To Vaccinate or Not To Vaccinate? Is It Safe?

I've been receiving a lot of emails recently regarding vaccinations. The questions range from asking about my personal beliefs on vaccines to whether or not it is safe to vaccinate at all. The other question I am often asked is if there is a "safe" vaccine schedule. Before I delve into any of this let me say this very clear, I am not a doctor and have no medical training. I am a mother of a child on the spectrum who witnessed first hand a vaccine injury in my own daughter. Due to this I have become a research machine. I think my time in journalism/news was a blessing in helping me navigate between medical journals, books, blogs, doctors interviews and other research. I also want to point out that I am not anti-vaccine. I am anti-the current vaccine schedule and anti-how 'dirty' or toxic our vaccines currently have become.

Did you know that according to the American Academy of Pediatrics current vaccine guidelines that a child today will receive 36 vaccines. Most of these by the time they are 15 months old! Compare this to the 1983 vaccine schedule of just 10 vaccines. In 1983, 1 in 10,000 children were diagnosed with autism. Today that number is a staggering 1 in 100. For boys the incidence is even higher. I am not saying it is all vaccines, but I do believe there is a connection. I also know that I witnessed first hand a healthy child drop into the dark world of autism following a group of vaccines. I do believe that a family history of autoimmune diseases combined with toxic filled vaccines were the one-two punch that delivered autism to our front door. I should also note that on top of these two things that it was also discovered my daughter was allergic to eggs and yeast. Both of these are precursors according to the DAN protocol not to receive the HepB and MMR vaccines. Both of which she did.

Click here for the current DAN vaccine guidelines. Click here for the 1983 vaccine protocol. I would also recommend that you head over to the Generation Rescue website to read more about vaccines, safe schedules and what a safer vaccine schedule looks like. Here are a few other questions that I think are important to ask:

Look at your current health and ask yourself how many vaccines did you receive as a child? Are you a healthy adult or did you need more? Does your family have an autoimmune disease (celiac disease is an autoimmune disease)? Do you or your child have food allergies or sensitivities? Egg and yeast sensitivity can be a problem with a few of the current vaccines. Do you know what each current vaccine is for and what is in them?

Here is what I do know and feel comfortable stating:

1. You are your child's advocate and have the right to say yes or no to any vaccine.

2. NEVER give a sick (even a cold!) child any vaccine

3. NEVER give a vaccine with thimerosal (mercury) in it

4. Ask to see and read the vial of the vaccine and the insert of any vaccine BEFORE it is administered.

5. Double check the expiration date of the vaccine.

6. Space out vaccines and break apart/space apart any double/triple all-in-one vaccines

7. Talk to a DAN! doctor before having a vaccine done to make sure your child is healthy enough and has done enough pre- and post-supplements regarding a vaccine.

I hope that this blog will make you stop, think and do your own research. I really don't feel that I should or can tell any other parent what is right for their child. I do believe though that I am supposed to put the questions out there and make you stop and think. Too often we are told by doctors or someone else what is best for our child. We believe that because they have a higher level of education and have passed rigorous tests that they know what is best. I think we transfer our children's advocacy to others all to often and all to easy. I have done it in the past and I have to constantly remind myself not to do it again.

Faith, Hope & Healing-

Melissa

Just What's In a Flu Shot???

I got the information below from Aleks' DAN doctor about just what is in a flu shot. Once again, I am not anti-vaccine but I do seriously question the need for all of this in our vaccines. I use to be the biggest flu shot proponent out there. I would have sworn by them, then my daughter developed autism. Seeing how I got the flu shot while I was pregnant and gave her a flu shot at just six months old, I am no longer a fan. Is it really to much to ask for healthy vaccines??

What's In a Flu Shot?

• Aluminum - A neurotoxin that has been linked to Alzheimer's disease
• Triton X-100 - a detergent
• Ethylene Glycol - Antifreeze
• Betapropiolactone- A Disinfectant
• Nonoxynol - Used to kill or stop growth of STDs
• Octoxinaol 9 - Vaginal Spermicidal
• Sodium Phosphate - A food additive, emulsifier, leavening agent & cleaning product
• Thimerosal - (also in the H1N1 vaccine) - Mercury

If you decide not to get the flu vaccine there are still ways to boost your immune system.

1. Multivitamin -(Neutraceutical grade) For vitamin & mineral support
2. Vitamin C - Potent antioxidant, antihistamine and antiviral in that it coats the outside of the virus so that it can't replicate
3. Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids - Powerful antioxidant, keeps the outside of the cell healthy so nutrients are better absorbed and waste products are more efficiently removed and supports the immune system
4. Vitamin D - Formed when skin is exposed to sunlight regulates the expression of more than 2,000 genes throughout the body, including ones that influence your immune system to attack and destroy bacteria and virus. Being overwhelmed by the 'flu bug' could signal that your vitamin D levels are too low, allowing the virus to overtake your immune system.

Hopefully this will give you something to think about. Vaccines are a personal choice and I understand that completely. I do believe that we all deserve to know what is in the flu vaccine. Our food has labels, why can't our vaccines?

A couple of things I have learned; don't vaccinate if your child (or you, if you're getting the vaccine) is sick at all, talk to a DAN doctor about what vitamins to increase prior to and post vaccine, talk to your doctor if you have an egg allergy (eggs are a part of the vaccine), ask to see the bottle and make sure it hasn't expired and always, always ask for a thimerosal free vaccine!

Best-

Melissa

Running for a Reason

Last Sunday my husband, Bill, took off on a 26.2 mile run for autism. For the second year in a row, he ran the Twin Cities marathon and dedicated it to our daughter, Aleks. The difference this year is that besides running for awareness he ran for all the other children with autism. He came up with the idea of emailing our friends and family and asking them to support him financially through TACA (Talk About Curing Autism). There is a chapter here in MN and their purpose isn't research, but supporting children and their families. For many children with autism their families can't afford a DAN doctor or therapies. TACA supports these children financially and gets them the help that can save their lives. That is why this year Bill ran for Aleks and the thousands of other children with autism.

With the support of friends and family, we raised $2,600 for TACA of MN. Thank you to everyone who supported us financially and with their prayers. Bill made his all time personal best marathon time and did it for an amazing organization. Bill's idea made me realize what a difference we can each make when we set our minds to it. Every person and family who donated made that difference happen for our kids. They are 'our' kids too. They are our sons and daughters, family members, relatives, neighbors and children's classmates. Some day they will be our teachers, doctors, mothers, friends and leaders. What we are investing in these children now will change the world.

Blessings-

Melissa

Swine Flu Vaccine - Dangerous & Untested?

The swine flu, H1N1, is scary for a lot of parents. I've talked to many parents who are concerned about their child catching H1N1 but they're equally concerned about the vaccine. As the parent of a child on the spectrum what do you do? I have my personal views on vaccines. I know that my daughter suffered a vaccine injury around 12 months and that it will be a cold day in H--- before I give her another vaccine. What bothers me is the way fear is being marketed around the H1N1 and the way the vaccine is being pushed on parents and their children. Let me be clear, I am not anti-vaccine. I believe there is a place and time for 'healthy' vaccines and I believe in a safe vaccine schedule. I believe that all children are NOT created equal for vaccines. I believe that there needs to be a test to see if a child is well enough to handle vaccines. I also believe that common sense dictates that a child with an autoimmune disease, like Celiac Disease, has a lowered immune system and can not handle the toxin load that is in our current vaccines. That being said, I am very upset at the push for the current H1N1 vaccine.

Did you know that the H1N1 vaccine makers are immune from any lawsuits from people claiming injuries from these vaccines? The Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sibelius has not only given immunity to the vaccine makers for any injuries that may be sustained from the vaccines, but has also given the makers of Tamiflu & Relenza immunity for injuries stemming from their use against the swine flu. If you get sick from the swine flu vaccine or from Tamiflu or Relenza in dealing with the swine flu, you will have no recourse. If the vaccine were 100% safe why would immunity be already granted?? This just doesn't make sense to me, so I started doing some research. What I found is that the 'fear' of the swine flu is propelling manufacturers to rush out vaccines that are loaded with toxins (including ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, phenol (carbolic acid) and even antibiotics like Neomycin and streptomycin.) Remember these vaccines and toxins go directly into your bloodstream. Click here to read more on the vaccines and risks.

The decision to vaccinate your child is a personal one. I can not and have never claimed I know what is right for every child. What I have learned is that we have every right and we must constantly be on guard against what we are told is the best and the right thing for our children. I don't believe that anyone purposely sets out to harm our children by advising these vaccines. Unfortunately our children are treated like cookie cutter children, where one size fits all. As parents of children with ASD we have the duty and obligation to let our doctors and lawmakers know that this is not the case. We also deserve healthy vaccines that are properly tested. Not vaccines filled with toxins that are rushed out the door to combat a so-called fear that hasn't materialized as of yet. Take the time, ask questions and make an informed decision about the H1N1 vaccine.

xo

Melissa

Please Get Involved!

I just got an email from Lisa Ackerman, the head of Talk About Curing Autism. Here is the current statistic, autism now effects 1 in 100 children. No longer is it 1 in 150 but now 1 in 100! Are we really to believe that we are having such a genetic explosion that we've gone from 1 in 10,ooo just a few years ago to 1 in 100? Should we really believe that environmental factors like vaccines aren't playing a role? Do you realize that in the current Obama Health Care Bill autistic children and their treatments are not covered? How do our lawmakers look around and say we want to help everyone and yet ignore 1 in 100 children? How do our current lawmakers and some medical insurance companies say we will cover a MRI and the drugs to sedate your child for the MRI but we won't cover ABA therapies or any biomedical therapies that have proven track records of helping our children on the spectrum. How much longer can we, the families of these children, go on being ignored by many in the medical community and the lawmakers representing us? How many children being diagnosed with autism will it take to get noticed and get the respect and answers that we need. When are we as parents, families and friends of children with autism going to be heard.

I don't know about you, but I am tired of the excuses. Tired of the research done by the CDC that says there is no link between autism and vaccines and yet they own patents on many of the vaccines they say are safe! Umm...conflict of interest?! Doctors like Dr. Paul Offit, the chief of infectious diseases at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, also the author of 'Autism's False Prophets' and the co-inventor of a vaccine against the rotavirus. Interesting that a doctor who invented a vaccine finds there is no connection between vaccines and autism. All the autism community has asked for is honest research and an open and honest dialogue. Difficult to get when money is wound so tightly in the mix. Am I upset? You bet I am! I am furious and I hope you are too. I would ask you to write your legislatures, state and national, petition your insurance company to pay for the treatments that are working for your child and take part in and register for your own personal advocacy account with The National Autism Association. It's simple, click HERE to register. Also, please read this sample of a letter going out to the CDC. I think it is a powerful message to all who read it.

Faith, Hope & Healing-

Melissa

Gluten Free...Me?

Picture is me (post gluten free) with my Dad in Colorado

What truly amazes me in this autism journey is how much I am constantly learning about myself. A little over a year ago we switched Aleks to her special diet which included taking all gluten out of her diet. Over the past year I've stumbled onto articles about gluten allergies/sensitivities and celiac disease being hereditary. It got me thinking, "Could I have some of the same food sensitivities that Aleks does?" Once again it was an interview with Jenny McCarthy that changed me and sent me to the doctor. For years I have suffered 'stomach problems.' I won't go into many details, but let's say I was constantly bloated, running to the bathroom and ate Tums like they were my favorite candy. Most nights I would lay in bed complaining, holding my stomach and saying something just isn't right. Then I'd have a meal and for some reason all would be fine and I convinced myself that I was fine. For some reason this year my stomach took a turn for the worse. I actually think it was getting worse last year, but honestly I had no time to deal with me since we had just found out about Aleks.

Fast forward to two months ago and I'm driving home from the station. I am exhausted, bloated and generally not feeling well. I remember going around the lake near our home wondering if I should pull over and sleep because I didn't know if I'd make it. I told Bill and he said I had to see the doctor. Instead of calling my OB/GYN I decided to call Aleks' doctor, Dr. Spore. I had been in to take Aleks a few weeks before and commented to her that I wasn't feeling well. She looked at me and said you don't look well. So that day, after almost falling asleep driving home, I made the appointment. On top of being exhausted with stomach issues I was also depressed and not dealing with coming off of Zoloft well at all. (Side note: I went on Zoloft a few weeks after finding out something was wrong with Aleks because I simply couldn't function. It was wonderful, did the job it was supposed to but for me the side effects were causing a few other problems. ) Dr. Spore ran the full food sensitivities/allergy testing done, a depression panel, urine, spit, etc. I won't share all the other stuff, but what I did find out from the food testing shocked me. My IgG test showed that I had gluten intolerance and egg intolerance higher than my daughter's! The cure, take out ALL gluten.

Let me say this, it is one thing to remove gluten from a 3/4 year old's diet. It is completely different when you're a 38 year old Midwestern girl who has grown up on homemade breads, cookies, buns and all things gluten rich, including BEER! It wasn't easy, but I kept looking to my daughter and realizing that if she could do this I could do this. Thanks to my husband, I even found gluten-free beer that I like. It's now been about 6 weeks on my gluten free diet and I feel like a different person. I'm not exhausted and I'm not holding my stomach in pain or running to the bathroom. In fact I'm now so accutely aware of gluten in foods that if I have it I now experience what Aleks does and the 'spacey' feeling she gets in her head. It usually takes just a bite and I'll look at Bill and say this has gluten in it. Going gluten free has been amazing in my life. If any of this rings a bell with you, get tested. I know it's a huge life changing event, but to feel well and be a healthy mom is the best thing I could do for my daughter.

xo

Melissa

One Year and a Million Memories & Lessons

It is incredible to believe that we are now a year into learning that Aleks has autism and a year on the GFCF+ diet. I think back to a year ago and it seems hard to imagine my life without autism. I remember a woman telling me that I'd just joined a group that I never asked to join and one that I never would want to, but a wonderful group all the same. How very true that statement is today.

Here are a few things I have learned this past year.

1. No matter what our struggles are as parents, what our children go through is always harder. The difference is that they just don't know a life without autism.

2. You will feel like you are broke $$ from autism more than a few times, yet God finds a way to provide what you need.

3. You will find an inner strength that you never knew you possessed.

4. You will become your child's biggest advocate and that role will be challenged on a regular basis.

5. You will learn to celebrate the small victories because you know that they really aren't small at all.

6. Your marriage will feel the strains of having a child with a disability but you will also see unexpected growth.

7. You will feel an instant connection to other parents of children with autism.

8. You will be able to name your child's food allergies and identify them in any food/any ingredient within seconds.

9. You will be able to identify autism in other children within a few seconds.

10. You will realize just how hard special education teachers and therapists work and what special people they are. They will also become part of your family.


My thanks for all of the support we have received this past year. I wouldn't trade going back a year for anything and I am just so thankful to be where we are today. It has been one of the hardest years of my life, yet one of the most fulfilling. Thank you and God bless.

Melissa

My little mermaid...

This past weekend I had the privilege of watching Aleks pretend to be a mermaid swimming in the lake...

Right before Memorial Day, Bill and I made the decision to buy a travel trailer.  We're not campers, but we do love to get away with just our little family.  Before Aleks 'got sick' we use to travel more often.  Since moving to MN and Aleks being diagnosed with autism we haven't gotten away like we would like to.   For our Disney trip in March I had to ship a box of her food and pack several pounds of her organic/nitrate free frozen meat in my suitcase.  Then we had to get a hotel suite with a kitchen so that we could cook.  Needless to say it is a lot of extra work and a lot of extra money.  Hence, the travel trailer with 2 bedrooms, a bathroom and a great kitchen.  This combined with her love of the outdoors has made camping a great decision for our family.  

Now onto my little mermaid.  Friday evening was absolutely beautiful here in MN.  We were camping for just one night at a campground on a lake with a swim beach and a huge playground. Soon after we got there, we got Aleks in her bathing suit and headed on over to the beach.  As soon as she saw the water and beach she was happy and running towards it.  The beach was packed with other kids and families.  The great thing is that now Aleks will run right up to any child and say 'hi' and introduce herself.   One of the best memories is a very simple one.  Aleks made a new friend at the beach.  They played in the sand together and swam in the shallow water together.  Bill and I sat holding hands in awe watching her sit in the lake, side by side with this little girl named Brianna.  The two of them were in just a few inches of water, the sun was on their backs and they were just talking and laughing together.  Then they took off in a crab like crawl in the water.  I yelled for Aleks to be careful and not go too deep.  To which she turned around and yelled, "It's okay Mommy, we're just pretending to be mermaids."  I tear up as I write this for so many reasons, but the big ones are for new friends and pretend play.  A concept so many autistic children struggle with and one she had no skills with just a year ago. Not the case today, today she is my little mermaid who makes new little mermaid friends.  

xo

Melissa

MN DAN! Doctor & Seminar in June

I am asked constantly about Aleks, her health and what we think of her DAN! (Defeat Autism Now) doctor. I have said it before and I'll continue to say that Dr. Spore is an amazing part of the healing puzzle for Aleks. We found her before Jenny McCarthy listed her in her last couple of books and I am just so thankful to her for all that she has done.

If you are interested in hearing more about the biomedical therapies she offers and hearing her talk about the diet, HBOT and all that she offers you should plan on attending an upcoming seminar. The seminar is Saturday, June 13th from 9am-noon, it's only $25 dollars and it's in Woodbury, MN. Plus, it's open to anyone. Dr. Spore is doing it in partnership with Great Plains Labs , which is where all of Aleks' bloodwork & mine, have been done. You should also know that she is donating her time for this. That's just another reason I really like her!

Click here to learn more and sign up.

xo

Melissa

Amazing Race & Amazing Healing!

On May 2nd  our family had the opportunity to be a part of the local TACA (Talk About Curing Autism) first ever Twin Cities 5K Run/Walk.  I was asked to come out and emcee the opening ceremonies and do a couple of quick interviews.  Bill was running the 5K and Aleks was just being a four year old little girl.  The really cool thing is that she really was just being a four year old little girl.   This picture is what happened when I set the mic down and Aleks came up behind me and just picked it up and started singing.

What you don't see or hear in this picture is the progress Aleks has made in the last year.  A year ago we still didn't have our autism diagnosis.  A year ago Aleks couldn't be in front of a large crowd.  She couldn't have people singing 'Happy Birthday' to her, let alone a large crowd watching her sing and applauding her.  A year ago there were no songs, no long sentences and no way she could have memorized two songs and sang both in their entirety.  Her singing these songs was a miracle for us to watch.  I'm sharing it because I also want to share hope.  The diagnosis of autism is not the end.  Healing and recovery look different in every child, but this is just a glimpse of what it has looked like in our family.

Blessings!

xo

Melissa

Kindergarten Shots

Having seen all the talk about the flu vaccine, the swine flu scare and such I feel the need to share a true story with you. I heard this story firsthand from the little boy's mother while at the grocery story last Fall.  I think it is an important story to share if for no other reason than to make you think.  For me, her story has made me think about every vaccine that every person considers getting.

Last Fall I was shopping at our local natural/organic grocery story when I met this amazing mom.  I was in the baking aisle doing the usual of picking up boxes and reading labels to see what I could take home for Aleks.  I noticed a mother with a little boy around 8 doing the same thing yet seeming really frustrated and lost.  I asked her if I could help.  She told me that she was just started the GFCF diet for her son and was overwhelmed.  We started talking about the diet and I shared with her our success with it.  She then asked about Aleks, her autism and doctor.  I told her all about Dr. Spore and how much we loved her and believed in the biomedical therapies. I gave her one of our doctor's business cards and told her to think about calling.   She then got teary eyed and told me what a rough few years it had been.  What she told me next shocked me and I will never forget what she shared.  

The mother told me that the little boy I saw with autism wasn't always autistic.  In fact he was a typical child until one trip to the doctor right before kindergarten.  She said she took him in for his Kindergarten shots and by the next morning he was gone.  He had gotten all his shots for Kindergarten and in the process she lost her little boy.  The happy go lucky, 'typical' little boy disappeared within 24 hours of receiving his vaccines.  The mother desperately called their pediatrician to tell them something was wrong.  They kept telling her that nothing was wrong and he was fine and just tired from the vaccines.  She kept calling, for weeks.  Same answer or lack of answers.  No doctor would every tell her that her son had a vaccine injury.  It was unheard of, a little boy becoming autistic at five.  The mother told me that their doctor tried to convince them that he had been autistic before the shots and she just didn't realize it.  As she told me, she was the mother of four and she would have KNOWN if he would have been autistic.  I believe her.

The woman had no idea that I hosted a radio show for a living.  She didn't know anything except for the fact that I was the mom of a little girl with autism who believes that there is hope.  I don't know what has happened since last Fall.  I do know that my doctor's assistant told me they got a phone call that afternoon from a mom who met a 'Melissa' in the grocery store and wanted to make an appointment.  The woman was sitting in the grocery store parking lot when she called them.  I love how God puts people in our paths for a reason.  

Blessings-

Melissa

The Birthday Party

                         It feels like this past month has been a whirlwind of activity.  We got back from 'Spring Break' and dove into the usual school, therapy and Aleks 4th birthday!  I kept going back and forth between a party with a lot of her school friends and something smaller.  For an autistic child, birthdays can be very upsetting.  For example; for Aleks' first two birthdays we had big pool (lived in Florida )parties with lots of friends.  She loved the parties and loved the attention.  Then a year ago it was all different.  She wasn't making eye contact and ran screaming when we started to sing 'Happy Birthday'.  A year ago she was hiding in a corner, screaming and holding her ears.  I was in shock and totally confused.  At this point we had no idea that it was autism and this can be typical behavior.  Now fast forward a year and you can understand my birthday party dilemma.

I knew that she was doing exceptionally well in school and with her therapies.  She had gone from one or two word answers to sentences and having conversations.  She loved her friends at school and really wanted a party.  Yet, could she handle it or would it be too much?  It is amazing how God works everything out.  Planning our Disney vacation was extensive and I just never got her school friends party done.  Her birthday was only a week after we got back from Disney.  A few days after we got back I started thinking about what she really wanted and I knew what to do.  We have some neighbors/friends that we are close to.  Aleks calls their 3 kids her 'brothers and sister.'  When I thought of a party it just seemed perfect to have her 'MN family' for a family party.  That is what we did and it was PERFECT.  The amazing miracle is that she sat at the table, took in all the attention and loved having everyone sing Happy Birthday to her.  I made a GFCFSFRFEFYF chocolate cake with fudge icing and it was also a huge hit.  What an amazing day of miracles for us and for her.  

Thank you Jesus.

xo

Melissa

Visiting Disney World With Autism

Going to Disney World with Aleks was amazing!  It was her first real trip to Disney and Disney made it a pleasure.  I had heard that Disney really takes extra care to help children and families with autism and they really do!  This was our first family vacation since Aleks was diagnosed with autism and started her biomedical therapies and special diet.  I have to say that I was nervous about how she would do with all the stimulation and just changes to her schedule.  I was also  nervous about what she would be able to eat and if the 'special pass' from Disney would really work.  

We stayed in a one bedroom suite at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.  We originally had a studio suite (Queen bed with a small refrigerator and microwave and a pull-out couch) booked, but after getting there we soon realized that without having a separate bedroom she would freak out and it wouldn't work.  She also was none to willing to sleep on a pull out couch.  For those of you without an autism link, this is due to it being different which equals scary to a child with ASD. This is not about her being a diva!  Despite the extra money, we knew that if we didn't fix the room issue it would add to her stress and ours.  It turned out to be the best decision we could have made.  The room looked out at the animals and was very quiet.  That was a real blessing.  The other blessing was that having the animals around calmed her.  Also the room had a full kitchen which allowed us to make her breakfast every morning.  If you didn't hear it on my show, I took 2 pounds of frozen bacon, 1 pound of frozen sausage, a bag of frozen pancakes and a bag of frozen muffins in my suitcase.  This plus we shipped crackers, almond butter and strawberry jam to FL before we arrived!  

We were at WDW for 3 nights, and went to the parks for two days.  We spent the first day that we flew in at the AK Lodge pool and just hanging out at Animal Kingdom Lodge.  We then took her to the Magic Kingdom for part of day 1, then the afternoon at the pool then went over to the Animal Kingdom and did one of their last safari rides.  It was a perfect first day and not to overwhelming.  For the second day we went to the MGM Studios.  It was wonderful!  We saw The Little Mermaid Show (heads up it's dark and Ursula is a little scary) and saw the live Playhouse Disney show.  If your child watches Disney in the morning they will LOVE this!!  The shows were great and she was just a regular kid seeing all her favorite characters.  We also let her get some energy out at the 'Honey I Shrunk the Kids' play area.  Great place to let them unwind.  We ended the day at the hotel pool and just had a fabulous time.  

Couple of things you may not know about Disney and how they really help families with autism.  First, tell them that you need a quiet room and why.  They will be more than willing to help.  Second, make sure you get a 'Guest Assistance Card'.  At the Magic Kingdom you go into City Hall (don't go to Guest Services outside the entrance of the park, instead go inside and go directly to City Hall) and tell them you have an autistic child and need to get a GAC.  Make sure you have a letter from you doctor stating that your child has autism and could benefit from the card.  The GAC allows you to bypass the long lines and really helped our daughter enjoy the trip. When you get to a ride, find the Disney cast member at the beginning of the lines and they'll tell you where to go.    Next, if you're on a special diet Disney will help.  All the restaurants (quick service and sit down) will accommodate you, just talk to the manager.  At the Magic Kingdom we were able to get Aleks 'allergy fries' which  were GFCF baked and not mixed with other food.  At the AK we were able to get her a 100% ground beef hamburger and GFCF fries that were fried in a separate oil.  The food service managers were wonderful!!  

A big thank you to everyone at Disney for making an autistic little girl's Disney dreams come true.  Thank you to Robert at the Animal Kingdom for helping us with our room.  Thank you to Carol at the AK Mara Restaurant for being so kind, caring and accommodating.  Thank you to all the Magic Kingdom cast members for their help and caring.  Thank you too to Ron, our bus driver at the hotel who made sure Aleks was safe and having a good time.  Also, our friends Rob and Jim who made the trip extra special.  It may not seem like a lot to you all, but to us you made Disney possible for a little girl with a very big dream.

Blessings & Pixie Dust-

Melissa

P.S.  Earplugs were a life saver and provided a little quieter and calmer experience for Aleks.  Get the waterproof ones, put them in the morning and then you can leave them in all day even during swimming!

Potty Training at Last!! Hurray!!

For any parent potty training is a challenge.  For us, parents of ASD children, potty training can be downright difficult, hair pulling and just plain awful at times.  Before we knew that Aleks was on the spectrum, we thought she would be potty trained sometime after her second birthday.  Then came her third birthday and we thought for sure that this is it!  Then came the autism diagnosis and we just prayed that potty training would eventually happen.  We thought last August that we might be close.  She went on the toilet, told us she had to go, had a great day wearing panties then kaput she was done with it.  Seriously, done!  She wanted nothing to do with going the bathroom and would actually freak out if we suggested it.  

This past fall had its ups and downs with potty training.  Some days she would go for her teachers at school.  Other days she would have a wet Pull Up.  We were sending her to school with panties and a Pull Up over them.  It was suggested that this would help her to recognize when she was wet and would help avoid accidents by having the Pull-Up as a backup.  The good news is that she would be so excited when she went at school and got a sticker for going.  We were also doing the stickers, reading the 'potty' book and rewarding her with a sticker on her potty progress chart here at home.  We also tried pictures to explain the process and were setting the timer as a reminder.  It was a sloooow process.  

Finally, last Sunday I had an epiphany.  All of her teachers and therapists were telling us how smart she is.  They were telling me that she understands and is capable of so much more than even we all know.  So I decided that if this is true and I believe it is, then wearing a Pull Up was just giving her the excuse to go in her panties/Pull Up combo.  So on Sunday, I told her no more Pull Ups and that she was going to wear panties today and go on the toilet.  She still wasn't telling me when she had to go so I would set a small timer, put it on the coffee table and when it went off we would head to the bathroom.  What I found out is that she can hold it a long time and is capable of being potty trained.  In fact it's been a week now and we've had just a couple of accidents.  She still isn't telling us when she has to go, but she also is willing to go on the toilet when she has to and understands the premise.  She's going to school dry, coming home dry and using the toilet at school as well.  Even today she went after her gym class at the gym!  

Potty training is not something I ever thought I would openly talk about like this.  It's also not something that I would have thought would be such a celebration and prayer laden activity.  For some children it's just a right of passage, but for our daughter with autism it is another miracle and huge developmental accomplishment.  It is huge in our world and in hers.  I didn't know if we would be here by her 4th birthday (March 27th) but I thank God that we are.  It just shows me that she is capable of so much and has come so far.

Blessings-

Melissa

To ABA or HBOT or Not?

Are we missing it by not having Aleks in ABA therapy?  Should we also be trying HBOT?  

It has been several months since we found out that Aleks has autism.  We jumped into the diet and supplements and are thrilled with the results!  We also dove into working with our DAN! doctor, ST and OT plus have Aleks in a special preschool with an amazing team of teachers. What I am wondering now, is are we doing enough?  Aleks will be 4 in a month and we are questioning ABA and HBOT because it keeps coming up.  I believe in God's bread crumbs and am just wondering if these are part of our crumbs to follow and what we should be doing about it.  

I talked to one former ABA teacher who said that it's not for everyone and who was not a fan of the 40 hours a week.  Honestly, I am not willing to cancel Aleks' school, OT & ST to get her into the 40 hours of ABA that some say are recommended.  I am willing to do half of that in addition to everything else, but my gut says for her the 40 hours isn't right.  I've been surprised at the few outspoken parents who tell me that it's not worth it if I don't do the 40 hours and that I am cheating her by not doing ABA.   We honestly couldn't have handled it before now.  Even now and with TEFRA here in MN the cost for us will be outrageous.  We are willing to do all we can for her, but is ABA the right fit?  How do we know if it's right for her?  Also, we have the opportunity to try HBOT.  Our DAN! doctor in Stillwater is one of the few around here who offers the oxygen chamber.  We are still researching HBOT at this time to try and figure it out as well.

In the short time that we've been in this journey I feel like we've come a long way.  The problem is that it is a journey and we have to much further to go.  If you have any suggestions, thoughts or just insight please post a comment and let me know.  Thank you!

Blessings-

xo

Melissa

Follow the Bread Crumbs

I just finished working my radio station's annual radiothon to benefit children here in the Twin Cities.  We raise money for two very special organizations that help children with cancer and disabilities.  As I was interviewing different parents I was reminded of one very special mother that I had met last year.  Her name is Theresa Lao.  She had two little boys with a condition that caused their skin to shed off of their bodies.  When I met her there was no cure for this condition known as EB.  Yet, she continued fighting and petitioning for her sons and finally found Dr. Waggoner at the U of M Fairview Children's Hospital who was willing to try to find a cure.  She moved her two sons out to MN from NJ and lived in a hotel so that they could be part of a medical trial that just might work.

One of my questions to her was this, "How did you know the next 'right' thing to do for your children...How did you know what your next step would be?"  Her answer was simple, "God always gives me the bread crumbs and I just have to follow them."  She was referring to the Hansel and Gretel story and it made a visual impression on me that stuck.  I met her in the Fall of '07 not knowing how my life would change that following Spring.  That Spring I would find out that my daughter had autism.  I have so often thought of Theresa and I have taken the 'breadcrumbs' piece of advice to heart.  Whenever I wonder if I am doing all that I can for Aleks and question what I should be doing next, I think of the breadcrumbs.  I have found that God truly does give us breadcrumbs of knowledge.  He'll use someone else to mention something that is working for them, I'll then get an email about it or have a second person mention it and then it hits me that this is a breadcrumb moment.  I have found that He'll keep giving me the breadcrumbs, but that it is my job to follow up on them.  It is also my job as the mom of a child with ASD to be aware and open to wherever God is leading us.  

My advice to parents struggling with the question of 'What next?' is this, look for the breadcrumbs.  Just be prepared that they may not be where you thought they would be and they may not be what you expected at all.  You may also be surprised at who God uses to show you a breadcrumb.

Blessings-

Melissa

The Debate on BIomedical Including the GFCF Diet

There seems to be an ongoing debate between parents of autistic children, doctors and even friends about the GFCF diet and other biomedical treatments.  I have met mothers and fathers who are open to trying anything,  parents who are scared and overwhelmed about making any kind of a change and other parents whose doctors have told them that it won't work.  To those doctors, I say shame on you.  Shame on you for destroying the chance that a child with autism could get better and shame on you for destroying the hope of a parent.   I know my own personal convictions on biomedical.  I've been to these 'doctors' and heard their lack of belief.  These are also the same doctors who told me that nothing was wrong with my daughter and that vaccines are not harmful.  Here is my response,  "There is hope and healing!".  For us, the diet, supplementation, therapies and schooling have been her miracle treatment.  In Dr. Bock's book he talks about developing a healing program.  This is ours and thanks to it we have a totally different daughter then we did a year ago.

The problem is not in whether the diet works, but in the support we give one another.  Not just between parents of autistic children who do and don't practice the diet but also between spouses.  One of the things I am so grateful for is that my husband had his doubts, but was willing to try.  Before we had read all the books and were convinced in the science behind biomedical, we knew we had to try.  The question became, what is the worst that could happen?  She'd try different foods, get good quality supplements and we'd be out a little money.  In the long run it seemed like a small price to pay for a ray of hope and the chance at recovery.  Today I am so grateful that we tried.  

I have to point out that the diet, supplementation and therapies aren't the answer for everyone. For some children it won't have the same results that we have had.  For some the healing will be more moderate, but for some it will be truly a miracle.  The best part is that it won't hurt your child.  Your child won't get sick from taking out the gluten or dairy.  They won' t get worse.  The great news, they just might get better.  Isn't that worth the chance?

Supplements - Part of the Healing Equation

I am often asked about what supplements Aleks is taking and where I came up with the list. Before I put the list of her supplements up, let me first state again that I am NOT a doctor. I am working with Dr. S (DAN! Doctor) , have done my own research and have also had blood/stool/urine and hair analysis done. This is the list that works best for Aleks, but it is not a one size fits all supplement list. I strongly recommend Dr. Jaquelyn McCandless book, Children With Starving Brains. It explains the supplementation and how it helps to heal the body. I used the results of Aleks' tests, Dr. S and p. 116-117 to come up with her supplementation program. Dr. S has been key in helping with the dosages, supplements and the why.

Please note that all supplements are mixed in either organic apple juice or Dari-Free. I also started using an additional flavoring with the apple juice to hide the supplements flavors. I use either Kirkman Labs Strawberry Flavoring or Stevia Valenia Orange Flavoring (Fresh & Natural Grocery Store).
**Probiotics & Digestive Enzymes should NOT be taken at the same time.

Super Nu Thera - Hypoallerenic Capsules -- 1 capsule 2 x day in juice

Nordic Naturals Children's DHA strawberry flavor - 1/2 t. 2 x day (Whole Foods or Fresh & Natural)

L-Carnitine - 1000 mg day -1/2 t. 1x day (Dr. S office in Stillwater, MN)

Unbuffered Vitamin C - Unflavored - Hypoallergenic - 1/4 t.(1100mg) 2 x day (Kirkman Labs)

Zinc- Hypo-allergenic - 60mg - 20/40 breakdown in AM & PM juice (Kirkman Labs)

Calcium - Hypoallergenic - 1000mg - 1/4 t. -Mix with lunch Dari-Free & Probiotic (Kirkman Labs)
*Vitamin D - 175mg - 1x day as part of the Calcium powder

CoQ10 - Hypoallergenic - 50 mg. day - 1 -25mg capsule - 2x day (Kirkman Labs)

Probiotics - 1 capsule - 2x day in DariFree - Metagenics - Ultra Flora Plus DF Capsules - (Dr. S office)

Faith, Hope & Healing-

Melissa