Kindergarten is Right Around the Corner...Chhaannges

Happy June 1st!

How in the world is another school year almost over and summer here again? It is hard for me to believe and harder for me to write that Aleks will be in Kindergarten this fall. We had the privilege of meeting with her teachers and the staff at her Kindergarten last week to get an update on her progress and to also see what next year would look like for her. Both my husband, Bill and I got choked up listening to how much progress she has made in the past year of school. She went from starting the year with some screaming and hiding to ending it being one of the top students for phonetics. The other amazing news is that her speech therapist, Susan, is recommending that we go down to ST one day a week from two. This is huge news for Aleks and credit to all of the hard work she and Susan have been doing. To give you a brief overview, Susan, our ST, has been with Aleks from the beginning. Even before she had the official autism diagnosis, Susan was there. In our first meeting with Susan, which was two years ago, Aleks screamed, hit and hid in the corner of the room. She would hardly make eye contact and just ran around or hid almost the entire intake time. Now fast forward two years and Aleks is a totally different child. She greets Susan, goes back for therapy with her and is willing to do her work. What an amazing difference! Thank you Susan!

This past weekend we spent it in Colorado for my dad's birthday. Another change in Aleks is how well she did in a room of 75 people at a rather loud party. Not only did she talk to people she didn't know, but she danced and just had fun. She didn't yell or hide and was just happy to be there. One of the lessons she has taught us is to listen to her and when she says something to believe it. So, when she looked at us at the party and said, "I need to go, I'm getting tired.", we left the party. On Sunday, before the party began, she told me that she needed me to just hold her and sit in the bathtub. I did and the funk she was starting to get into went away. I don't know if all autistic children are in touch this much with their bodies and emotional needs, but I constantly learn a lot from Aleks. She asks for what she needs and makes no apologies. When she can't do something she'll tell you. When someone is upsetting her or making her feel awkward she tells them. What an amazing concept if we could all live our lives that honestly and openly. As a parent I find that my role in this is telling people to please listen to her and if she is asking you to stop staring at her or making her feel uncomfortable to please stop! A therapist of Aleks' said this, when you keep doing something to an autistic child that they've asked you to stop, it's child abuse. Makes it pretty cut and dry doesn't it?

Thank you to everyone for the prayers and continued interest in Aleks' story. It's far from over but I love that not only do I see change, but also growth and the potential for more.

xo

Melissa

Our Autism Story Hits TC Television

I feel totally blessed to have been able to go on 'Twin Cities Live' here in Minneapolis and share our story with autism. Despite being nervous about being on television, the story just told itself. If you didn't get a chance to see it, hopefully you can CLICK HERE and watch it.

Thank you to everyone for all of the kind emails here and at work that I've received about the story. As many of you who share my beliefs know, it's not always easy. I don't think I ever really appreciated the doors that Jenny McCarthy and so many others opened by sharing their views on autism, vaccines, environmental factors and how treatments can help a child with autism. I know that although I get a lot of support, I also get a lot of resentment and just plain hate from many doctors, hospitals and families. I've been accused of being "anti-vaccine" and been told that I'm propagating lies. To this I reply, you are wrong on both fronts. Read my previous blog entries and read it carefully.

ALSO, Please join me for the second annual Autism 5K at Lake Calhoun, MN on May 15th. Click here for more information!

Much love-

xo

Melissa

World Autism Awareness Day-Two Years in Review

Friday, April 2nd is International Autism Awareness Day - Wear Blue in Support!

As a mom of an autistic five year old little girl, I am constantly amazed at a few things. First, that it has now been two years since we first heard the word autism linked to our daughter. Two years and with God's blessings numerous wonderful doctors and therapists later. I refer to this as blessings because without her Speech Therapist, Susan, Occupational Therapist, Kathy, her Physical Therapist, Patty, her DAN! Doctor, Dr. Spore or her wonderful preschool teacher, Marcia, I don't know where we would be today. Her 'team' is patient, kind, tough when they need to be and always wanting and expecting the best of her. I know how fortunate we are to have every single one of them in our and Aleks' life. When I look back two years ago, I see a little girl who was testing at around 18 months in various areas, mostly non-verbal and was lost in her own world. Aleks didn't understand much of what we said and we just thought it was a speech delay. Now fast forward two years later and her Speech Therapist just got done administering a test where she tested close to her actual age! I say this with so much respect for her and how hard she works every single day, in every thing that she does.

The second thing that I am really left with after two years is this; My daughter has autism and works harder every single day than most of us will ever have to work in our lives. She doesn't know that she has to work hard, for her it is just what she has to do. She works to find the right words to express her thoughts or finish a sentence. She works to control her body when it just wants to move and the world says you have to sit still. She works hard when she runs down our hill to get her ball and has to work extra hard to keep her feet from getting out from under her and falling down. She works hard when she puts on her coat and has to turn her body to put her arm in her coat and use her fingers to find the zipper and zip it up. She works hard at having the strength to put on her shoes and pull the Velcro straps herself. She works hard holding a fork and balancing her food on it. She works hard up until the moment she goes to bed. Then finally at the end of a day of working hard, she rests. I may never know just how hard she works, but I know how far she has come and the work it must have taken to get there.

Thank you Aleks for constantly teaching me to be a better person. Thank you for helping to grow the seeds of compassion and love that you planted when God gave you to me.

Love -

M-

Who Do I Explain Autism To & When?

I don't know if other parents of children with autism struggle with my current struggle or not. With an autism diagnosis two years in our rearview mirror I am wondering now how often and who do I explain Aleks' condition to. Am I obligated to tell every person who has to spend time with her in a caregiving role? If so, do I tell them about autism or do I explain it in an easier way such as a learning disability or that she struggles with social interaction? I started really wondering this when Aleks started going to swim lessons. From the outside looking in, I would have thought that she was being difficult at times and just wouldn't listen. I finally told the instructor at week 4 that she struggles with some learning and social issues. I don't think that the instructor got what I was trying to say, which lead me to my current question. Who, when and how much do I explain about my child's autism?

I struggle too with wanting others to be more tolerant and understanding, but I'm also afraid of her being locked into a stereotype. What is the right choice? To let others think what they want of her or to explain it in hopes that she'll receive more compassion and understanding. What I'm not wanting to do is make excuses for her when she acts up like a typical child. The problem is that even I don't always know what is autistic behavior and what is 4-5 year old. Sometimes I think it's a little of both and then what do I say?

As Kindergarten is fast approaching I find that the challenges are different and ever evolving. I so want to do what is right and honorable for her. I want to empower her for who she is and all that she is. She is a loving, beautiful and smart little girl who has autism. She didn't ask for it and doesn't ask for any extra understanding. What she does deserve and need is kindness, respect and understanding. I am not always sure how to get this for her, but I know that for now it is my job to fight for her in all that I can.

Blessings-

Melissa

Ugh...Rice Strikes Again & Why Fish Oil Rocks

I would love to talk about Dr. Wakefield's autism study but I'm going to leave that to Jenny McCarthy & Generation Rescue. What a great response...thanks Jenny! Please read for yourself here if you don't know what I'm talking about.

Rice strikes again! Several months ago we started putting rice slowly back into Aleks' diet. It seemed to be going so well. I was able to buy some products at the store and she seemed to be tolerating the rice products well. I started using organic rice flours in some of my baking as well as her non-rice/her typical foods, but rice was now back in. Somehow during our riceapalooza she started changing. I'm not sure when it happened but she started rejecting her apple juice with the Nordic Naturals Fish Oil & Super Nu Thera in it. So, we cut out the fish oil and Super Nu Thera thinking we'd figure out how to work it back in. Problem is just like everything it became habit and we didn't get it back in. Now fast forward several months and she has no fish oil on a daily basis, occasional Super Nu Thera and her rice intake had increase dramatically.

At this point, I have to say thank God for wonderful therapists and teachers who point out when things aren't going well. We thought all the irritability and non-compliance was due to a high fever and sickness she had last Fall. Yes, some of it was but at this point I don't believe it was all from the illness. Fast forward to January and we are hearing from her therapists and from her teacher at school that she is extra sensitive, irritable and won't follow directions easily. What is going on with our child?? You see, we didn't put the above together with her behavior at all. I sent her doctor a note and she asked about the fish oil? Oh! That's when I started thinking about all of her supplements and diet again. I reevaluated it just like I had done a year and a half ago. I knew I was going to take the rice out again, but how did I get her to drink the juice with Super Nu Thera and the teaspoon of fish out that she needed? I felt overwhelmed and scared. If this behavior kept going on her opportunities for Kindergarten would also be effected. She just wasn't fitting in. I took to praying and researching and woke up one morning and told Bill (husband) that the Super Nu Thera and a 1/4 t. fish oil had to be in her first morning apple juice. I felt confident that if it was first and extra cold that she would drink it. First time she started to stay something, but was so thirsty she did drink it. Success!! After that we made the commitment that every juice would have 1/4 t. fish oil in it no matter what.

It has now been 3 weeks since we took out the rice and put the fish oil back in. The changes are amazing. She is calmer, her therapists say she has never been better and she isn't crying as often. In fact she can bump her leg and just say ouch! I did try and give her rice again one day just to see if it was all fish oil or the combo of the rice and fish oil. The rice gave her dark circles, hyperactivity and irritability. Plus, she was seriously craving any rice product for days afterwards. Yep, rice is once again on her no eat list.

I learned through all of this that I/we have to be vigilant with food and supplements. I have to constantly be evaluating her behavior and monitoring what she is eating. I also learned that there are other ways to get the right supplements in my daughter. I may have to give mini-doses to get one full dose but I'll get there. I am reminded of what many wise parents have told me, autism isn't a race but a marathon. Thanks to the many runners who are with me.

xo

Melissa

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