It is no secret that the strong are admired. Whether it be through Charles Darwin’s antiquated but powerful theory of natural selection, to the idolization of professional athletes, strength is a quality that is admired by many but achieved by few.  

So many people can hold a board in their hands, but what if they could break it? Western Connecticut State University junior Gabby Castorina is the latter. Not only has the Shelton, CT resident broken boards physically as a second-degree black belt Tae Kwon Do instructor, but she has also broken boards mentally and emotionally as a woman living with the autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s, as well as Celiac disease. This double entendre of strength has allowed Gabby to overcome the most difficult Tae Kwon Do practices and obstacles in life due to her illnesses. 

For Castorina, who studies Health Promotion and Exercise Sciences with a Holistic Health concentration, her journey with Tae Kwon Do started off as an accident. “It was at my old neighbor’s birthday party when we were very young. I’d say elementary school… and I started breaking boards and doing techniques” Castorina recalls. “Now this was in 2009, and I remember saying to my mom after the birthday party “I wanna try out martial arts. We knew a place right next to a pizza place where we have been going to for many years.”  

 That place is Shelton Martial Arts Academy, where Castorina has been practicing Tae Kwon Do for the last 14 years and now even serves as an instructor to the younger students. “We got a hold of the instructor, he had me come. After performing techniques such as kicks, punches, and even yelling when we kick and punch, I fell in love with the sport after taking that class,” Castorina smiles. Over the years, Castorina has continued with the sport due to the confidence that practicing has made her feel.  “When I was 13-14 years old, I noticed a lot of confidence I was getting. As I was growing up, I did not have a lot of confidence at all. People were bullying me, saying mean things to my face, and I was very offended by it. As I got older, the more I went to class and practiced, the more confidence I was gaining overall, and I was very happy with the results I was getting.” Little did Castorina know that around this time she would begin to face the biggest challenge of her life.   

Hashimoto’s disease is one of the most common autoimmune diseases diagnosed in individuals. Autoimmune diseases “start with the disruption of the balance of bacteria in our digestive system” says adjunct professor of Health Promotion and Exercise Sciences at WCSU and WCSU Institute of Holistic Health Studies Director Christel Autuori. “This imbalance can be caused by stress or eating a lot of foods that are not good for you. It can also be disrupted by antibiotic therapy, which kills bacteria everywhere in your body, especially the good bacteria in your digestive tract” Autuori states. Celiac disease is caused by an allergic reaction to gluten, which is found in wheat. “That allergic reaction” says Autuori, “can damage the lining in the small intestine. When this happens, some undigested proteins can enter the body” says Autuori. This can cause bloating and stomach pain in affected individuals. 

Castorina says that when it came to being diagnosed with Celiac disease at 10 years old, “I was not really surprised at all. I expected it to begin with. When I was growing up, I always had this big belly. My parents were always confused as to why my belly was so big… like there were two basketballs attached to it.”  Further testing from her doctor allowed Castorina to officially be diagnosed with Celiac disease. When it came to being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease right before her 21st birthday, Castorina recounts that “I was very surprised because as I was growing up, I would always be on the go. Back in high school, I was always known as the “woman on a mission,” running here and there, taking care of things”. Suddenly, her identity as a go-getter  was now stripped away, and Castorina immediately thought of Tae Kwon Do. “I was crying my eyes out as I read the email with the diagnosis because I thought to myself “am I gonna have to stop Tae Kwon Do? Is this going to affect me as I grew older?”  

After speaking with her naturopathic doctor, Castorina was prescribed natural supplements to help manage her symptoms. According to Castorina, “natural supplements are the way to go. I find them very helpful.” Thanks to the naturopathic doctor, Castorina has been able to live an almost normal life since then.  She is continuing to practice and teach Tae Kwon Do, spending time with her friends, working at country clubs in the area, and even being able to live on campus.  

“Gabby has a strong personality, and she has a lot of confidence. She is also what I can describe as an overachiever” says Autuori proudly. “She is on the go all the time. When she sets her mind to something, she doesn’t do it halfway.”