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March 31st, 2008
11:31 AM ET
Help for Jonas - One family's storyBy John Dear CNN Media Operations, Sr. Media Producer I remember distinctly it was December 2006. My entire family became sick at the same time. Our two boys, my pregnant wife and I had projectile vomiting. It was unusual not because we were miserable simultaneously, but because Jonas (18 months at that time) never seemed like himself after everyone else got over it. He no longer wanted to cuddle with us and would not respond to us when called. The eye contact disappeared, and he started tapping with his fingertips on anything he could find. We bought a set of drums and a keyboard thinking he'd be this great musician with his new obsession. Up until that point he had been developing normally, but now the few words he knew were no longer there and he was completely non-verbal. We approached our pediatrician with these concerns several times over the next six months while bringing Jonas in for various ear infections and tantrums that would wake us in the middle of the night. We were told that he was just like other boys who may be a little slower in developing and a hearing test might give us some answers to his indifference to his environment and his numerous ear infections. 
Jonas Dear developed signs of autism after his family was ill.
 We started doing our own research after Jonas' refusal to cooperate with the hearing test. We quickly discovered that all the signs pointed to autism. We were somewhat prepared for the diagnosis by the child neurologist our pediatrician referred us to. It took him minutes to confirm our worst fears. It was not the official diagnosis or the fact that our former pediatrician missed these early signs that shocked us most. It was the single Post-it note that contained all the information we left his office with that day. In barely legible penmanship it listed the Web sites of a few treatment facilities and a suggested book in response to our question about where we could get help and treatment for our autistic son. We quickly learned in our mad dash after the diagnosis that the treatment needed to possibly mainstream Jonas would cost tens of thousands of dollars a year. Insurance would not pay for applied behavioral analysis, or ABA, which, from what we were reading, appeared to be the most successful and costly treatment. It was a no-brainer that we would spend every last resource available to see that Jonas would get the early Intervention that he desperately needed. The clock seemed to be ticking faster as we kept hearing from top institutes and centers: There was a six-to-twelve month waiting list just for evaluations. We felt as if we'd won the lottery when Emory Autism Center said it had a spot just open in its toddler program, even though the neurologist had told us that was improbable. That was eight months ago. Jonas has now been enrolled at the center for nearly seven months. About a month ago we had one of those moments that would make any parent melt. We always give our kids hugs and kisses right before they go to bed and tell them "I love you. ". Jonas as usual hugged us, but this time he looked straight into our eyes and said in a soft voice "I wuv you." He's done this every night since. Priceless. Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation. |
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The politics of this drinking water fluoridation catastrophe are still scrambling to prop up the delusion they can make a clean getaway. You’ll see these denial pieces every month in the major news; but no effort is ever made on the part of news media to get back to investigative journalism and research the truth, i.e. any screening for cause whatsoever, other than a quibbling footnote that mercury can be blamed anymore.
I had such a different experience with my son when he was ultimately diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. He had been diagnosed initially at age five with ADHD, then at age seven with Other Health Impairments due to Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and other Learning Disabilities in addition to ADHD. As a single mom fighting for years to get educational services and interventions where no one thought the social skills deficits were their problem, he had been in new school system in Wilmington NC for three weeks when the staff called me and said they felt he may be autistic and asked if they could initiate an assessment. He was 13 years old. He was reading at the fifth grade level, writing at the third grade level and was not functioning well in most classes, socially or otherwise. When the new school year started, he went into a program which focused on providing support in mainstream classes in small teams of 1-3 students: 1 paraeducator, and 1-2 classes a day focusing on autism related awareness of self and skill development, homework help, etc. with an autism expert teacher. My son will graduate next year from high school. He drives on his own, registered to vote recently, and just stared his first job at Wal-Mart. While he will not graduate in the top 20% of his class, he is passing his courses without paraeducator support and has aspirations of becoming a meteorologist, which will be a long road for him academically if he has the determination to stick with his plans. My job as his mother is to support him no matter what the choices so that he can be a successful, contributing member of society. He is funny, laughs with me all the time, and is learning to be responsible so he can live on his own someday. Medically, I cannot point to one defining moment where everything changed. I do know that all along, if physicans had been asking me the right developmental questions, I would have known much sooner what I was dealing with and how to get the interventions. It can be, and too often is, a long and lonely journey for parents, but I wouldn't trade an instant of being Nick's mom.
My husband is in the military. We were stationed in Germany at the time our child was diagnosed with Autisim. This was devastating and you feel like you are out of control. There are NO answers. No one can tell you if your child will talk, be able to function, have friends. You feel so alone and helpless. I was smart enought to take a filght out back to the states to get our son help. We now have a great therapy plan for our child but it took a lot of research, a lot of waiting and A LOT of work. This has been a long road. I am happy to say that our son, 5 has been talking since April and if there is a treatment that I can recommed to anyone it would be to find an ABA therapist. It has worked wonders for our son. My heart goes out to each and every parent and family that has had to deal with this long journey.
This comment is in response to the article "Autism's mysteries remain as numbers grow" and not John Dear's account above. The articles that I read on autism always rehash the same details and give only a cursory & muddy account of current autism research. I am never left with a sense that much progress is going on. Certainly there is some good news out there – no? I would like to see CNN or another media outlet do a series of articles on the current state of research of autism. Study by study each article can review what is being looked at, what the ultimate goal of each given study is, what are the findings of newly completed research, what research study is just being rolled out, where are the major research centers across the globe that are focused on the study of autism? Surely they are not each focused on the same questions – what sorts of findings/information may we have to look forward to? For example: is genetic testing/counseling on the horizon for families that have multiple incidents of autism or cases of multiple non-sibling relatives? Who is championing research on autism, how did they become interested? What questions are they focused on? What questions would they like to focus on? I think a series like that could be very interesting and offer hope for the public.
Feelings on Autism that were sent to my mother in law:
What I find is the networks sensationalize some interventions as "cures". And you are right when you say I probably have already heard or read what they are reporting. Sometimes they report old stuff and make it seam as if it is new. I am not being arrogant I am just being truthful. Families that live, breath and eat autism are aware of things that are the "new" interventions long before the media is.
The deal is that when families of the young ones first find out that their child is autistic they immediately are going to get started on all the differing interventions that may improve their child's functioning. The parents fear is the child's inability to ever have an independent level of function and to ever have the ability to communicate verbally. The beast of autism is that the child most probably will never be able to live independently and many of them will never talk. Without exception, the parents mantra becomes..."I can never die". My daily prayer to the Lord is that I will outlive Sarah. Furthermore my expressed goal to Jeff, Jana and Steve is that I would like to live to 115 years old, even as 105 seems more realistic! (Ha) I have told Steve it would be helpful if he would stick around as long as well. All this being said it is expected and quite normal for families to go through this process.
The truth is that autism is a word to describe differing symptoms of a child's lack in development. It really doesn't point to a single biological element causing the symptoms. It is right there with many other neurological deficits...that have many possible underlying causes with some rarely, singularly sure. Autopsy of autistic brains shows imperfections that are biological in nature and have to do with intial development...they are finding out more but there is not a cure that restructures the miniscule properties of the brain (yet). There is moreso a hope that with these differences in brain structure the individual will be able to do well anyway...and sometimes interventions can help with that. As they would help a stroke victim or otherwise brain damaged victim. That is why ABA is a sure bet in some ways because it tries to rehabilitate a brain that is not fuctioning properly (and is similar in style to retraining of a stroke victim).
Truthfully I have grown weary of the networks and the pandering that goes on. They present cures that aren't cures and hope that is not real. There are families that have done some interventions on their child and then profess results that are proof of a cure. The problem with that is every autistic child (or should I say brain damaged) is different. Their functioning is different and the probability for rehabilitation is different according to the amount of damage that is present in their brain. One family's "cure" is another family's disappointment and then sometimes shame because what worked for the one "cured" child failed for another. It implies that the disappointed family somehow fell short or let their child down in some way. It implies that if every family did it right then every child would be made well. The truth is that the child that was "cured" was probably going to turn out at that higher level of functioning anyway...and the child that wasn't cured has a more problematic road ahead of them due to the fact that their involvement in brain damaged is more severe.
The Lord taught me a lot when Sarah fell into full blown psychosis. He taught me that our future will not be sure and we will have to depend on him every step of the way (every second, every minute, every hour). He taught me to praise Him even while my daughter was literally suffering a hell on earth. Things so terrible that it made the nurses at a unit that sees the worst of the worst cry. I praised Him even as I tried to bring myself a low as possible – especially since I realized that with all the effort my best fell short and I failed Sarah miserably. I asked Him to slay me and to cure her. I asked Him for His return NOW. But in the end He told me to do it a second at a time for His glory. All that was left to do was to live a second at a time and to praise Him. The only other thing I know is that I had asked the Lord to put Sarah in His pavillion and to tell her He loves her even as she suffers. I asked Him for a spacious place so that even as she did suffer she would be safe and in loving arms, not in an institution. So that was answered with a certainty. While what we have done for Sarah seems overdone it is what the Lord has planned for her.
Mostly families simply stick their kids in a home because once they are done trying to fix the kid they figure out the kid ain't fixable. They try to figure out where to place them...because while they were equipt to try all the differing interventions they weren't equipt to simply practice a longsuffering grace toward their child. Mostly because the experts that tout the cures tell the families that they shouldn't keep their kid as part of the family (if it gets difficult) but should instead throw them in an institution and then get on with the wonderful glorious NORMAL living. The problem is that the families that I have met that have done this still aren't happy and seem kind of empty. Like something is missing.
Love Val
Regaridng triggers for autism, researchers should look at additives in our food, particularly infant formula and baby food. I learned the hard way that artificially produced glutamates are neurotoxic. I became very ill two years ago until I realized on my own that the additives in my food were killing me. The food industry has intentionally blinded the FDA and all of us to this reality. Please google Dr. Russell Blaylock, or go to http://www.truthinlabeling.com.
"Disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to live independently, enjoy self-determination, make choices, contribute to society, pursue meaningful careers, and enjoy full inclusion and integration in the economic, political, social, cultural, and educational mainstream of American society." - Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as Amended
This quote has served as a promising encouragement since our adult son was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome a few weeks ago. His entire life has been one of searching for answers. Beginning in preschool he saw child psychologists. During his school years he was under the care of neurologists at one of the finest children's hospitals in the nation. We his family sacrificed financially to afford specialized assistance at a well regarded learning center. We were told that he had an "auditory processing disorder" and "ADHD without hyeractivity". Somehow we managed to help him get a High School diploma. The transition into the competitive job market, however, has been like running headlong into a brick wall. For four years now he has tried to become a productive member of society. Oh, he's been hired numerous times, but he just can't handle all the complicated and nuanced tasks required of even basic jobs...tasks that we take for granted. And yes, he has tried to get help from a litany of public agencies, but like so many others with Asperger syndrome he just seems to fall through the cracks. It seems that he fits in nowhere. How thankful we are to finally have a diagnosis that helps us understand our son. Thank you to CNN for educating others so that they might not have to wait so long.
MSG / FREE GLUTAMATE LINK TO AUTISM
I have been reading a lot recently about the additive MSG (monosodium glutamate) and other free glutamates in processed food. It is virtually in everything. 30 – 40% or more of the population has some level of reaction to this toxin. The food industry and MSG producers pay lobbyists to make all of us believe MSG is safe for the majority of the population. It's not. I am bewildered that the media has not picked up on the following studies and research that have showed this link. The following excerpt is taken from msgmyth.com:
A February 2007 news release has validated what we have been suggesting for years. A Canadian team has lead research that has involved 120 scientists from 19 countries and 50 institutions. Studied were the genetic codes of 1168 families, each of which had at least two autistic sufferers. In the analysis, researchers implicated the gene neurexin 1 on chromosome 2, and a sequence on chromosome 11. They code for glutamate synapses and receptors and transport proteins that deal directly with glutamate's use as a neurotransmitter. The study mentions glutamate's role in wiring the brain during early fetal development and its ability to elevate neuronal activity. Neurexin 1 is specifically believed to be involved in glutamate synapses, and the section of chromosome 11 has been linked to proteins that ferry glutamate across synapses. A combination of mutations in any of these genes could contribute to the likelihood of being born with autism. Competing theories linking autism to environmental factors persist. One such theory that the report mentioned, linked mercury in childhood vaccines. In a recent e-mail from Jack Samuels discussing these new findings with me, he said, "While everyone is looking for a connection of mercury to autism, the following referenced article should have encouraged scientists to look for a possible connection of the ever increasing use of free glutamic acid (MSG) in our food supply.": Paschner et al. ("Methylmercury alters glutamate transport in astrocytes." Neurochem Int. Aug-Sep, 200; 37 (23): 199-206). It states, "In the absence of glutamate, neurons are unaffected by acute exposure to mercury... Co-application of nontoxic concentrations of methylmercury and glutamate leads to typical appearance of neuronal lesions associated with excitotoxic stimulation (Matyja and Albrecht 1993.)" Although ethylmercury was used in some vaccines, it is Jack's understanding that it would have the same effect as methylmercury. Glutamate was present in many childhood vaccines where mercury was also present. I agree with Jack Samuels when he says, "One must ask if autism is directly related to a genetic defect (above) or if a predisposition for autism is inherited, a predisposition that is activated due to the ever increasing amount of processed free glutamic acid and aspartame that pregnant women are exposed to." Keep in mind, in the last 10 years, the number of diagnosed cases of autism has increased ten-fold. And as Carol Hoernlein posted on our board at http://www.msgmyth.com, many autistic children share many of the symptoms we (MSG reactive individuals) suffer. "20% have epilepsy. Many have food sensitivities, hyperactivity, sensitivity to light, sound, pain. They throw tantrums, have digestive distress." This comes as vindication after decades of being told that MSG (glutamate) sensitivity was "all in our heads." We look forward to more research and answers with excitement and hope.
John, Your story is all too familiar...we also had the doctors tell us our daughter was fine, not to worry, and that she most probably had a serious hearing problem. She also attended Walden, and her behavior improved somewhat, but not dramatically. As she gets older, she is communicating pretty well, not in conversational language, but in getting her wants met. I had long worried that she'd never be able to call me Mommy, but sure enough, she did, and every night as I sing her to sleep, she tells me "I love you", and I believe she really understands and means it. Keep hope alive! Margie
Thank you, Val C for the heartfelt comment. There is in my experience a lot of truth to what you say. My Aspie son is 16, diagnosed finally in 5th grade. I was a "fixer" for many years, trying psycologists, camps etc to fix him. Now I'm not a fixer anymore. I am an acceptor of who he is and a tryer of helping him connect to things and walks of life that are amenable to him, and not vice versa. My son, Aspie, is brilliant academically and has managed with much pain to control mostly his tantrums and exhaustion and real dislike of people. I think this started at 6 mos of age when he continued to like breast milk but wanted it from a bottle instead of the breast. I didn't understand and felt rejected and like I must be doing something wrong, like having a job. Count on it, autism in a child brings out every insecurity you ever had. But I could have done everything differently, and now I see that the result in my son would have been virtually the same. I have stopped being a fixer of him and instead am working on being an acceptor of him. I've had to get over the vision of what I thought a child of mine would be like. Writ large is accepting him as he is. My son at 16 is an archetype of sorts–he has rejected almost all threrapy/interventions we have attempted which have been many and expensive. He is an intellectual genius and at 16 has made important inroads–pretty much all on his own, the ones that matter–into not melting down at each and every setback.
We have all grown,but painfully, from Asperger's. If I had another child wi9th this today I'[d maybe be still a fixer but with my son I've learned not to be. God has given us this path and I know I am walking it. Would I still want to be my son's Mom and not the Mom of a normal child? Although I love my child I think I would say no, and maybe this is why God put me here.
Did Jonas sleep well before he stopped to communicate.Infections (and allergies)are signs of immnune system down often with children in kind of "depression".I guess Jonas is very intelligent and I think it is IMPORTANT that he goes to a regular kindergarden school and to stay with "normal" kids.
To all parents ,please stop to say I love you to your kids.They feel uncorfortable with that and when you say :tell me "I love you"it is worth.
My son is Autistic and we wouldn't trade him for the world. While Autism remains a mystery to some, and a burden to others, to my child it is his life. This is not the journey that I would have chosen for my son, but it is the journey that was given to him and what a blessing it has turned out to be. I cannot tell you how much we have changed our perspective on life since our son's diagnosis. When you have an Autistic child, it is the the simple things that mean the most. When you see a smile or hear a word after hours, months and even sometimes years of therapy, you cannot even begin to imagine the feeling that wells up in your heart. I have cried in desperation and I have cried in joy. It is a LOT, LOT of hard work, it is a full time job 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Lord has blessed us in our journey by sending us to some wonderful people. We were blessed with early intervention and great therapists. We have also researched high and low to find the "cure", the newest therapy out there. We have cried over failed therapies and cried over successful ones. I have learned more from my son's life and his struggles than from anything else. My life has been full of blessings because of my son.
If your son still doesn't communicate by eye contacts sometimes,there is a "tip": put your eyes at the level of his and say :"my eyes"(don't say :"look at my eyes").He worked with my nefew.I was his "nanny" between his age of 1 and an half to 6y.old.His autism started at 2 and an half.We've been very close and I helped him A LOT.If there is anything I can do for your son ,wil be happy.
We're in the process of having our son evaluated for autism spectrum disorder. We're suppose to get our diagnosis on April 2. I sometimes wonder if getting a diagnosis from a neurologist vs. a psychologist vs. a developmental specialists differs in terms of how they handle subsequent treatment options. We're seeing a developmental specialist. I certainly hope she provides more answers than will fit on a post-it note. Appalling. I've been reading a lot about ABA and have decided that if we can't get him in a program within a year, I'll take the courses myself and begin internship under a certified specialist. Hopefully I'll be able to run his program myself if need be. Those of us who know you or have known you are mighty proud of you John Dear. Thank you for sharing your story. I'll be recording the documentary on April 2. We'll be at the specialist's office trying to get some answers. Tell your sister I said Hi.
Please remeber that these kids with HFA and Asperger's will grow up and with 24/7 attention from parents and good therapy will become independent and some will wish to keep their histories secret. There are many independent people out there. What I know is that after 50 one is less able to fake it in the world. That innocence and being naive is a real problem in young adult hood. One in our family was murdered at 29 because of it. Gentle guiding is required as one asks and sibs can be a great help. some are so mildly affected that they have military careers. Recruiters didn't want one of our adult children at the beginning of 2002 and now they do for the guard and army. Bad, bad thing. He travels with his last comp eval., but he has a job and willhave a home and is 90 % independent and his story is his and he doesn't reveal it. Parent please remember these kids are on lone to us just like anyother kid, we have no right to divulge their stories for our glory or even for the greater good. Our family has seen 4 or 5 people with the hfas and know now what we should have 30 yrs ago. April is a good thing, but remember the privacy rights of your kids they will thank you for it later. Yet protect them as needed.
When I was a teenager and volunteered with handicapped children in the 1960s, we were told that autistic children do not have emotion, we just loved them and felt so bad for them. What a blessing that today it is known, that if a means of communication with autistic people is unlocked, they can feel and be felt as all humans need. My own family tragedy is an accident that killed my husband and critically injured myself, so I pray that you keep being able to stay together as a family, it is everything. God Bless you for what you do for all your children.
So many parents of children with autism seem to just sort of give up. I have found myself wanting to know more about it and how to make a difference. My daughter was diagnosed in 2006. She had almost disappeared in her own world. When we found out I honestly went in to denial but then realized it wasn't the end of the world. Cost of her autism is almost extraordinary and to top it all off in our county here in Kentucky I was told by every single day care that with out a personal assistant she would not be accepted. So I decided to stay home and work with her. She is now 5 yrs old and is starting to talk a little bit. I would tell any parent who gets a new diagnosis of autism not to give up. I have heard parents are the best teachers and I believe that myself.
I saw Mr. Dear on CNN and I live in Dallas, Georgia (Paulding County.) I am a 40ish mother of 5 and would be more than happy to babysit for them one evening so that they can spend some time alone together. My husband is a truck driver (he was also deployed with the 48th brigade for 18 months to Iraq) and I know exactly what it is like to juggle kids and crazy schedules and to have no time left over to just be husband and wife. But, I cannot imagine the added stress of dealing with Autism as well.
God bless this family and their beautiful children. Give them strength and fortitude through all of their trials.
Hello Kate C,
Trying, perservering and accepting. In that order...whatever the result! Thanks so much for your story.
Val B
I just listened to CNN's report on autism. Several things came to mind. First people should be aware that many parents of special need children experience financial problems. I have twins with cerebral palsy and one has life threatening epilepsy. I am an attorney and I stopped working for 10 years because my daughter was seizing all day long and required constant care. A family of six has lived off of $40,000 to $50,000 a year as my husband is the sole provider. We bought a house on foreclosure and have worked for 11 years trying to repair and make it livable. I am finally back at work as a divorce and special needs attorney. I am working on my own. I am not able to work fulltime, due in part to the doctors and therapists my children need to see (there are about 10 )and part to the fact that my husband works out of state from Monday to Friday. In this time my federally guaranteed student loans have grown from $35,000 to over $90,000 because I couls not get any relief unless i was disabled.
I would like to add that Jonas' is presently in a private school. If the parents have an IEP through the public school system, they should be able to argue for out-of district placement. It is a tough argument and an attorney should be consulted and retained, If sucessful the school district would have to pay for the private school, therapists at school and at home, ABA therapy, and out of school therapies including, but not limited to,hippo-therapy and music therapy. I find many school districts do not argue about moving children with autism, because they are not equipped to handle these children.
I am hoping that the parents of autisic children not only educate people about autism, but also,open the door to look at the families of special needs children in general. The financial and emotional strain are great. My thoughts and prayers go out to Jonas' and his family.
There is Hope!
I'm a proud parent of a 31 year old artist, who is autistic. We went through what I call the `"Dark Ages" when know one knew anything about A.S.D. Devon was born with Autism, but it took close to thirty years for the medical, and educational professions to understand that a the key to opening up Devon was allowing him to make his own decisions, including what he wanted to learn in his program.
The computer, was Devon's choice and it was a good one because he is now become a very well known artist in our community. He is recognized as a small businessman by selling his artwork as note cards, and taking the leading role in his business. His artwork, and biography are on "The Autism Acceptance Project, TAAP Gallery, submitted artists. He also was interviewed by CBC North on January 3rd of this year, and he beautifully demonstrated his painting technique to the crew. He also displayed and demonstrated his style of painting via, computer, projector and screen to visitors to his booth at the Yukon Council On Disability Expo on January 12th.
Now, this was not easy for Dev, his caregivers or myself because we had to spend weeks preparing him for these events (& us), but this was necessary. Devon has a great team that in believe him and this is so important for anyone with ASD. He has his behavior problems, stimming that he refers to as "sparks" but works very hard to control them in order to function in the community.
Devon`s story should help all parents with A.S.D. kids. Their children can become successful adults, in spite of hurdles ahead of them.
Jill Walton
My son is 7yrs old and just recovered from an "autistic" episode that lasted for over 6 months. He had PANDAS pediatric autoimmune neurological disease associated with strep bacteria. It is a little known illness and can be cured often with an aggressive regime of antibiotics. It is a complex diagnosis and drug protocol's are currently confusing to many docs. We only figured that he had a possible lowgrade level of strep in his system after he had a dose of antibiotics for an "ear infection". Within 5 days he was 60% improved. This after 5 months of absolute hell watching a very logical, cool kid deteriorate mentally. He had a rapid and full recovery with, now, minor emotional lability issues.
I am creating a website with the support of doc's, researchers and neurologists. I have a cadre of specialists looking at this case and very supportive. And am working on an article/story to publish. I am ABSOLUTELY convinced that in some cases of "autisim" there is a horrible autoimmune response to a bacteria or virus. In our case, our son was perhaps old enough, strong enough that his brain and body held out until we blessedly, blessedly, got the right treatment. I welcome anyone to contact me should they want more information.
Hello Diana Pohlman,
Thanks for the mention of PANDAS. Yours is a perfect example of finding the actual cause for your child's symptoms and then finding appropriate treatment. Which makes the perfect point for families with children who have just been diagnosed and are still very young...autism is just a word to describe symptoms and doesn't point to a physical/biological reason for the symptoms. I am so very happy for you and your family. I am encouraged about what you are in the process of doing with the website and article. I personally think what you have found should get great attention by the media. Not because you found a cure for autism...but because you found the cause of your child's regressive traits and found relief so that he could be made well.
I know that one time our daughter was found to have Strep B – which is unusual and it made me wonder if she had been carrying it for quite some time without treatment. I guess Strep B shows up later on a culture then strep A so a lot of times it doesn't get caught...at least that is the way it was explained to me.
I personally would like to know more about your case.
Thanks again,
V Bruce
The night my son said, "Yuv you, Mum" is something I will never forget. My son Ryan, now 6, was non-verbal until age 5. He was one of those on-schedule developing kids until his MMR shot. He started to disappear shortly after. Any speech he had disappeared, along with his hugs and kisses and eye-gazing. Through early intervention and years of schooling and hard work, it's very difficult for strangers to recognize Ryan as an autistic child. He's now just Ryan, a very smiley, happy kid, who enjoys school, dinosaurs, and puzzles. I know how you feel about Jonas; just focus on what you can do for his now–to focus on the future is sometimes too overwhelming–and his progress can't determine his future just yet. Hang in there–he's a sweetie. Have you ever noticed that autistic children have exceptionally beautiful eyes?
Hello V Bruce,
Is it possible for you to contact me at pohlmandiana@yahoo.com directly? Don't know if this will be kicked off the site. Please try – I have a lot of information to give you.
First let me congratulate you Dr. Gupta and CNN for the magnificent job done today the National Day of Autism. My son who is 14 years old has autism and my stepson 22 is a young man with Aspergers. It has been an uphill battle since my so was diagnosed at 18 months of age from that day to this day our fight hasn't stopped. He has made great progress but not without fighting the school systems,insurance company, even therapists and doctors.Still we have a long way to go, i still worry about his future he is not a high functional child with autism even thou we have recently seen amzing progress with a new treatment.I have asked myself the same question Why hasn't Autism been a topic of discussion among this candidates to the presidency? I have a hard time deciding between my responsability as an american to vote for any of these candidates who have ignored this epidemic and my children with autism. Why should I ever vote for any of them if one of the biggest crisis in my country has been ignored? They talk and talk about education but we still have children in special education who are not receiving an appropiate education as iit is stated in our constitution. They talk about better health care and I still see families of children who cannot get an early dianosis for their children because their HMO provider will not provide a referral for the child to see a psychologist,or parents who have gone bankrupt like us and many others trying to provide better health care for their children because the insurance does not cover Autism.
I'm overwhelmed by the responses I have received from this blog, as well as the intv's on CNN, CNNI, HLN & DOTCOM. I have been working for CNN over 15 years and this was the first time I've ever been placed in the spotlight (or blogged). I'm sure that's pretty obvious if you happened to see one of the above intv's. I felt compelled to share the struggles that come along with raising an autistic child. I am still a rookie and learning on the job so to speak. There seems to be so much uncertainty in our lives and I wish there was some universal manual on "how to live with autism". I'm glad there is a forum like this to share experiences, thoughts, concerns and compassion. I'll make an effort to share more when I have a little more time. Reachin out to my fellow zonian (raised in the panama canal zone)..
Tami B. I just signed up for our HS website. I'll give you a shout there. If I can do anything to help, let me know.
hello John , Seeing you on CNN-intl.yesterday I saw that your son was in a good way of "getting out " of his autism.It is important now that he goes to a regular kindergarden school(I think).I found "strange"that you wonder about one of your youngest boy.Just pay attention if he REFUSES to communicate.
Just wanna say also,what that indian lady does in HALO is not good!!
What they do in QATAR is not the solution either.
1 in 150 children with Autism! As a new Grandma I never knew it was so high! I could not believe by age of 2 babies and toddlers are given 36 vaccines...that's a outrage. What gives with all the flu vaccines? That in very odd,it sends up a big white flag to me! If 1 in 150 little ones came down with any other type of illness, the CDC would be calling it a unparrelled epidemic, and would be screaming from the roof tops working, 24/7. What I do not understand is, if Autism was on the rise in the the 80's,go back to the old level of vaccines.After 5 years see if parents are right.
Wow, I'm so dismayed that your family may have to move out of the country to take care of your son. I hope a miracle comes your way.
Hello John, If I could recommand you,your youngest child(baby)needs "more attentions" that your oldest and Jonas who is doing better.
Would suggest also :don't turn the TV on in the morning or to "make presence".
To Tami.B
Sometimes I can't beleive that parents need a "diagnostic" on what is going on with their child.
It is a subject that is very important to discuss. However I feel the discussion should cover the whole spectrum of autism. ADHD is part of this spectrum and can be just as devastaing to families to deal with. Both of my sons and my husband have ADHD and I have DID, so our household is very complecated and it is extremely difficult to deal with. I am on disability and my husband can not hold a job for factors which include is ADHD. We do not always have enough money for the essentials. It is important that organizations focus and reach out to those who need the most help. We have no rescources except those from the county and state we live in; and as everyone in the system knows those are the bare minimum. I hope that all these programs and charities begin to broaden their focus or there will be a lot of families like mine who are left behind.
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF AUTISM CASES HAVE RED HAIR?
I SUSPECT IN SOME CASES THERE IS A RED HEAD GENE POSSIBLY RECESSIVE THAT MAY HAVE AN INFLUENCE.
after seeing reports on cellphone dangers, invetro ultra sound exams,and very early vaccinations could this be the cause of autism ?,
Autism ,it's a relationship problem.There is always a reason why a 2y.old child stops to communicate!!
I've seen on CNN/intl. the Gaston family(Md).In that family,it is like everybody is living "a part",not toogheter.Why the parents don't play with their 3 kids toogheter...and plaese stop TV!
I think I could help them as I helped my nefew.I could make him talk again and eyes contacts.(PS I'm from Belgium)
As a special needs teacher, I was challenged daily with kindergarten children that displayed a variety of different learning styles. Then one day a child diagnosed with ASD, ( a beautiful boy named Zachary) taught me something astonishing... it was me, the teacher, yes, Mrs. Duffy, who was doing it wrong! From that day forward I shut my classroom door and completely changed the modality in which I had been teaching reading to visual motor, as opposed to an auditory approach. I designed a reading program that does not require our children to be oral. My hope is that my comment will not be posted as I wish only to reach the Dears directly so that I can donate to them or to their son's classroom my reading program. I truly mean donate, as it is now my life's mission to bring the ease and enjoyment of reading to all of our ASD children. -Jill
Bravo, your idea it is very good
What is it to you to a head has come?
Всем привет. Наткнулся недавно на статью, в которой говорится что ученые американской Академии наук (NAS) утверждают, что конец света наступит 22 сентября 2012 года. Причем это будет "конец света" в прямом смысле.
Что вы думаете по этому поводу.
Пардоньте если не в тот раздел )