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