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