w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662897.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=640 640w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662897.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1280 1280w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662897.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024 1024w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662897.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=2000 2000w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px”/>They also had to make sure nothing In their kitchen was cross-contaminated. NBC
After Calvin’s diagnosis was confirmed, their gastroenterologist had The boy undergo an endoscopy.
“They had to send a camera into His intestines to make sure celiac disease had caused The damage,” Dreyer explained.
The family went on a gluten-free diet to manage Calvin’s disease, but also had to completely cleanse their home of all traces of gluten.
Image size-large”>Image-6907961 lazyload” srcset=”https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662908.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=300 300w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662908.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=640 640w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662908.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1280 1280w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662908.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024 1024w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662908.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=2000 2000w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px”/>“Finally feeling good… [for] for TheFirst time In a year,” said The meteorologist.NBC
“Not only does he Not feed him any wheat products, but there Is also a risk of cross-contamination,” noted Dreyer.
“All my stuff InThe kitchen had to be thrown away, all our wooden spoons, wooden chopping boards, anything that had scratches on it… any rivets on The inside of The pot where The handle Is. It all had to be thrown away because gluten can hide anywhere.”
Fortunately, their efforts helped Calvin feel much better, and His stomach problems, ear pain, and coordination problems improved.
“Finally feeling good… [for] for TheFirst time In a year,” said Dreyer. “He’s happy we discovered it because he says, ‘OK, okay. I can finally feel myself.”
Image size-large”>Image-6907952 lazyload” srcset=”https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662912.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=300 300w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662912.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=640 640w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662912.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1080 1080w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662912.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024 1024w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px”/>Now Dreyer Is focused on finding delicious gluten-free options for His son to enjoy. dylandreyernbc/Instagram
The NBC News presenter shares Calvin’s story to raise awareness about celiac disease as it often goes undiagnosed.
“The misconception Is that you feel uncomfortable, like a dairy allergy where your stomach hurts,” she said.
“It’s so much More than that because it actually destroys His insides. It literally gave him a stomach ulcer. It made His hair fall out.”
Dreyer also launched The “Today” segment “Cooking With Cal,” InWhich she and her son cook celiac-safe meals together.
Image size-large”>With Cal"” class=”wp-Image-6907957 lazyload” srcset=”https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662900.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=300 300w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662900.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=640 640w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662900.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1280 1280w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662900.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024 1024w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662900.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=2000 2000w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px”/>Together They host The “Cooking With Cal” segment on “Today”. NBC
The meteorologist Is trying different gluten-free flours and products to replace bread, pasta and pizza base.
“I’m trying to find His favorite thing,” she said. “I want him to still be able to enjoy His food, Not just settle for something.”
She added: “There are many recipes that are simply gluten free. I can cook a lot of things that don’t require bread or flour.”
Image size-large”>Image-6907951 lazyload” srcset=”https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662892.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=300 300w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662892.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=640 640w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662892.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1080 1080w, https://pagesix.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011662892.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024 1024w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1024px”/>Dreyer and her husband Brian Fichera Have three sons.dylandreyernbc/Instagram
Often a weather correspondent he PostsHis delicious creations on Instagram and recently shared a Photo oatmeal muffins With spinach, overnight oatmeal and chicken chops.
“Every free moment I Have at home I spend making sure The kitchen Is stocked With food for The boys while I’m away!” she signed ThePhoto.
In addition to Calvin, Dreyer Has two other sons – Oliver, 3, and Russell, 1 – With her husband Brian Ficher.