The 22-year-old defenseman, Alex Vlasic, has been unable to consume gluten since being diagnosed at the age of 13. While it posed challenges during his time with Rockford last season, dealing with celiac disease hasn’t been a major obstacle for him this season with the Hawks. As a child, Vlasic had a strong affection for bread, to the extent that his parents had to hide the bread basket at restaurants until the main courses arrived.
However, at the age of 13, everything changed when he was diagnosed with celiac disease, preventing him from eating bread or anything containing gluten. Despite the common discomfort associated with wheat for those diagnosed with celiac disease later in childhood, Vlasic, a native of Wilmette, has a particularly vivid and amusing origin story.
Recalling a specific incident, Vlasic mentioned ordering Domino’s pizza one night, and the next day, on the way to a game, he experienced severe stomach pain. The discomfort persisted for two days, leading him to visit the hospital for tests and an MRI. Despite not identifying the cause initially, Vlasic’s mom, Tara, provided Gas-X medicine, and he still vividly remembers those chalk tablets. Despite the pain, he played in the game.
The saga continued a few days later at his sister Emma’s game, where someone brought pumpkin cream-cheese cupcakes. Vlasic, unaware of the cause, consumed five of them, worsening his condition. A week later, the stomach pain intensified, rendering him immobile, and he sought medical attention. Eventually, the hospital diagnosed him with celiac disease, bringing relief from the pain and allowing him to manage his dietary restrictions.
