My older sons have what's called "Fun Friday" at school. If they have a good week and earn enough points they get to participate in an activity ranging from going to the movies to being able to play with their Nintendo DS. This week they went to a local skating rink for their reward. It was so much fun!
The last time we went skating with the kids they could barely stay up on their feet. However, I was so proud of them because they would keep getting up and try again. It was especially frustrating for my #2 because his balance was not very good and he wanted to go fast. My oldest did much better and tried to help as much as he could. However, he also had some difficulty staying on his feet so it was kind of comical seeing them out in the rink together. Well....THIS time, it was so different. I was so proud of my boys. My oldest did great and even participated in some of the games they did. My #2 put on his skates and immediately stepped into the rink and skated so fast I thought he was going to not be able to stop. My heart kind of skipped a beat and I ALMOST stepped out into the rink to catch him. Now I am so glad that I didn't. He was so proud of himself and made sure I was watching him. I truly enjoyed watching him. He looked like he was born with skates on his feet. It was amazing!!
I was thinking that there were some major life lessons to be learned from this experience. The first thing is that we should NEVER give up. We can't succeed unless we first fail and that's a hard lesson to learn. It would have been easy for my kids to just give up after all the falls and bruises they had experienced. There were probably around 60 kids there and I did not see a single child sitting or without skates. Some preferred to skate on the carpet while others circled the rink. I thought it was amazing seeing some of those kids who could barely talk skating like "pros" and I was so proud of them.
The second lesson to be learned is that sometimes we need to LET them fall. That is so hard as a parent. I once heard a talk at church and they related the story of how the mommy eagle takes care of her young. It was pretty amazing. The eaglets have to learn to fly and it's not instinctive. Sometimes when a young eaglet is fearful of taking its first flight away from the nest, a parent will withhold food to force it out. That's the way we need to be as parents. I am sure many of you have seen the movie Finding Nemo and that's the lesson that many parents learn the hard way. We will only push our children away or prevent them from reaching their potential if hover over them or make it too easy.
There is another story that I heard at church and it was of a man who asked the Lord to tell him what he should do to be strong and do His will. The Lord replied, "You see that huge boulder over there? I want you to push it." The man kind of hesitated and then decided to do as he was told. He went over and pushed with all his might and the boulder did not budge. He did this for a period of weeks. Finally, he got frustrated and asked, "Lord, I have pushed and pushed this boulder and it has not budged one inch. Why have you asked me to do this thing?" The Lord replied, "When you started you were weak. Now look at you. Your muscles are toned and you are stronger because of the work you have done. The fact that you were obedient in spite of your hesitation in the beginning has also blessed you with faith. Go now, you are now prepared." When I first heard this story I didn't have any children and so I did not comprehend the impact it would have later in my life. Now I totally get it! We only get stronger if we have challenges or obstacles in our lives. If everything was handed to us on a "silver platter", or if we never had to make choices then there would be no way we could grow
The last thing I want to say about our skating experience is that we should not underestimate our children's potential. My children amaze me all the time. They can comprehend things that even some adults don't get. They have taught me more than I can even begin to explain. My #2 has such a sweet spirit. He can be so loving and so empathetic at times. He is extremely tenderhearted and that can be very challenging when others are not so nice to him. Don't ever let a "label" limit your child's potential. There are so many examples of very successful people in history who were told they could not do it. There is a great site: http://www.child-autism-parent-cafe.com
and I urge you to visit it and share it with your autistic child. It has a list of famous people with autism and Asperger Syndrome. Famoust people with Autism: Daryl Hannah, an American actress best known for her roles in Splash, Blade Runner and Kill Bill was diagnosed as a child as being "borderline autistic", Christopher Knowles, an American poet, and Matthew Laborteaux, actor on Little House on the Prairie. Famous people with Asperger: Satoshi Tajiri, creator of Pokémon, Dan Aykroyd, comedian and actor, Richard Borcherds, mathematician specializing in group theory and Lie algebras, Dawn Prince-Hughes, PhD, primate anthropologist, ethologist, and author of Songs for the Gorilla Nation, and Gary Numan, British singer and songwriter.
***********************************
Don't ever tell a child they can't.
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Saturday, March 28, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Time to Count My Blessings
There is a song that we sing at church entitled "Count Your Blessings" and the first verse goes like this:
When upon life's billows you are temptest tossed
When you are discouraged thinking all is lost
Count your many blessings name them one by one
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
That was the inspiration for this post. I see others and how hard they have it and thought that I truly have nothing to complain about. Although I don't always have it easy and I have my own struggles, there is always someone out there with much heavier burdens. I felt today I would post a "Top 10 List" of my many blessings. I hope it will inspire you to do the same.
#1) I truly have a wonderful supportive husband who loves me and the children. He is a very kind and gentle soul who has NEVER EVER raised his voice to me or showed how upset he was at me. He has NEVER EVER said an unkind word to me. I don't ever take him for granted and I know that he is my soul mate.
#2) I am so grateful for my parents and only brother. They all helped shape me into the person that I am today and there are no words to express my gratitude. My parents introduced me to the church and my brother (although younger) always looked out for me and loved me unconditionally.
#3) I have the most beautiful kids who are full of life!! They know how to live life to its fullest. They each have something special to offer to our family and I can't imagine my life without any of them. I am so glad that I decided to have more than just two children!
#4) Believe it or not, I consider all of my challenges with Wilson's Disease and Autism Spectrum disorders a blessing. I have been able to help so many people and have learned so much about myself through the process. I have met some wonderful people and that alone has been a great blessing in my life.
#5) I have to say that my faith and church are one of the greatest blessings in my life. It has given me strength and faith during some of my lowest points in my life. Also, knowing that I am sealed to my family for all time and eternity is something that is priceless.
#6) All the beautiful things around me that make me smile... including the color pink. It has always been my favorite color and I am so excited to say that my daughter shares that with me. Her room and clothes HAVE to have pink and that's alright by me. :)
#7) Music is truly a blessing in my life. I have been blessed with the gift of song and my father introduced me to the keyboard at a very early age. I loved listening to him play and I know that had an impact on my life. I sing at church, at home, and anytime I can. I also love to play the piano. It is definitely an outlet for me and lets me exercise my creativity. I can not imagine my life without music.
#8) Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!! I am so thankful that I don't have Wilson's Disease because I can't imagine not being able to eat it. I love brownies and fudge. I love milk chocolate with anything! I also have some very fond memories of making chocolate chip cookies with my children.
#9) My heritage. I am from Puerto Rico and I believe that my background has had a lot of influence on many aspects of my life. I am passionate, loyal to friends, trendy, and love to give hugs. I also know Spanish and being bilingual has definitely been a blessing in my life.
#10) My health. I am able to run and play with my children. I know how fragile our bodies are and how things can change in an instant. That is why I value my health and consider it a great blessing in my life.
I hope I have inspired you all to do the same as I did. No matter what your circumstances are or what trials your may be going through, there are countless blessings to be thankful for. There is another blessing in my life that I must add. I guess it will be my #11... and that is my wonderful friends. I am blessed with great friends that I can depend on. I feel like Heavenly Father knew that I could not do it alone in this world, and so he sent me the most beautiful angels and they have surrounded me all my life. I feel like the luckiest person in the world.
*********************************************
So amid the conflict, whether great or small
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.
*********************************************
When upon life's billows you are temptest tossed
When you are discouraged thinking all is lost
Count your many blessings name them one by one
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
That was the inspiration for this post. I see others and how hard they have it and thought that I truly have nothing to complain about. Although I don't always have it easy and I have my own struggles, there is always someone out there with much heavier burdens. I felt today I would post a "Top 10 List" of my many blessings. I hope it will inspire you to do the same.
#1) I truly have a wonderful supportive husband who loves me and the children. He is a very kind and gentle soul who has NEVER EVER raised his voice to me or showed how upset he was at me. He has NEVER EVER said an unkind word to me. I don't ever take him for granted and I know that he is my soul mate.
#2) I am so grateful for my parents and only brother. They all helped shape me into the person that I am today and there are no words to express my gratitude. My parents introduced me to the church and my brother (although younger) always looked out for me and loved me unconditionally.
#3) I have the most beautiful kids who are full of life!! They know how to live life to its fullest. They each have something special to offer to our family and I can't imagine my life without any of them. I am so glad that I decided to have more than just two children!
#4) Believe it or not, I consider all of my challenges with Wilson's Disease and Autism Spectrum disorders a blessing. I have been able to help so many people and have learned so much about myself through the process. I have met some wonderful people and that alone has been a great blessing in my life.
#5) I have to say that my faith and church are one of the greatest blessings in my life. It has given me strength and faith during some of my lowest points in my life. Also, knowing that I am sealed to my family for all time and eternity is something that is priceless.
#6) All the beautiful things around me that make me smile... including the color pink. It has always been my favorite color and I am so excited to say that my daughter shares that with me. Her room and clothes HAVE to have pink and that's alright by me. :)
#7) Music is truly a blessing in my life. I have been blessed with the gift of song and my father introduced me to the keyboard at a very early age. I loved listening to him play and I know that had an impact on my life. I sing at church, at home, and anytime I can. I also love to play the piano. It is definitely an outlet for me and lets me exercise my creativity. I can not imagine my life without music.
#8) Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!! I am so thankful that I don't have Wilson's Disease because I can't imagine not being able to eat it. I love brownies and fudge. I love milk chocolate with anything! I also have some very fond memories of making chocolate chip cookies with my children.
#9) My heritage. I am from Puerto Rico and I believe that my background has had a lot of influence on many aspects of my life. I am passionate, loyal to friends, trendy, and love to give hugs. I also know Spanish and being bilingual has definitely been a blessing in my life.
#10) My health. I am able to run and play with my children. I know how fragile our bodies are and how things can change in an instant. That is why I value my health and consider it a great blessing in my life.
I hope I have inspired you all to do the same as I did. No matter what your circumstances are or what trials your may be going through, there are countless blessings to be thankful for. There is another blessing in my life that I must add. I guess it will be my #11... and that is my wonderful friends. I am blessed with great friends that I can depend on. I feel like Heavenly Father knew that I could not do it alone in this world, and so he sent me the most beautiful angels and they have surrounded me all my life. I feel like the luckiest person in the world.
*********************************************
So amid the conflict, whether great or small
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.
*********************************************
Friday, March 20, 2009
Vaccines of the Future
I was reading my March issue of Reader's Digest today and saw a very interesting article about vaccines. The article was entitled "Vaccines without needles" and it definitely got my attention. It basically said that the patch was not just for smokers or cruise-ship newbies anymore. "Intercell USA and Ideo have developed a method of transcutaneous immunization. It's in advanced FDA trials and will target diarrhea, then the flu."
Of course, if you have been following my blog you will know that I can't read something like that and let it go. I Googled it and found a lot of information. I am more than happy to share with all of you what I found. The first thing you have to understand is that the patch has its flaws. I know from experience that it doesn't always work. I have known a friend or two who were on the birth control patch and ended up pregnant. However, I have also known people who take heart medicine via patch and have done it successfully for years. I guess it all depends on how it's administered and how long the patch needs to remain on the skin for the vaccine to work. Also, the efficacy of the patch in relation to vaccines will have to be carefully assessed or else we will have a much bigger problem than the shots.
According to what I have read in the medical journals concerning the patch for vaccines, it seems that the results are very promising. They have actually tested them on people and the process seems very simple. The following is a good link:
http://www.ideo.com/work/featured/intercell
It actually shows the process through a slide show and it's amazing! I recommend you check it out. The part about it that fascinates me the most is that you in theory could vaccinate yourself! There was an article in Business Week that had some good applications for this type of vaccine. "Iomai executives believe that the patch's user-friendly design will catch the attention of the U.S. government, which has been looking for products that can be stockpiled and distributed during a much-feared outbreak of pandemic flu. With needles out of the picture, Iomai's product could allow patients to vaccinate themselves—eliminating the worry of overcrowded emergency rooms and overwhelmed physicians." That is something I had not thought about.
The way this vaccine works is that it penetrates through the "dead layer" of skin cells and makes it way to the Langerhans cells. This causes an immune response and then you are protected. It definitely sounds "too good to be true" but I am hopeful. Because of the way it's designed I would imagine that it would be harder for contamination to take place, and since it's manufactured in "single doses" that would mean that it would require less preservatives. Of course, I know very little about this vaccine so I am just giving my opinion. I will definitely keep my eyes and ears open and let you know if I find out anything new about it. I am definitely excited about the future!
*****************************
The future is limited only by
our imagination.
*****************************
Of course, if you have been following my blog you will know that I can't read something like that and let it go. I Googled it and found a lot of information. I am more than happy to share with all of you what I found. The first thing you have to understand is that the patch has its flaws. I know from experience that it doesn't always work. I have known a friend or two who were on the birth control patch and ended up pregnant. However, I have also known people who take heart medicine via patch and have done it successfully for years. I guess it all depends on how it's administered and how long the patch needs to remain on the skin for the vaccine to work. Also, the efficacy of the patch in relation to vaccines will have to be carefully assessed or else we will have a much bigger problem than the shots.
According to what I have read in the medical journals concerning the patch for vaccines, it seems that the results are very promising. They have actually tested them on people and the process seems very simple. The following is a good link:
http://www.ideo.com/work/featured/intercell
It actually shows the process through a slide show and it's amazing! I recommend you check it out. The part about it that fascinates me the most is that you in theory could vaccinate yourself! There was an article in Business Week that had some good applications for this type of vaccine. "Iomai executives believe that the patch's user-friendly design will catch the attention of the U.S. government, which has been looking for products that can be stockpiled and distributed during a much-feared outbreak of pandemic flu. With needles out of the picture, Iomai's product could allow patients to vaccinate themselves—eliminating the worry of overcrowded emergency rooms and overwhelmed physicians." That is something I had not thought about.
The way this vaccine works is that it penetrates through the "dead layer" of skin cells and makes it way to the Langerhans cells. This causes an immune response and then you are protected. It definitely sounds "too good to be true" but I am hopeful. Because of the way it's designed I would imagine that it would be harder for contamination to take place, and since it's manufactured in "single doses" that would mean that it would require less preservatives. Of course, I know very little about this vaccine so I am just giving my opinion. I will definitely keep my eyes and ears open and let you know if I find out anything new about it. I am definitely excited about the future!
*****************************
The future is limited only by
our imagination.
*****************************
Friday, March 13, 2009
Three Girls at a Pizza Place
Recently I planned on going to an Autism Support group in a nearby city with three other ladies. In the end, one of them got the flu, and the rest of us decided that we were not interested in the topic they were going to cover because it did not relate to our specific cases. They were going to basically discuss issues dealing with children with severe autism. Therefore, we decided to stay in our area and eat at Mellow Mushroom (a very yummy pizza restaurant). We were there from 4:30pm until 8:45pm and there was never a break in our conversation. We talked the entire time! This post is a recap of what was discussed and some interesting information that I did not know.
It seems that in all three of our cases our husbands and family were skeptical about anything being wrong. I think this happens a lot. Part of it is denial. The other part is ignorance. It's hard to admit that there is anything wrong with your child. With grandparents there is often a sense of guilt associated with it as well. It's as if THEIR genes were the culprit or something. It's almost ludicrous to think that people would think that, but they do. It's human nature to place blame on things like this. I just thought it was interesting to hear how each of us found out.
Case #1: The baby girl was born with a heart defect and at only 3 days old she had to have surgery. She was sent home after just one week and she recovered very well. For the next few years everything was basically ignored because it was attributed to her health. However, the mother knew that something was not right. Her daughter was very sensitive to sounds and she was not communicating like she should. She was also having issues with her gut. She decided to take her child at age 4 to get evaluated at a clinic that specialized in autism. Her daughter was diagnosed with autism and sensory integration issues. The mom finally felt validated. Although the husband is still in denial, they follow the casein/gluten-free diet and have recently learned that she is also sensitive to corn. She explained that the diet is going well and that she is on the road to recovery. She has an optimistic attitude and feels that she has had to go through this road alone since no other doctors had answers for her.
Case #2: The baby girl was born with cleft palate. She had surgery and although she had to have some speech therapy early on, she is doing great now. She has behavior issues at school and is sensitive to noise. She has not been diagnosed yet, but they suspect she is in the autism spectrum. She is waiting to see specialists at a nearby clinic that specializes in diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. The father is on board and is supportive. He wants a label. The mother just wants to know what to do. She follows a "healthy" diet and tries to avoid processed food, dyes, and sugar. She feels the same way about the doctors not having any answers for her. Every test and treatment she has done has been initiated by her. She definitely feels frustrated.
You all know my case, so for sake of time and space I won't discuss that right now. The similarities are obvious. I thought it was definitely something beyond coincidence that brought us together. There is no doubt in my mind about that.
The diet factor was of interest to me. We tried the caseine-free diet with my daughter and she seemed to respond to it. I thought about trying out with my youngest to see if I noticed any changes, but it's such a difficult diet to follow, and I don't have any reason to do it with him anyway. My #2 did not seem to respond to it when we did it years ago and so I don't think it would be worth the trouble to try it again. In Case #1, the mom (let's call her Bethany) said that she noticed changes right away. She has done a lot of research to find recipes and supplies to feed her child. The biggest challenge is finding the right products. Labels can be so misleading. She told me that she has had to actually call the manufacturer and get information concerning ingredients to ensure that they were truly "gluten-free" or "caseine-free". She has been disappointed at some of the companies. She also told us about how intolerant a lot of parents can be when it comes to things like this. She said that she has been told she's crazy for not letting her child have cake and ice cream. I think that's so sad. It's hard enough for her to follow the diet and then to add that to her pressures... that's so unfair. You can't say they are "allergic" because in reality they aren't. However, they DO have food sensitivities and that is basically what she says. Parents who can't understand that are just ignorant. If it were THEIR child, they would not think twice about it.
One of the most frustrating things that is common among the autism community is finding the right doctor. Bethany had tried different doctors in the area until she found the same group that I found. Fortunately, for her, she found them early on. She said that at first they were skeptical about the whole "casein-free" diet, but when they saw the results NOW they actually recommend it to patients as something "to try" and use her as an example. I think my timing coming into this practice was perfect!! This REALLY made me feel better about going through what I did. I am now seeing them at a time when they are more open to alternative medicine and alternative therapy. That's so exciting to me.
Bethany went to a DAN doctor in a nearby city and told us a little about how that went. For those of you who don't know what a DAN doctor is... DAN stands for "Defeat Autism Now" and this is a good site that explains in an unbiased way what it's all about: http://autism.about.com/od/alternativetreatmens/f/dandoc.htm
They basically give parents hope. In many cases they see dramatic results and although there is not a "cure" for autism, these doctors offer treatments that other doctors refuse to try! I don't think there is ONE way to treat autism. The only thing that traditional medicine can offer parents is drugs to help relieve symptoms and to manage behavioral issues. In some cases the drugs make things worse. DAN doctors have a different mindset when it comes to treatment and they look at it as a damage that needs repair versus a genetic condition that has no treatment or cure. That is so important because early intervention is critical. If a doctor has a "wait and see" attitude then you are not going to like what you "see" later on.
With Case #2 the mother (let's call her Tina) was so frustrated in the beginning because the doctors basically told her that there was nothing wrong with her child. She coincidentally went to the same group I am going to now, and she still goes to them. In spite of the lack of aggressive action she still felt that they listened to her when she expressed concerns and in the end recommended that she get tested. They still didn't think anything was wrong, but they said, "it won't hurt to do it for your peace of mind". She is so glad she did because she was able to get her into the Early Intervention Program and there is now a paper trail that will enable her to get services for her in the future. She told us that she lucked out and got an appointment to see doctors at a place called Sparks Clinic in Birmingham, Alabama during Spring Break because someone had cancelled. I am anxious to hear how it went and what the results are. I will try and update you all when I find out.
All three of us see the same doctor. All three of us had the same experience with our previous doctors. All three of us were in the end validated after years of worry. It's so unfortunate that we all had to go through the same struggles and disappointments to reach the point where we finally have some hope. It's unreal how ignorant doctors are when it come to autism. One would think that more doctors would listen to patients and try to find out more about autism... especially when the rate of autism is increasing at such an alarming rate. If the rates keep growing like they are... before long, half of the children coming into a pediatric office will have some form of autism or neurological deficit. If you think THAT'S hard to wrap your head around... then consider these statistics:
Approximately 17 percent of children have some type of developmental disability, including more mild conditions such as speech and language disorders, learning disabilities, and ADHD, which appear to be more common than autism. (Information from : http://autism.emedtv.com/autism/autism-statistics.html)
The following is the highlights of statistics I found online:
The following data was produced by the Department of Education in the United States for numbers of children ages 6-21 served by IDEA (Individuals With Disabilities Discrimination Act) who have autism:
State.....(1992-1993)......(1999-2000)....%Increase
Alabama.......68...............670...........885
Arkansas......30...............560..........1,767
Illinois.......5..............2,435........48,600
Maryland......28..............1,551.........5,439
New Mexico....16................193.........1,106
Nevada.........5................273.........5,360
Wisconsin.....18..............1,445.........7,928
In case you can't believe your eyes..... let me explain it to you. The chart has ALL the states and I just posted SOME of them. For example, between 1992 and 1993 there were only 68 children between the ages of 6 and 21 who were served by IDEA in the state of Alabama(that doesn't include ALL cases, but just those who received services). Between 1999 and 2000 the numbers rose to 670! That is an increase of 885%!! If you look at Illinois, the increase percentage was 48,600%!! The numbers are unreal! I am trying to find some more recent data and when I do, I will make sure to post the information. I can only imagine the numbers for 2008!
I think it's important for everyone to realize that this is not an isolated problem. It's not just the parents of these kids. The way they are cutting back on education and programs, I am just holding my breath about those with disabilities. I would pray and hope that the new president would not EVER cut back on those type of things, but there is no way of knowing at this point. The most important thing we could do right now is notify our congressman/congresswoman about this important issue. We need to let our voices be heard. There are many stories left untold, but the important thing is that the facts speak for themselves. They can no longer ignore it and we need to make it harder for them to ignore the children!
******************************
This little light of mine.....
I'm going to let it shine.
******************************
It seems that in all three of our cases our husbands and family were skeptical about anything being wrong. I think this happens a lot. Part of it is denial. The other part is ignorance. It's hard to admit that there is anything wrong with your child. With grandparents there is often a sense of guilt associated with it as well. It's as if THEIR genes were the culprit or something. It's almost ludicrous to think that people would think that, but they do. It's human nature to place blame on things like this. I just thought it was interesting to hear how each of us found out.
Case #1: The baby girl was born with a heart defect and at only 3 days old she had to have surgery. She was sent home after just one week and she recovered very well. For the next few years everything was basically ignored because it was attributed to her health. However, the mother knew that something was not right. Her daughter was very sensitive to sounds and she was not communicating like she should. She was also having issues with her gut. She decided to take her child at age 4 to get evaluated at a clinic that specialized in autism. Her daughter was diagnosed with autism and sensory integration issues. The mom finally felt validated. Although the husband is still in denial, they follow the casein/gluten-free diet and have recently learned that she is also sensitive to corn. She explained that the diet is going well and that she is on the road to recovery. She has an optimistic attitude and feels that she has had to go through this road alone since no other doctors had answers for her.
Case #2: The baby girl was born with cleft palate. She had surgery and although she had to have some speech therapy early on, she is doing great now. She has behavior issues at school and is sensitive to noise. She has not been diagnosed yet, but they suspect she is in the autism spectrum. She is waiting to see specialists at a nearby clinic that specializes in diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. The father is on board and is supportive. He wants a label. The mother just wants to know what to do. She follows a "healthy" diet and tries to avoid processed food, dyes, and sugar. She feels the same way about the doctors not having any answers for her. Every test and treatment she has done has been initiated by her. She definitely feels frustrated.
You all know my case, so for sake of time and space I won't discuss that right now. The similarities are obvious. I thought it was definitely something beyond coincidence that brought us together. There is no doubt in my mind about that.
The diet factor was of interest to me. We tried the caseine-free diet with my daughter and she seemed to respond to it. I thought about trying out with my youngest to see if I noticed any changes, but it's such a difficult diet to follow, and I don't have any reason to do it with him anyway. My #2 did not seem to respond to it when we did it years ago and so I don't think it would be worth the trouble to try it again. In Case #1, the mom (let's call her Bethany) said that she noticed changes right away. She has done a lot of research to find recipes and supplies to feed her child. The biggest challenge is finding the right products. Labels can be so misleading. She told me that she has had to actually call the manufacturer and get information concerning ingredients to ensure that they were truly "gluten-free" or "caseine-free". She has been disappointed at some of the companies. She also told us about how intolerant a lot of parents can be when it comes to things like this. She said that she has been told she's crazy for not letting her child have cake and ice cream. I think that's so sad. It's hard enough for her to follow the diet and then to add that to her pressures... that's so unfair. You can't say they are "allergic" because in reality they aren't. However, they DO have food sensitivities and that is basically what she says. Parents who can't understand that are just ignorant. If it were THEIR child, they would not think twice about it.
One of the most frustrating things that is common among the autism community is finding the right doctor. Bethany had tried different doctors in the area until she found the same group that I found. Fortunately, for her, she found them early on. She said that at first they were skeptical about the whole "casein-free" diet, but when they saw the results NOW they actually recommend it to patients as something "to try" and use her as an example. I think my timing coming into this practice was perfect!! This REALLY made me feel better about going through what I did. I am now seeing them at a time when they are more open to alternative medicine and alternative therapy. That's so exciting to me.
Bethany went to a DAN doctor in a nearby city and told us a little about how that went. For those of you who don't know what a DAN doctor is... DAN stands for "Defeat Autism Now" and this is a good site that explains in an unbiased way what it's all about: http://autism.about.com/od/alternativetreatmens/f/dandoc.htm
They basically give parents hope. In many cases they see dramatic results and although there is not a "cure" for autism, these doctors offer treatments that other doctors refuse to try! I don't think there is ONE way to treat autism. The only thing that traditional medicine can offer parents is drugs to help relieve symptoms and to manage behavioral issues. In some cases the drugs make things worse. DAN doctors have a different mindset when it comes to treatment and they look at it as a damage that needs repair versus a genetic condition that has no treatment or cure. That is so important because early intervention is critical. If a doctor has a "wait and see" attitude then you are not going to like what you "see" later on.
With Case #2 the mother (let's call her Tina) was so frustrated in the beginning because the doctors basically told her that there was nothing wrong with her child. She coincidentally went to the same group I am going to now, and she still goes to them. In spite of the lack of aggressive action she still felt that they listened to her when she expressed concerns and in the end recommended that she get tested. They still didn't think anything was wrong, but they said, "it won't hurt to do it for your peace of mind". She is so glad she did because she was able to get her into the Early Intervention Program and there is now a paper trail that will enable her to get services for her in the future. She told us that she lucked out and got an appointment to see doctors at a place called Sparks Clinic in Birmingham, Alabama during Spring Break because someone had cancelled. I am anxious to hear how it went and what the results are. I will try and update you all when I find out.
All three of us see the same doctor. All three of us had the same experience with our previous doctors. All three of us were in the end validated after years of worry. It's so unfortunate that we all had to go through the same struggles and disappointments to reach the point where we finally have some hope. It's unreal how ignorant doctors are when it come to autism. One would think that more doctors would listen to patients and try to find out more about autism... especially when the rate of autism is increasing at such an alarming rate. If the rates keep growing like they are... before long, half of the children coming into a pediatric office will have some form of autism or neurological deficit. If you think THAT'S hard to wrap your head around... then consider these statistics:
Approximately 17 percent of children have some type of developmental disability, including more mild conditions such as speech and language disorders, learning disabilities, and ADHD, which appear to be more common than autism. (Information from : http://autism.emedtv.com/autism/autism-statistics.html)
The following is the highlights of statistics I found online:
The following data was produced by the Department of Education in the United States for numbers of children ages 6-21 served by IDEA (Individuals With Disabilities Discrimination Act) who have autism:
State.....(1992-1993)......(1999-2000)....%Increase
Alabama.......68...............670...........885
Arkansas......30...............560..........1,767
Illinois.......5..............2,435........48,600
Maryland......28..............1,551.........5,439
New Mexico....16................193.........1,106
Nevada.........5................273.........5,360
Wisconsin.....18..............1,445.........7,928
In case you can't believe your eyes..... let me explain it to you. The chart has ALL the states and I just posted SOME of them. For example, between 1992 and 1993 there were only 68 children between the ages of 6 and 21 who were served by IDEA in the state of Alabama(that doesn't include ALL cases, but just those who received services). Between 1999 and 2000 the numbers rose to 670! That is an increase of 885%!! If you look at Illinois, the increase percentage was 48,600%!! The numbers are unreal! I am trying to find some more recent data and when I do, I will make sure to post the information. I can only imagine the numbers for 2008!
I think it's important for everyone to realize that this is not an isolated problem. It's not just the parents of these kids. The way they are cutting back on education and programs, I am just holding my breath about those with disabilities. I would pray and hope that the new president would not EVER cut back on those type of things, but there is no way of knowing at this point. The most important thing we could do right now is notify our congressman/congresswoman about this important issue. We need to let our voices be heard. There are many stories left untold, but the important thing is that the facts speak for themselves. They can no longer ignore it and we need to make it harder for them to ignore the children!
******************************
This little light of mine.....
I'm going to let it shine.
******************************
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Are You on the Fence When it Comes to Vaccines?
I would like to thank someone (not going to mention any names) for a wonderful hour-long conversation. I learned so much and I hope I can remember even a fraction of what we talked about.
If you have been reading my posts since the beginning, then you already know my stance on vaccines. The short explanation is that I believe in vaccines and that they work, but I don't think they are completely safe and we should be cautious. I also feel that medicine is not 100% correct 100% of the time.
There are many individuals who just don't know what to do about vaccines. They are torn because they know that they are taking a risk if they don't vaccinate, and a greater risk if they do. There is a sense of guilt involved in the decision process. Of course, doctors will feed on that. They often will guilt parents into vaccinating. That was the case with my previous doctor.
On the other hand, there are those individuals who have decided whole-heartedly that they will either vaccinate or completely refuse to vaccinate. These individuals have a strong testimony and no matter what you say you can not change their minds. They will back up their claims with solid evidence and state their case. I have seen this on both sides.
Well....there is also a growing number of people who are on the fence when it comes to vaccines. It has been interesting hearing the different stories of why people either stopped vaccinating or else they resumed vaccinating. It usually involves something that happened to their child. You can't dispute something when it happens to YOU. It's one thing to read about a child who dies because of a reaction and another thing for it to happen to you. During my phone conversation I learned of a lady who happened to be a nurse who had a child contract one of those vaccine-preventable illnesses..... I believe it was Pertussis. She spent two months with a sick child. They had to stay up during the night and make sure they didn't choke on the mucous during the coughing spells. It sounded very scary. Up until then she had chosen not to vaccinate her children and so she felt very guilty that this happened. I can only imagine.
The facts are that parents just want to do what's best for their family. We all take some sort of risk each day when it comes to the health and well-being of our family. It's up to us, the parents, to weigh those risks. It's definitely not an easy task, but parenting is NEVER easy. The important thing to remember is that YOU feel comfortable with whatever decision you make. You all know what decision I have made, but not everyone would feel comfortable doing it that way. I have learned to keep an open mind when it comes to things like this. I definitely DON'T look down on anyone who decides to vaccinate. I also don't look down on anyone who decides NOT to vaccinate. That is such a personal decision.
That being said.., IF you vaccinate and something DOES happen, then you have to face the consequences. The same way that if you don't vaccinate and something happens you will also have to face the consequences. Each family is different and has different circumstances. It's not a one size fits all deal. I think the most important thing to do is to remain informed. That is the only way you can make an educated decision. It also helps when you have to face doctors, family, or friends about your decisions. It never hurts to have some "ammunition".... does it? ;)
What do you do now? It's easy to become obsessed with this decision. Believe me... I know! However, learn as much as you can. Don't do something because it's the "popular" thing to do, but because it's the RIGHT thing to do. As far as I can see, no one has the answers. The medical community is split when it comes to admitting the truth. There are a few doctors who have the guts to stand and say, "More research must be done... we owe it to our patients to find out the truth."
If you are on the fence when it comes to vaccines I definitely can't blame you. It's a scary decision. Just know that you aren't alone. I hope this blog can help you learn more and make an informed decision. My goal is not to scare parents but to educate them.
****************************
My prayers are with you all.
****************************
If you have been reading my posts since the beginning, then you already know my stance on vaccines. The short explanation is that I believe in vaccines and that they work, but I don't think they are completely safe and we should be cautious. I also feel that medicine is not 100% correct 100% of the time.
There are many individuals who just don't know what to do about vaccines. They are torn because they know that they are taking a risk if they don't vaccinate, and a greater risk if they do. There is a sense of guilt involved in the decision process. Of course, doctors will feed on that. They often will guilt parents into vaccinating. That was the case with my previous doctor.
On the other hand, there are those individuals who have decided whole-heartedly that they will either vaccinate or completely refuse to vaccinate. These individuals have a strong testimony and no matter what you say you can not change their minds. They will back up their claims with solid evidence and state their case. I have seen this on both sides.
Well....there is also a growing number of people who are on the fence when it comes to vaccines. It has been interesting hearing the different stories of why people either stopped vaccinating or else they resumed vaccinating. It usually involves something that happened to their child. You can't dispute something when it happens to YOU. It's one thing to read about a child who dies because of a reaction and another thing for it to happen to you. During my phone conversation I learned of a lady who happened to be a nurse who had a child contract one of those vaccine-preventable illnesses..... I believe it was Pertussis. She spent two months with a sick child. They had to stay up during the night and make sure they didn't choke on the mucous during the coughing spells. It sounded very scary. Up until then she had chosen not to vaccinate her children and so she felt very guilty that this happened. I can only imagine.
The facts are that parents just want to do what's best for their family. We all take some sort of risk each day when it comes to the health and well-being of our family. It's up to us, the parents, to weigh those risks. It's definitely not an easy task, but parenting is NEVER easy. The important thing to remember is that YOU feel comfortable with whatever decision you make. You all know what decision I have made, but not everyone would feel comfortable doing it that way. I have learned to keep an open mind when it comes to things like this. I definitely DON'T look down on anyone who decides to vaccinate. I also don't look down on anyone who decides NOT to vaccinate. That is such a personal decision.
That being said.., IF you vaccinate and something DOES happen, then you have to face the consequences. The same way that if you don't vaccinate and something happens you will also have to face the consequences. Each family is different and has different circumstances. It's not a one size fits all deal. I think the most important thing to do is to remain informed. That is the only way you can make an educated decision. It also helps when you have to face doctors, family, or friends about your decisions. It never hurts to have some "ammunition".... does it? ;)
What do you do now? It's easy to become obsessed with this decision. Believe me... I know! However, learn as much as you can. Don't do something because it's the "popular" thing to do, but because it's the RIGHT thing to do. As far as I can see, no one has the answers. The medical community is split when it comes to admitting the truth. There are a few doctors who have the guts to stand and say, "More research must be done... we owe it to our patients to find out the truth."
If you are on the fence when it comes to vaccines I definitely can't blame you. It's a scary decision. Just know that you aren't alone. I hope this blog can help you learn more and make an informed decision. My goal is not to scare parents but to educate them.
****************************
My prayers are with you all.
****************************
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Autism is Not Contagious
I have to thank a good friend of mine who gave me the inspiration to write this post. I think it's long overdue. I can't believe I haven't touched on this since one of my first posts! Here we go............
When I was younger I was taught that it was not polite to stare or to point. You'd be surprised at how many ADULTS I see doing just that! Worse yet, I have witnessed many times when adults just ignore certain kids as if they are not there. I got to thinking about that and I think I know what the problem is. They probably don't know what to say or are worried they might say the wrong thing. I think it's important to let others know how to handle certain situations. I will touch on those that I have observed and have unfortunately experienced personally.
Scenario #1:
You are at a public place and see a child who looks or acts different. They approach you and your child (who is "normal") says, "What's wrong with him/her?" What do you do?
Solution: Whatever you do, don't ignore the question or the child. I think it's important that children know that there is nothing wrong with asking questions but they need to learn how to do it discreetly without hurting other's feelings. The best way to handle this situation is to say something like, "We can talk about that later.... Right now, let's find out what his/her name is. I bet you two can be friends." Later, when the time is right then you can explain things to your child. That will also buy you some time to figure out the best way to explain the handicap to your child. You can also explain how it's rude to point out differences of others.
Scenario #2:
You are approached by a child that you don't know and they give you a hug and possibly say, "I love you."
Solution: Don't be offended. Children with Autism and other disabilities often confuse "like" with "love". They are also learning about personal space. The best way to handle the situation is to accept the hug for what it is and say something like, "You're so sweet. Your mom is lucky to have such a sweet kid." Chances are the mom will be mortified and possibly reprimand the child later. The worst thing you could do is push a child away and make the mother feel worse than they already do.
Scenario #3:
You are at a playground and notice a child who is trying to play with your child. He/she is obviously socially delayed and your child is being mean or ignoring the requests to play.
Solution: This is the perfect opportunity for you to teach your child about being a good friend and accepting others. You can't ignore this kind of behavior. The only exception to this would be if it was obvious that the other child was being abusive or intentionally trying to hurt others without parental correction. You can tell your child, "Sweetie....I would like for you to be a good friend and include him/her. How would you feel if you tried playing with someone and they ignored YOU?"
I could keep going, but I think you get the general idea. The first rule is to not ignore the children of others. This goes for any child. Learn to embrace other's differences. It's not too hard to see the positive in any child. Also, it's not going to hurt your child to play with kids with handicaps. It's important to learn early on that we aren't all perfect. One day your children are going to grow up and become adults. I had to work with adults with autism, blindness, and many other handicaps during my lifetime. They all contributed many things to society. Although there is a stigma of sorts associated with any mental illness or handicap, there is still even more that we just don't know. I think that children with autism were put on this earth for a reason. They are here to teach us tolerance and love. I also think that they see the world in ways that we don't understand. Although it's a true challenge for these individuals, I am sure that there are many creative and inventive things we would lack without some of those people on earth.
My friend who inspired this post said, "Sometimes I think people treat my child as if autism was contagious or something." I am here to tell you that it's not. These kids need the social interaction with other "normal" kids just as much as they do. Also, the best way to support these very stressed-out moms is to show that you care. Don't be judgmental and critical. You only see one little moment in their daily lives. You have no idea what a day is like for these parents. It's definitely a roller coaster of emotions. Some days are good. Others are not so good. In the end, we are all parents who just want what's best for our children. I think it truly takes a village to raise a child. Just remember these things next time you meet one of these special kids.
***********************************
Let's try and make love contagious!
***********************************
When I was younger I was taught that it was not polite to stare or to point. You'd be surprised at how many ADULTS I see doing just that! Worse yet, I have witnessed many times when adults just ignore certain kids as if they are not there. I got to thinking about that and I think I know what the problem is. They probably don't know what to say or are worried they might say the wrong thing. I think it's important to let others know how to handle certain situations. I will touch on those that I have observed and have unfortunately experienced personally.
Scenario #1:
You are at a public place and see a child who looks or acts different. They approach you and your child (who is "normal") says, "What's wrong with him/her?" What do you do?
Solution: Whatever you do, don't ignore the question or the child. I think it's important that children know that there is nothing wrong with asking questions but they need to learn how to do it discreetly without hurting other's feelings. The best way to handle this situation is to say something like, "We can talk about that later.... Right now, let's find out what his/her name is. I bet you two can be friends." Later, when the time is right then you can explain things to your child. That will also buy you some time to figure out the best way to explain the handicap to your child. You can also explain how it's rude to point out differences of others.
Scenario #2:
You are approached by a child that you don't know and they give you a hug and possibly say, "I love you."
Solution: Don't be offended. Children with Autism and other disabilities often confuse "like" with "love". They are also learning about personal space. The best way to handle the situation is to accept the hug for what it is and say something like, "You're so sweet. Your mom is lucky to have such a sweet kid." Chances are the mom will be mortified and possibly reprimand the child later. The worst thing you could do is push a child away and make the mother feel worse than they already do.
Scenario #3:
You are at a playground and notice a child who is trying to play with your child. He/she is obviously socially delayed and your child is being mean or ignoring the requests to play.
Solution: This is the perfect opportunity for you to teach your child about being a good friend and accepting others. You can't ignore this kind of behavior. The only exception to this would be if it was obvious that the other child was being abusive or intentionally trying to hurt others without parental correction. You can tell your child, "Sweetie....I would like for you to be a good friend and include him/her. How would you feel if you tried playing with someone and they ignored YOU?"
I could keep going, but I think you get the general idea. The first rule is to not ignore the children of others. This goes for any child. Learn to embrace other's differences. It's not too hard to see the positive in any child. Also, it's not going to hurt your child to play with kids with handicaps. It's important to learn early on that we aren't all perfect. One day your children are going to grow up and become adults. I had to work with adults with autism, blindness, and many other handicaps during my lifetime. They all contributed many things to society. Although there is a stigma of sorts associated with any mental illness or handicap, there is still even more that we just don't know. I think that children with autism were put on this earth for a reason. They are here to teach us tolerance and love. I also think that they see the world in ways that we don't understand. Although it's a true challenge for these individuals, I am sure that there are many creative and inventive things we would lack without some of those people on earth.
My friend who inspired this post said, "Sometimes I think people treat my child as if autism was contagious or something." I am here to tell you that it's not. These kids need the social interaction with other "normal" kids just as much as they do. Also, the best way to support these very stressed-out moms is to show that you care. Don't be judgmental and critical. You only see one little moment in their daily lives. You have no idea what a day is like for these parents. It's definitely a roller coaster of emotions. Some days are good. Others are not so good. In the end, we are all parents who just want what's best for our children. I think it truly takes a village to raise a child. Just remember these things next time you meet one of these special kids.
***********************************
Let's try and make love contagious!
***********************************
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Doesn't Make Sense to Me
I have a list of sites on my blog on the left-hand side of the screen. I wanted to explain their significance and invite you all to visit the sites and read the information if you haven't already done so.
I will start with the CDC Website. When you click on the link it will take you to the official CDC wesite. I had the wrong link up until now... I finally fixed it. I basically did the "legwork" for you and found the exact spot where they have all the vaccine ingredient information. Let me direct your attention to the first thing that stands out to me: "All routinely recommended pediatric vaccines manufactured for the U.S. market contain no thimerosal or only trace amounts." Doctors claim that ALL routine recommended pediatric vaccines have NO thimerosal (a.k.a. mercury), but yet they clearly state in the website that some contain "trace" amounts. They recall products containing trace amounts of lead or mercury all the time.... yet, vaccines don't have the same criteria? If you take "trace" amounts and multiply it by the number of vaccines that children get before school age... the amounts are staggering!! Doesn't make sense to me.
The next thing I would like to point out is the list of ingredients in vaccines. They are listed under the heading: "Additional Facts". These are the ingredients: Aluminum, Antibiotics, Egg Protein, Formaldehyde, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), and Thimerosal. Out of all these ingredients the most disconcerting to me are: formaldehyde, MSG, and Thimerosal. I go OUT of my way to avoid these things for my children and yet the government mandates I introduce these things into their bloodstream. Doesn't make sense to me.
When you click on the VAERS link on the CDC website, you might be surprised to find out that the CDC is currently investigating all kinds of things concerning vaccines. However, you might be more surprised to find out how they do it. For example, they did a study to find out if thimerosal exposure had any neuropsychological outcomes. They evaluated 1,047 children aged 7 to 10 years (all basically randomly selected from a computer) who received vaccines in the 1990's before the removal of thimerosal. "Each child's level of exposure to ethyl mercury was determined through a review of electronic immunization registries, medical records, personal immunization records, and parent interviews. Each child was then administered a series of standardized neuropsychological tests in a clinical setting at ages 7 to 10 years. The study found only a few statistically significant associations between exposure from thimerosal and neuropsychological functioning. The weight of the evidence from this study does not support an association between early ethyl mercury exposure from thimerosal-containing vaccines and/or immunoglobulins and neuropsychological functioning at ages 7 to 10 years." OKAY..... I have to interject my thoughts here.... First of all, is 1,047 children a good sample? NOT!!! Another question, why didn't they evaluate kids who HAD autism or other neurological disorders??? If I want to find out why a group of individuals have a disorder or disease I would like to find out what the common factor is. Do they all live in the same area of the states? Do they all eat similar diets? Were they all exposed to same things? Do they all have a genetic defect? I don't just randomly select a thousand kids and test them for problems. When I read further I also found that only a "total of 378 statistical tests were conducted" and that is NOT a significant number. I don't see how they can get sufficient data. Besides, they DID find some "statistically significant associations between exposure to thimerosal and neuropsychological functioning..." Why don't they explore that further? What if there is a small portion of the population that is affected? I would compare this to an allergy. Not all kids are going to be allergic to eggs, for example, but those that are can't have certain vaccines. That doesn't mean that all parents are going to "freak out" and not vaccinate! They have to come up with a screening tool for parents. We have the technology and we have the evidence... what gives??? It all just doesn't make sense to me!
The Huffington Post link has information that made me question if autism is truly "autism" in some of the cases? Are they misdiagnosing vaccine injury with autism? At this point in time, my theory is that if a child is vaccinated and has "autism-like" symptoms and then either slowly recovers or the symptoms go away, then it might have been vaccine injury. In some cases, the kids don't recover and that's also a reality. However, if a child is born with "autism" and/or if the symptoms of autism become apparent early on before the age of 18 months to 2 years, then perhaps it is more of a genetic thing combined with environmental factors. I think that is why there is so much confusion. Also, to add to the confusion... I have a theory that perhaps vaccine injury presents itself in different ways with individuals. For example, perhaps one child might have "autism-like" symptoms, while another might have "ADHD-like" symptoms, while yet another might have chronic ailments such as asthma, severe allergies, or gastric/intestinal problems. All I know is that according to the evidence there seems to be more evidence showing that vaccines can cause problems versus that they are completely safe. All I can say is...it doesn't make sense to me!
The Last thing I want to highlight is Russel Blaylock's paper that I have a link to on the same listing as the CDC website. It was published in 2004 and discusses the meeting called: "Scientific Review of Vaccine Safety Datalink Information." This conference, held on June 7-8, 2000 at Simpsonwood Retreat Center, Norcross, Georgia, assembled 51 scientists and physicians of which five represented vaccine manufacturers. These included Smith Kline Beecham, Merck, Wyeth, North American Vaccine and Aventis Pasteur. This one got me thinking about the cummulative affect that vaccines might have. No one has done a study on that and I believe it's long overdue! Also, why do they have to make the vaccines one sized doses? Medicines are not given that way and it makes sense that vaccines should not be given that way either. I urge you to read the paper.... it will definitely get you thinking. I just don't understand how there could be so many "uncertainties" and yet they are "certain" that vaccines don't cause harm. It just doesn't make sense to me!
************************************
Take the time to check out the links.
You won't be disappointed.
************************************
I will start with the CDC Website. When you click on the link it will take you to the official CDC wesite. I had the wrong link up until now... I finally fixed it. I basically did the "legwork" for you and found the exact spot where they have all the vaccine ingredient information. Let me direct your attention to the first thing that stands out to me: "All routinely recommended pediatric vaccines manufactured for the U.S. market contain no thimerosal or only trace amounts." Doctors claim that ALL routine recommended pediatric vaccines have NO thimerosal (a.k.a. mercury), but yet they clearly state in the website that some contain "trace" amounts. They recall products containing trace amounts of lead or mercury all the time.... yet, vaccines don't have the same criteria? If you take "trace" amounts and multiply it by the number of vaccines that children get before school age... the amounts are staggering!! Doesn't make sense to me.
The next thing I would like to point out is the list of ingredients in vaccines. They are listed under the heading: "Additional Facts". These are the ingredients: Aluminum, Antibiotics, Egg Protein, Formaldehyde, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), and Thimerosal. Out of all these ingredients the most disconcerting to me are: formaldehyde, MSG, and Thimerosal. I go OUT of my way to avoid these things for my children and yet the government mandates I introduce these things into their bloodstream. Doesn't make sense to me.
When you click on the VAERS link on the CDC website, you might be surprised to find out that the CDC is currently investigating all kinds of things concerning vaccines. However, you might be more surprised to find out how they do it. For example, they did a study to find out if thimerosal exposure had any neuropsychological outcomes. They evaluated 1,047 children aged 7 to 10 years (all basically randomly selected from a computer) who received vaccines in the 1990's before the removal of thimerosal. "Each child's level of exposure to ethyl mercury was determined through a review of electronic immunization registries, medical records, personal immunization records, and parent interviews. Each child was then administered a series of standardized neuropsychological tests in a clinical setting at ages 7 to 10 years. The study found only a few statistically significant associations between exposure from thimerosal and neuropsychological functioning. The weight of the evidence from this study does not support an association between early ethyl mercury exposure from thimerosal-containing vaccines and/or immunoglobulins and neuropsychological functioning at ages 7 to 10 years." OKAY..... I have to interject my thoughts here.... First of all, is 1,047 children a good sample? NOT!!! Another question, why didn't they evaluate kids who HAD autism or other neurological disorders??? If I want to find out why a group of individuals have a disorder or disease I would like to find out what the common factor is. Do they all live in the same area of the states? Do they all eat similar diets? Were they all exposed to same things? Do they all have a genetic defect? I don't just randomly select a thousand kids and test them for problems. When I read further I also found that only a "total of 378 statistical tests were conducted" and that is NOT a significant number. I don't see how they can get sufficient data. Besides, they DID find some "statistically significant associations between exposure to thimerosal and neuropsychological functioning..." Why don't they explore that further? What if there is a small portion of the population that is affected? I would compare this to an allergy. Not all kids are going to be allergic to eggs, for example, but those that are can't have certain vaccines. That doesn't mean that all parents are going to "freak out" and not vaccinate! They have to come up with a screening tool for parents. We have the technology and we have the evidence... what gives??? It all just doesn't make sense to me!
The Huffington Post link has information that made me question if autism is truly "autism" in some of the cases? Are they misdiagnosing vaccine injury with autism? At this point in time, my theory is that if a child is vaccinated and has "autism-like" symptoms and then either slowly recovers or the symptoms go away, then it might have been vaccine injury. In some cases, the kids don't recover and that's also a reality. However, if a child is born with "autism" and/or if the symptoms of autism become apparent early on before the age of 18 months to 2 years, then perhaps it is more of a genetic thing combined with environmental factors. I think that is why there is so much confusion. Also, to add to the confusion... I have a theory that perhaps vaccine injury presents itself in different ways with individuals. For example, perhaps one child might have "autism-like" symptoms, while another might have "ADHD-like" symptoms, while yet another might have chronic ailments such as asthma, severe allergies, or gastric/intestinal problems. All I know is that according to the evidence there seems to be more evidence showing that vaccines can cause problems versus that they are completely safe. All I can say is...it doesn't make sense to me!
The Last thing I want to highlight is Russel Blaylock's paper that I have a link to on the same listing as the CDC website. It was published in 2004 and discusses the meeting called: "Scientific Review of Vaccine Safety Datalink Information." This conference, held on June 7-8, 2000 at Simpsonwood Retreat Center, Norcross, Georgia, assembled 51 scientists and physicians of which five represented vaccine manufacturers. These included Smith Kline Beecham, Merck, Wyeth, North American Vaccine and Aventis Pasteur. This one got me thinking about the cummulative affect that vaccines might have. No one has done a study on that and I believe it's long overdue! Also, why do they have to make the vaccines one sized doses? Medicines are not given that way and it makes sense that vaccines should not be given that way either. I urge you to read the paper.... it will definitely get you thinking. I just don't understand how there could be so many "uncertainties" and yet they are "certain" that vaccines don't cause harm. It just doesn't make sense to me!
************************************
Take the time to check out the links.
You won't be disappointed.
************************************
Got The Flu?
As I write this post I am praying that I don't end up getting sick. Right now my daughter has the Flu and is starting to recover. Her red face has been replaced by slightly rosy cheeks and she's able to open her eyes and watch television. Her appetite is slowly coming back and she's asking for water. That's definitely a move in the right direction.
It all started when she came home from school on Tuesday with glossy eyes and rosy cheeks. I could tell that she did not feel well. She was supposed to go to ballet but didn't feel up to it. That was a big "red flag" because she usually will not miss ballet for anything! I put her in bed at around 5pm and she slept until the next morning. The next day she stayed in bed the entire day and her fever would not go away even with Tylenol. I decided it was time to take her to the doctor. I took her half-asleep and they did the nasal swab and throat swab to test for strep and the flu. The results came back positive for the Flu type A. I was surprised because the only symptom she had was a fever. She didn't have a cough or sore throat. Her ears did not hurt. However, by the time we saw the doctor she started complaining of her ears hurting a little.
I talked to the doctor about my options. He basically said that drugs would really be a waste of my money since they basically were for Type B Flu and that basically I should just let it run its course. She wasn't really THAT sick and so he felt good about her recovery. He cautioned me about giving her too many over the counter meds and told me to let her rest. The last advice they gave me was to make sure she got plenty of liquids... the more, the better. I stopped by my local CVS and got some ginger ale. When we got home I gave her a cup to drink and then put her in bed. She slept until this morning.
I noticed by 9pm last night that I was starting to feel feverish and achy. One of my friends told me about a drug called "oscillococcinum" and how it seemed to work for her. She told me that within 6 hours she saw her child get better. I thought it couldn't hurt and it was homeopathic so I wouldn't have to worry about drug interactions with the little Tylenol I gave her at night. It works similar to Zycam which helps relieve symptoms but doesn't really "cure" the illness. It's also a good preventive med. I went to CVS and purchased a box and gave my daughter half the dose and took the other half. I am not kidding you when I say that within an hour I felt great!! I don't know if it was a coincidence or not, but this morning I felt a little yucky again and so I took another dose and gave another dose to my daughter and we both are feeling great right now. As I write this post, my daughter is actually up out of the couch and looks great!! Amazing!
I hope and pray all of you reading this do not have to fight the Flu. However, it's exciting to know that there are meds out there that actually work against the flu. The best preventive medicine is hand washing! I have been mindful of this lately. For example, the other day I went to the store and did some grocery shopping. I decided to get some food from the deli and take it home. When I got home I was about to start eating when all of a sudden I realized that my hands had been on the germy shopping cart and I needed to wash them. That is just one little thing that we can do to help prevent getting colds, flu, etc... It's a good idea to teach your children the same thing. Hand sanitizers are good for when you are on the go, but hand washing is truly the best preventive medicine.
****************************
The proof is in the results.
****************************
It all started when she came home from school on Tuesday with glossy eyes and rosy cheeks. I could tell that she did not feel well. She was supposed to go to ballet but didn't feel up to it. That was a big "red flag" because she usually will not miss ballet for anything! I put her in bed at around 5pm and she slept until the next morning. The next day she stayed in bed the entire day and her fever would not go away even with Tylenol. I decided it was time to take her to the doctor. I took her half-asleep and they did the nasal swab and throat swab to test for strep and the flu. The results came back positive for the Flu type A. I was surprised because the only symptom she had was a fever. She didn't have a cough or sore throat. Her ears did not hurt. However, by the time we saw the doctor she started complaining of her ears hurting a little.
I talked to the doctor about my options. He basically said that drugs would really be a waste of my money since they basically were for Type B Flu and that basically I should just let it run its course. She wasn't really THAT sick and so he felt good about her recovery. He cautioned me about giving her too many over the counter meds and told me to let her rest. The last advice they gave me was to make sure she got plenty of liquids... the more, the better. I stopped by my local CVS and got some ginger ale. When we got home I gave her a cup to drink and then put her in bed. She slept until this morning.
I noticed by 9pm last night that I was starting to feel feverish and achy. One of my friends told me about a drug called "oscillococcinum" and how it seemed to work for her. She told me that within 6 hours she saw her child get better. I thought it couldn't hurt and it was homeopathic so I wouldn't have to worry about drug interactions with the little Tylenol I gave her at night. It works similar to Zycam which helps relieve symptoms but doesn't really "cure" the illness. It's also a good preventive med. I went to CVS and purchased a box and gave my daughter half the dose and took the other half. I am not kidding you when I say that within an hour I felt great!! I don't know if it was a coincidence or not, but this morning I felt a little yucky again and so I took another dose and gave another dose to my daughter and we both are feeling great right now. As I write this post, my daughter is actually up out of the couch and looks great!! Amazing!
I hope and pray all of you reading this do not have to fight the Flu. However, it's exciting to know that there are meds out there that actually work against the flu. The best preventive medicine is hand washing! I have been mindful of this lately. For example, the other day I went to the store and did some grocery shopping. I decided to get some food from the deli and take it home. When I got home I was about to start eating when all of a sudden I realized that my hands had been on the germy shopping cart and I needed to wash them. That is just one little thing that we can do to help prevent getting colds, flu, etc... It's a good idea to teach your children the same thing. Hand sanitizers are good for when you are on the go, but hand washing is truly the best preventive medicine.
****************************
The proof is in the results.
****************************
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Medical Insurance Roller Coaster
Here we go again.... it looks like they decided to cover our laboratory testing for now. We never received the itemized bill for our family. I am sure there is a good reason for that. However, the statements they sent don't have duplicate charges on them... very interesting, huh? Maybe it was the not-so-sweet letter my dear attorney husband sent them? Maybe it was my 50+ phone calls to their office? Or maybe it was the fact that they FINALLY received the information from the hospital that they have been requesting since April of last year? Who knows?
Instead of the thousands of dollars they claimed we owed, we started receiving bills for $35.00. There are a couple of $540.00 bills that we are waiting on, but at least we aren't in collections anymore. That was my biggest complaint about the whole process. It seems that they can send someone to collections even though it's the insurance's fault and ruin your credit. I can understand if I NEVER called them or ignored the bills. However, I was totally the opposite. I called them numerous times and let them know what was going on. They assured me that everything would be okay. Here we are almost a year later and the hospital has not been paid.
If I knew then what I know now would I get the testing done? Absolutely yes!!!! It was more than a diagnostic test. It was our peace of mind knowing that our family was safe, and we did not have to worry about Wilson's Disease with any other member of our family. Wilson's Disease is totally treatable if it is caught early enough. If left untreated, it is fatal! Nobody can understand the feeling you go through when you find out that your child has a potentially fatal disease and that the insurance company could care less about it. I repeatedly reminded them that if we did not catch this now, we would have been faced with hundreds of thousands of dollars because she would have needed a liver transplant.
I am thankful for the Lord's mercy and guidance through this process. There were times when I wanted to give up. However, every time I looked into my daughter's beautiful blue eyes I would be reminded of what was at stake. Even when the doctors tried to convince me that she was okay I persisted. Even when one pediatric neurologist told me that I was misled by a "quack doctor" I did not listen. I no longer wonder what helped me through this. I know without a shadow of a doubt that my loving Heavenly Father had a hand in the diagnosis and the health of my child. Medicine and religion CAN coincide. I know this to be true. I also know that there are some awesome Christian doctors out there who are guided by the spirit. I am blessed to have found such doctors.
**********************************
My belief is that God had a hand
in the development of medicine.
Our health is a blessing and we
should treasure each day we have
on earth.
*********************************
Instead of the thousands of dollars they claimed we owed, we started receiving bills for $35.00. There are a couple of $540.00 bills that we are waiting on, but at least we aren't in collections anymore. That was my biggest complaint about the whole process. It seems that they can send someone to collections even though it's the insurance's fault and ruin your credit. I can understand if I NEVER called them or ignored the bills. However, I was totally the opposite. I called them numerous times and let them know what was going on. They assured me that everything would be okay. Here we are almost a year later and the hospital has not been paid.
If I knew then what I know now would I get the testing done? Absolutely yes!!!! It was more than a diagnostic test. It was our peace of mind knowing that our family was safe, and we did not have to worry about Wilson's Disease with any other member of our family. Wilson's Disease is totally treatable if it is caught early enough. If left untreated, it is fatal! Nobody can understand the feeling you go through when you find out that your child has a potentially fatal disease and that the insurance company could care less about it. I repeatedly reminded them that if we did not catch this now, we would have been faced with hundreds of thousands of dollars because she would have needed a liver transplant.
I am thankful for the Lord's mercy and guidance through this process. There were times when I wanted to give up. However, every time I looked into my daughter's beautiful blue eyes I would be reminded of what was at stake. Even when the doctors tried to convince me that she was okay I persisted. Even when one pediatric neurologist told me that I was misled by a "quack doctor" I did not listen. I no longer wonder what helped me through this. I know without a shadow of a doubt that my loving Heavenly Father had a hand in the diagnosis and the health of my child. Medicine and religion CAN coincide. I know this to be true. I also know that there are some awesome Christian doctors out there who are guided by the spirit. I am blessed to have found such doctors.
**********************************
My belief is that God had a hand
in the development of medicine.
Our health is a blessing and we
should treasure each day we have
on earth.
*********************************
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