My Sourdough Journey: How Celiac Disease and an Early Cancer Diagnosis Changed Everything
Hey friends,
This post is a little deeper, a little more vulnerable—but one I feel led to share. So many people see the pretty bread photos or hear “home bakery” and don’t know the story behind it. The truth is, Sweet & Savory Cottage Bakery was born out of something much bigger than a love of baking.
This is my story—of mystery illness, a life-changing diagnosis, and how sourdough baking became a path to healing, both physically and emotionally.
Years of Feeling Off—With No Clear Answers
For most of my life, I just didn’t feel well. I was exhausted all the time, bloated, foggy, constantly battling headaches, stomach issues, and inflammation. Like many women, I brushed it off. I had a busy life—kids, a job, and a never-ending to-do list. Of course I was tired.
At the time, I was working as a teacher and center director. I was also baking on the side and working toward my post-baccalaureate and master’s credential. Life was full—but something still felt wrong. I just didn’t know what.
I tried all the things—cutting out sugar, going dairy-free, and eventually, I gave the Keto diet a try. It helped a little... until I had one “cheat” day and ended up violently sick. It was more than just food guilt. It was a full-body reaction that sent me to a specialist—and it may have saved my life.
The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
After testing, I got not one—but two major diagnoses:
Aggressive colon cancer polyp detected extremely early—caught before any spread occurred.
Celiac disease, a serious autoimmune reaction to gluten.
I was 31 years old—a mom, a baker, and in the middle of building a life I loved.
Because the colon cancer was found so early, I didn’t need chemo, radiation, or surgery. Just routine screenings every three years. I’ll never stop being grateful that I listened to my body when I did.
And finally being diagnosed with celiac disease explained everything I had been feeling for years. My body was reacting to gluten with inflammation, fatigue, and pain—and I had no idea.
Returning to the Kitchen with New Eyes
I’ll be honest—after that diagnosis, I felt lost. I loved baking. Bread, cakes, cookies—it was my creative outlet, my stress relief. Would that part of my life have to disappear?
But then I found it: the world of gluten-free sourdough and naturally fermented breads. Slowly, I started experimenting. Learning. Failing. Trying again. And somewhere in that flour-covered mess, I found healing.
Sourdough gave me purpose. It let me care for myself and my family in a way that felt both nourishing and soul-filling. It became more than food—it became a ritual, a reminder that transformation takes time.
The Italian Flour Discovery
During this time, while planning a dream trip to Italy for our 20th wedding anniversary, I started researching how food is grown and processed there—especially wheat. I learned that many people with gluten sensitivity (though not with celiac) can tolerate Italian flour due to the lower glyphosate use, traditional farming methods, and lower gluten protein content.
I started outsourcing my flour with high-quality Italian wheat and pairing it with long-fermentation sourdough techniques—and something amazing happened: I could digest it without issues.
The science and tradition behind real food, slow fermentation, and thoughtfully sourced ingredients gave me a new mission in my baking.
Sweet & Savory Cottage Bakery Is Born
Today, Sweet & Savory Cottage Bakery isn’t just a business—it’s a reflection of my journey, my healing, and the heart I pour into every loaf. I focus on gut-friendly, long-fermented, and often gluten-free sourdough bakes made with care, intention, and ingredients that support wellness.
And life? It’s still full. You’ll find me baking, chasing kids, tending the garden, squeezing in brewery visits, watching baseball games, traveling when I can, and doing life with the kind of mindfulness I didn’t have before.
To the Woman Reading This Who Feels “Off”...
Please hear this: you are not crazy. If something doesn’t feel right in your body, keep asking questions. Keep pushing. Celiac disease symptoms are often silent or brushed off. Colon cancer can sneak in when you’re young, healthy-looking, and busy chasing life.
You deserve to feel good. You deserve to be heard.
I’ll never stop being thankful that I listened to that quiet voice inside me saying, “This isn’t normal.”
With Gratitude and Grace
Thank you for reading. For being here. For being part of this journey. Whether you’re here for the bread, the story, or the sense of community—I’m truly honored to bake for you.
With heart and flour,
Dawn
Sweet & Savory Cottage Bakery
