Ahhh...it's so easy to write about everything I have learned, easy to tell others how great I feel on a healthy diet....but HARD to do it day after day, meal after meal...analyzing everything the kids put in their mouth to make sure it is safe, balanced and healthy. Some days I wonder...am I insane? How is it possible to keep three toddlers from eating food with dye, preservatives or white sugar in this economy and on a limited budget?
Then I slack off on diet, which happened last month...only for a day....and the peace disintegrated...Stephen exhibited extreme emotional changes, sobbing, obsessive behavior, aggression towards his sisters and lack of appetite. It was then I decided I am not insane, I am committed. Committed to providing our children with the best nutrition I can scrounge up :-)
It's still not always easy but I have been putting more time into planning, budgeting and researching and found a few tricks that help stretch the budget and thought some of you might be interested in reading about it.
Last paycheck I had $180 for food, supplies and paper products for two weeks. I knew the only way it would reach was if I made a list and stuck to it. First I cleaned out the freezer and did an inventory on the meat we had available. Next I wrote down a 3meal a day planner for 2 weeks. Then I listed all the necessary items: eggs, cheese, butter, milk, walnuts, spaghetti, refried beans, tortilla chips, turkey sausage, WW tortilla wraps, potatoes, fruits and veggies, tuna, Kashi waffles, organic yogurt, and other odds and ends....Here is what I found:
Karns: cheese 3/$5, grapes 99cents/lb
Costco: butter $2.49/lb,4 for $9.96, WW tortilla shells 20 for $4.43
Wegmans: walnuts $5.49/lb, tuna for 69cents/can, canned veggies 39cents/can, Omega 3 macaroni, Omega 3 WW tortilla shells $3.59, Stonyfield yogurt $3.09
Amelia's: natural tortilla chips (99cents), Organic Ritz, Saltine and Triscuit crackers(99cents each), 2.5dz eggs. Kashi waffles $1.50/box, refried beans
Farmstead market: Turkey sausage 30 links for $9!
So that was our shopping trip---Dave and I had a lot of fun finding everything on the list. Some things were on sale--some are available every week and as I learn prices it is possible to save gas by doing one big shopping trip every 2-3 weeks and then get the rest of the items closer to home.
So that's that--you may still think I am insane :-) but I'm having fun doing it!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Questions: What is safe?
May 2010: Encouraged by Stephen's progress we felt like things were finally looking up for our family...until May 9th when Ruth woke up vomiting and screaming in pain and was diagnosed on Mother's Day with severe acute pancreatitis. Up until this point I had believed all natural products were safe but my first reaction to the diagnosis was fear that I had given her something to trigger this rare attack. The pediatricians at the hospital were puzzled why a two year old would have stomach damage similar to an alcoholic or someone with acute trauma which did nothing to ease my concern! I started to go back and study everything that went in her mouth/body—natural or not!
I began to realize that whether consulting a chiropractor or a surgeon—we are still responsible for our children's health. There is plenty of research and support to give information on both topics. While I totally trust Dr Gault and feel that Ruth does have good medical doctors also, only if I know and believe for myself what is right for Ruth will I have the motivation and confidence to consistently choose the right products/medicine for her and defend that choice to others, even medical doctors.
That is one thing I always appreciated about Dr Gault especially, he would present the information, the products he thought would help and then let me make the decision for what we wanted to use. It is harder sometimes with modern medicine to have that confidence because doctors are so gun-shy with all the liability suits that they prescribe medicine at the drop of the hat to cover their license when often it does not treat the root of the problem. For example most ear infections are viral and do not need treated with antibiotics. However, invariably if you take your child to the doctor they will prescribe meds. Sometimes I feel it is more for the parents sanity than the child's well-being. Overuse of antibiotics has weakened the bodies resistance so much that now hospitals are having a hard time fighting severe infections with the routine antibiotics which means meds need to keep getting stronger and harsher.
An example of this occurred last winter when Stephen had a severe ear infection three times in a row. The doctor was concerned and told me if he didn't get better the third time we might have to consider tubes. I came home that day so discouraged because I knew the meds were killing his good bacteria and he was in a vicious cycle that wouldn't end. So I did the unthinkable...I stopped the antibiotics, had him adjusted and got ear drops at the health store that I used on his ears 3x a day. I took him back a week later and the infection was almost gone! I told the doctor what I did and he brushed it off as a pain relief support and nothing that actually killed the infection. My question is—than why did Stephen get better without the meds?
As you can tell I like to rock the boat a little :-) Anyway, sorry for that little rabbit trail. I really do have an excellent working relationship with all of Ruth's doctors and for the most part we have a mutually respecting relationship that I appreciate. I value the medical information and experience they have to offer while appreciating some of that natural alternatives that are available.
While Ruth lay in the hospital bed suffering I went back and read all labels on the supplements etc that she was taking. I even read some off to the doctors at the hospital and they recognized the ingredients as providing liver support or bacterial balance—none of which they assured me could cause an attack like Ruth was experiencing. I was encouraged by the connection between natural and modern medicine but still went back and studied a lot of the ingredients for myself. It was interesting to read for myself what I was giving Ruth and I realized that it did not make sense to connect the supplements to her stomach distress.
My next avenue was researching the connection with vaccines and illnesses. There is a national website for medical doctors and families to report adverse reactions to vaccines. I found over 100 cases linking vaccines and pancreatitis! I know that doesn't seem like a high percentage but it was enough to make us wonder if it was connected. The doctors had questioned me if Ruth ever had the measles or mump virus which can affect the pancreas. My first response was no but then I realized that the viruses from vaccines are introduced into the bodies system with no way for the children to expel them. Because Ruth's last shot was the MMR vaccine we began to wonder if the dormant virus had flared up causing the attack.
We will never be able to prove it either way but considering the research we had found in Stephen's case it did make us feel more uneasy about future shots.
The third thing I researched was the safety of raw milk. Modern research often touts raw milk as risky, contaminated and overall a bad decision. Ruth's doctors concluded that her attack was caused by a bacterial infection. My response was caused by what??? I didn't want the other two children to suffer the same reaction. They could not pinpoint a cause so I began to fear that it was the raw milk we were drinking. We chose raw milk because of all the beneficial vitamins, amino acids, healthy bacteria and protein in it. Pasteurized milk has been heated so much that most of the nutritional value is gone leaving only the milk sugars which are hard for the body to digest without the necessary healthy bacteria and amino acids. When I researched the safety of raw milk I found it is actually safer than pasteurized milk...the health standards on farms that produce raw milk are very strict and the cows are kept in a clean and sanitary environment. Whereas on regular dairy farms they assume that the pasteurization will take care of most of the bacteria. This is the info I found in a nutshell but it was enough to reassure me that milk was not the contributing factor. Our children have had only raw milk for a year now and most of their diarrhea and stomach issues have resolved. If they do get any processed milk they react immediately.
There is not much money in natural supplements; not compared to the billion dollar drug and vaccine industry. Our country has twisted its focus into providing more sick care than preventative 'healthcare'. The media does its part in supporting the industry and doctors use what they were trained to use. Sometimes it feels safer to do what the majority are doing yet I can't help but wonder: which is safer?
My point with this article is not to tear down modern medicine or supplements: the bottom line is that we as parents need to be informed and educated about what our children are exposed to through medicine, food and vaccines.
I began to realize that whether consulting a chiropractor or a surgeon—we are still responsible for our children's health. There is plenty of research and support to give information on both topics. While I totally trust Dr Gault and feel that Ruth does have good medical doctors also, only if I know and believe for myself what is right for Ruth will I have the motivation and confidence to consistently choose the right products/medicine for her and defend that choice to others, even medical doctors.
That is one thing I always appreciated about Dr Gault especially, he would present the information, the products he thought would help and then let me make the decision for what we wanted to use. It is harder sometimes with modern medicine to have that confidence because doctors are so gun-shy with all the liability suits that they prescribe medicine at the drop of the hat to cover their license when often it does not treat the root of the problem. For example most ear infections are viral and do not need treated with antibiotics. However, invariably if you take your child to the doctor they will prescribe meds. Sometimes I feel it is more for the parents sanity than the child's well-being. Overuse of antibiotics has weakened the bodies resistance so much that now hospitals are having a hard time fighting severe infections with the routine antibiotics which means meds need to keep getting stronger and harsher.
An example of this occurred last winter when Stephen had a severe ear infection three times in a row. The doctor was concerned and told me if he didn't get better the third time we might have to consider tubes. I came home that day so discouraged because I knew the meds were killing his good bacteria and he was in a vicious cycle that wouldn't end. So I did the unthinkable...I stopped the antibiotics, had him adjusted and got ear drops at the health store that I used on his ears 3x a day. I took him back a week later and the infection was almost gone! I told the doctor what I did and he brushed it off as a pain relief support and nothing that actually killed the infection. My question is—than why did Stephen get better without the meds?
As you can tell I like to rock the boat a little :-) Anyway, sorry for that little rabbit trail. I really do have an excellent working relationship with all of Ruth's doctors and for the most part we have a mutually respecting relationship that I appreciate. I value the medical information and experience they have to offer while appreciating some of that natural alternatives that are available.
While Ruth lay in the hospital bed suffering I went back and read all labels on the supplements etc that she was taking. I even read some off to the doctors at the hospital and they recognized the ingredients as providing liver support or bacterial balance—none of which they assured me could cause an attack like Ruth was experiencing. I was encouraged by the connection between natural and modern medicine but still went back and studied a lot of the ingredients for myself. It was interesting to read for myself what I was giving Ruth and I realized that it did not make sense to connect the supplements to her stomach distress.
My next avenue was researching the connection with vaccines and illnesses. There is a national website for medical doctors and families to report adverse reactions to vaccines. I found over 100 cases linking vaccines and pancreatitis! I know that doesn't seem like a high percentage but it was enough to make us wonder if it was connected. The doctors had questioned me if Ruth ever had the measles or mump virus which can affect the pancreas. My first response was no but then I realized that the viruses from vaccines are introduced into the bodies system with no way for the children to expel them. Because Ruth's last shot was the MMR vaccine we began to wonder if the dormant virus had flared up causing the attack.
We will never be able to prove it either way but considering the research we had found in Stephen's case it did make us feel more uneasy about future shots.
The third thing I researched was the safety of raw milk. Modern research often touts raw milk as risky, contaminated and overall a bad decision. Ruth's doctors concluded that her attack was caused by a bacterial infection. My response was caused by what??? I didn't want the other two children to suffer the same reaction. They could not pinpoint a cause so I began to fear that it was the raw milk we were drinking. We chose raw milk because of all the beneficial vitamins, amino acids, healthy bacteria and protein in it. Pasteurized milk has been heated so much that most of the nutritional value is gone leaving only the milk sugars which are hard for the body to digest without the necessary healthy bacteria and amino acids. When I researched the safety of raw milk I found it is actually safer than pasteurized milk...the health standards on farms that produce raw milk are very strict and the cows are kept in a clean and sanitary environment. Whereas on regular dairy farms they assume that the pasteurization will take care of most of the bacteria. This is the info I found in a nutshell but it was enough to reassure me that milk was not the contributing factor. Our children have had only raw milk for a year now and most of their diarrhea and stomach issues have resolved. If they do get any processed milk they react immediately.
There is not much money in natural supplements; not compared to the billion dollar drug and vaccine industry. Our country has twisted its focus into providing more sick care than preventative 'healthcare'. The media does its part in supporting the industry and doctors use what they were trained to use. Sometimes it feels safer to do what the majority are doing yet I can't help but wonder: which is safer?
My point with this article is not to tear down modern medicine or supplements: the bottom line is that we as parents need to be informed and educated about what our children are exposed to through medicine, food and vaccines.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
A nutritionist who cared....a doctor who believed....a little boy changed
It was March 2010. At this point we had tried hundreds of dollars worth of supplements, dietary changes and research; desperate to find a way to help Stephen with the multiple challenges he faced. He had made progress with learning how to talk but his social interactions were limited and he often could not express how he felt.
That spring I heard of Gault Wellness Center and was intrigued by their medicial and nutritional testing options. I begged Dave to let me try 'one more thing.' He had been so patient through all the experiments--both of us holding on to the hope that maybe this would be the one thing that would open the door to Stephen's world. He was becoming very skeptical of trying something else new only to be disappointed again. However he agreed to give it a try.
We took Stephen and Ruth to see Jen Gault for a nutritional consult and a live blood cell analysis. Stepehn was terrified of the needle and we could not get a sample of his blood--however,Jen took one drop of Ruth's blood and put it under a microscope... the results were unbelievable! For the first time in my search for a 'natural' solution I had scientific evidence! Evidence that was chilling to see but matched her physical symptoms.
Ruth's blood cells were damaged...one drop of blood showed multiple injured cells, platlet clots(too much sugar), fungi forms(yeast) and several 'allergen cells'--indicating she was reacting to something. Obviously the red blood cell inflammation and damage explained her multiple breathing problems and pointed to a weak digestive system. I asked myself, How does a 2yr old get blood cells that look like an old person???? Dave and I believe that one or all of the following were the culprits: vaccinations, sugary diet, environmental toxins and/or too many antibiotics.
We met with Dr Gault and developed a plan to treat the children for yeast and leaky gut. Dr Gault asked Stephen to get up on the examining table and Stephen did not...not out of defiance but because even as a 3yr old he did not understand the question. When we went back to Dr Gault a week later he looked at me and said. Stephen was not being defiant! He does not understand! Dr Gault saw instinctively the neurological processing difficulties Stephen had.
I could have cried...in all the months of searching, of defending Stephen and looking for answers....I have never felt so validated! Dr Gault immediately developed a protocol to detox Stephen's liver, fight the yeast, promote healthy brain cell development and strengthen his digestive system. Jen worked with us to create a balanced diet--not only full of 'safe' foods but balanced with the correct amount of protein, raw milk, vegetables and fiber.
It takes 90 days for our bodies cells to completely replenish. Within 45 days we were seeing dramatic improvement in Stephen's behavior, communication, eye contact and language! How do I explain the joy in hearing Stephen say his first sentence,give eye contact while talking, tell me he is hungry or ask me a question?
When we went back to Dr Gault for a follow-up Stephen was able to look at him, smile and jump right up on that table!
Stephen continued to make steady progress that summer and fall. We noticed that when his diet slipped, even for one meal...the yeast would flare up again immediately causing skin issues, tantrums, loud crying and irrational behavior.
This was not the end of our journey....but for the first time in his life I felt like I had the key to open his door and as it slowly opened we learned to know our son like we never had before.
Natural supplements can be expensive, tricky to dose correctly and hard to stick with. Americans in general want a 'quick fix'...a miracle drug that will work in 10 days or less. I praise God for introducing me to the Gaults who taught us the big picture....not curing the symptoms but addressing the root physical issues.
I admit it's not always easy and sometimes I feel like having a pity party that our kids can't have a lot of the 'fun foods' available. But then I wonder what would Stephen, Ruth and Hannah be like in twenty years if we didn't know how harmful the foods were to their systems...what diseases have we prevented by avoiding all the dyes and sugar?
I don't blame anyone for questioning natural options--in the next chapter I will explain how I did exactly that! I will present the info I found and conclusions we came to. As always I hope that part of Stephen's story is meant for one of you to read--that through our journey maybe someone else can find hope or answers.
That spring I heard of Gault Wellness Center and was intrigued by their medicial and nutritional testing options. I begged Dave to let me try 'one more thing.' He had been so patient through all the experiments--both of us holding on to the hope that maybe this would be the one thing that would open the door to Stephen's world. He was becoming very skeptical of trying something else new only to be disappointed again. However he agreed to give it a try.
We took Stephen and Ruth to see Jen Gault for a nutritional consult and a live blood cell analysis. Stepehn was terrified of the needle and we could not get a sample of his blood--however,Jen took one drop of Ruth's blood and put it under a microscope... the results were unbelievable! For the first time in my search for a 'natural' solution I had scientific evidence! Evidence that was chilling to see but matched her physical symptoms.
Ruth's blood cells were damaged...one drop of blood showed multiple injured cells, platlet clots(too much sugar), fungi forms(yeast) and several 'allergen cells'--indicating she was reacting to something. Obviously the red blood cell inflammation and damage explained her multiple breathing problems and pointed to a weak digestive system. I asked myself, How does a 2yr old get blood cells that look like an old person???? Dave and I believe that one or all of the following were the culprits: vaccinations, sugary diet, environmental toxins and/or too many antibiotics.
We met with Dr Gault and developed a plan to treat the children for yeast and leaky gut. Dr Gault asked Stephen to get up on the examining table and Stephen did not...not out of defiance but because even as a 3yr old he did not understand the question. When we went back to Dr Gault a week later he looked at me and said. Stephen was not being defiant! He does not understand! Dr Gault saw instinctively the neurological processing difficulties Stephen had.
I could have cried...in all the months of searching, of defending Stephen and looking for answers....I have never felt so validated! Dr Gault immediately developed a protocol to detox Stephen's liver, fight the yeast, promote healthy brain cell development and strengthen his digestive system. Jen worked with us to create a balanced diet--not only full of 'safe' foods but balanced with the correct amount of protein, raw milk, vegetables and fiber.
It takes 90 days for our bodies cells to completely replenish. Within 45 days we were seeing dramatic improvement in Stephen's behavior, communication, eye contact and language! How do I explain the joy in hearing Stephen say his first sentence,give eye contact while talking, tell me he is hungry or ask me a question?
When we went back to Dr Gault for a follow-up Stephen was able to look at him, smile and jump right up on that table!
Stephen continued to make steady progress that summer and fall. We noticed that when his diet slipped, even for one meal...the yeast would flare up again immediately causing skin issues, tantrums, loud crying and irrational behavior.
This was not the end of our journey....but for the first time in his life I felt like I had the key to open his door and as it slowly opened we learned to know our son like we never had before.
Natural supplements can be expensive, tricky to dose correctly and hard to stick with. Americans in general want a 'quick fix'...a miracle drug that will work in 10 days or less. I praise God for introducing me to the Gaults who taught us the big picture....not curing the symptoms but addressing the root physical issues.
I admit it's not always easy and sometimes I feel like having a pity party that our kids can't have a lot of the 'fun foods' available. But then I wonder what would Stephen, Ruth and Hannah be like in twenty years if we didn't know how harmful the foods were to their systems...what diseases have we prevented by avoiding all the dyes and sugar?
I don't blame anyone for questioning natural options--in the next chapter I will explain how I did exactly that! I will present the info I found and conclusions we came to. As always I hope that part of Stephen's story is meant for one of you to read--that through our journey maybe someone else can find hope or answers.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
The Bohner Research Study :-)
Part 2 of Vaccine Controversy!
Today I went to Stephen's last IEP meeting and signed off on his release from speech therapy. His therapist sat there with tears in her eyes and told me she felt he was now on the upper end of cognitive abilities for his age! Hearing this just reminded me of how much progress he has made and I had to continue his story.....
I know I probably threw a lot of you for a loop when I dared to mention vaccinations in the last chapter. It is a controversial subject and one I frequently avoid in conversation because I don't want to appear crazy or 'different'. But you know what? It is ok to be different! Different when it means that a child who previously couldn't name his colors, or communicate with friends, or tell me he was hungry....when that child is now blowing everybody away with his progress....It is ok to be different!
In the last chapter I listed four options for parents to consider with the vaccination schedule but here is another one.....avoid them all together! Ok, now you are probably really gasping :-) Dave and I decided to do our own family research. Obviously not every child is autistic or reacts to vaccines as harshly as our kids do. I learned that some children have genetic tendencies that make them more susceptible to a compromised immune system....vaccines are one of the triggers that push them over the edge. Obviously our children had that problem. Anyway, when Hannah was an infant she had one shot and then we refused any more. I was curious if we would see a different in her growth, development and health compared to Stephen and Ruth. Here are the results!
Stephen: 3-4 severe breathing/asthma attacks with multiple nebulizer treatments, constant skin irritation, frequent ear infections, Severe speech and developmental delays, multiple food intolerances and severe behavior problems
Ruth: Multiple asthmatic attacks with breathing problems including two hospital stays, ear infections, 6-12month speech and developmental delay, stomach issues(including a month-long hospital stay) and major sensory issues including likely auditory processing difficulties.
Hannah: NO asthma or breathing problems ever. Limited illness as a baby, No delay—6months ahead of her age. No sensory issues.
Ruth only completed two-thirds of the vaccination schedule but we believe it contributed to her pancreatitis. I found multiple reports on the Vaccine Adverse Reaction website connecting pancreatitis and the MMR vaccine or other vaccines. Because doctors don't report a reaction if it is over 24hrs from the time of injection I think many other side effects often are missed.
Again I am not opposed to modern medicine; pediatricians and surgeons have helped our family many times. I feel it is just important to make informed decisions and be aware of the risks to vaccinate as well as the risks of declining them.
Now onto the good stuff! In the next chapter I am going to discuss Stephen's breakthrough and detail some positive things you can do to make a difference in your child!
Today I went to Stephen's last IEP meeting and signed off on his release from speech therapy. His therapist sat there with tears in her eyes and told me she felt he was now on the upper end of cognitive abilities for his age! Hearing this just reminded me of how much progress he has made and I had to continue his story.....
I know I probably threw a lot of you for a loop when I dared to mention vaccinations in the last chapter. It is a controversial subject and one I frequently avoid in conversation because I don't want to appear crazy or 'different'. But you know what? It is ok to be different! Different when it means that a child who previously couldn't name his colors, or communicate with friends, or tell me he was hungry....when that child is now blowing everybody away with his progress....It is ok to be different!
In the last chapter I listed four options for parents to consider with the vaccination schedule but here is another one.....avoid them all together! Ok, now you are probably really gasping :-) Dave and I decided to do our own family research. Obviously not every child is autistic or reacts to vaccines as harshly as our kids do. I learned that some children have genetic tendencies that make them more susceptible to a compromised immune system....vaccines are one of the triggers that push them over the edge. Obviously our children had that problem. Anyway, when Hannah was an infant she had one shot and then we refused any more. I was curious if we would see a different in her growth, development and health compared to Stephen and Ruth. Here are the results!
Stephen: 3-4 severe breathing/asthma attacks with multiple nebulizer treatments, constant skin irritation, frequent ear infections, Severe speech and developmental delays, multiple food intolerances and severe behavior problems
Ruth: Multiple asthmatic attacks with breathing problems including two hospital stays, ear infections, 6-12month speech and developmental delay, stomach issues(including a month-long hospital stay) and major sensory issues including likely auditory processing difficulties.
Hannah: NO asthma or breathing problems ever. Limited illness as a baby, No delay—6months ahead of her age. No sensory issues.
Ruth only completed two-thirds of the vaccination schedule but we believe it contributed to her pancreatitis. I found multiple reports on the Vaccine Adverse Reaction website connecting pancreatitis and the MMR vaccine or other vaccines. Because doctors don't report a reaction if it is over 24hrs from the time of injection I think many other side effects often are missed.
Again I am not opposed to modern medicine; pediatricians and surgeons have helped our family many times. I feel it is just important to make informed decisions and be aware of the risks to vaccinate as well as the risks of declining them.
Now onto the good stuff! In the next chapter I am going to discuss Stephen's breakthrough and detail some positive things you can do to make a difference in your child!
Monday, June 6, 2011
The Rest of the Story:
This chapter could be slightly controversial or disturbing to some parents. My goal is only to present what we learned and we believe to be true for our family. Because of the dramatic challenges and changes we have seen in our three children it is a subject I am very passionate about. But it is not my intention to make any parent feel uncomfortable or defensive. Every child's needs are different and the info I share is only meant to help, not criticize or change the way you raise your children.
I think the first question that comes to every mom's mind after receiving a diagnosis for a child is “why”...what did I do wrong? Was it something I ate? Something in our house? Or the dreaded question: was it the vaccines?
I followed the same path of questions with Stephen. I questioned the safety of vaccines early on when he was young but the Nurse Practitioner was so adamant that he needed everything to protect his health that I left feeling like I would be looked at as a 'bad parent' if I didn't do exactly what the doctor said. I was concerned when Stephen had multiple ear infections his first 18months but I had no idea it could be connected to the vaccines he had received.
Here is the information I found that spring of 09 after Stephen's diagnosis: information by parents, by medical doctors and professionals: information I believe to be true—for at least some of the cases. I am not going to document my sources because this is not meant to persuade you—if you want information on where to find valid resources please contact me privately and I will share it with you.
Autism is perhaps the most feared diagnosis for young parents today. The frequency of diagnosis has increased in recent years. While it used to be 1 in a 1000 boys diagnosed now it is 1 in a 100 boys who will be diagnosed somewhere on the spectrum! That means you most likely know someone or even have a child yourself with emotional or behavioral difficulties.
Doctors will tell you that there is research proving there is no link between autism and vaccines. However, the majority of these articles are funded by the drug/vaccine industry. Here is the rest of the story:
Vaccines are made of animal cells, preservatives and obviously strains of bacteria. While doctors may tell you your 2month old is getting one shot many of the doses have multiple vaccines in one injection. The harm in vaccines is not the 'mercury'. It is because the multiple vaccines overwhelm a young immune system with foreign material and multiple strains of disease. The result is usually an overload of metal from all the preservatives and a leaky gut unable to process all the disease it is flooded with. Leaky gut means the intestinal wall develops holes in it which leak harmful cells into the blood stream. Because of the imbalance of healthy bacteria it is very common for ear infections to occur which lead to more antibiotics and more healthy bacteria being wiped out.
Because of the bacterial imbalance it is very easy for these children to develop severe yeast problems internally. Yeast can cause mood changes, food allergies, body aches, sleeping disorders, skin rashes and break-outs and so much more. These problems, especially mood changes can be so severe the child may actually mimic autism or develop severe behavioral problems that are not genetic as believed. It is well known that almost all autistic children have digestive problems, skin problems and/or food allergies.
I was shocked to learn in my research that a very small percentage of children are born with autism...most develop it after 9 months of age which is concurrent with the injection of one of the riskiest vaccines: MMR.
This information is probably overwhelming and somewhat unbelievable but we have seen such huge results with Stephen and Ruth that I have no choice but to believe it. We have literally 'pulled' Stephen out of the fog of autism with diet and supplements and just as quickly seen him slip back when his digestive system is off.
I don't believe the answer is eliminating vaccines totally. Modern medicine has made great strides in protecting us from disease and helping the sick. There are several options for parents to consider as they make a decision for their child's health.
1.Ask for a limited vaccination schedule per the 1980s list.
2.Give high doses of Vit C and other specific vitamins the day before and after each shot
3.Ask the dr's to separate the vaccines into individual doses, not the multiple strains
4.Delay shots until the immune system is fully developed and the child is able to handle it better.
Whatever you decide is best for your family is the right course to take. It takes faith to vaccinate and faith to not vaccinate—either way we are trusting God for the right outcome. I encourage you to get information, do your own research and give the doctor your decision instead of waiting for his.
I think the first question that comes to every mom's mind after receiving a diagnosis for a child is “why”...what did I do wrong? Was it something I ate? Something in our house? Or the dreaded question: was it the vaccines?
I followed the same path of questions with Stephen. I questioned the safety of vaccines early on when he was young but the Nurse Practitioner was so adamant that he needed everything to protect his health that I left feeling like I would be looked at as a 'bad parent' if I didn't do exactly what the doctor said. I was concerned when Stephen had multiple ear infections his first 18months but I had no idea it could be connected to the vaccines he had received.
Here is the information I found that spring of 09 after Stephen's diagnosis: information by parents, by medical doctors and professionals: information I believe to be true—for at least some of the cases. I am not going to document my sources because this is not meant to persuade you—if you want information on where to find valid resources please contact me privately and I will share it with you.
Autism is perhaps the most feared diagnosis for young parents today. The frequency of diagnosis has increased in recent years. While it used to be 1 in a 1000 boys diagnosed now it is 1 in a 100 boys who will be diagnosed somewhere on the spectrum! That means you most likely know someone or even have a child yourself with emotional or behavioral difficulties.
Doctors will tell you that there is research proving there is no link between autism and vaccines. However, the majority of these articles are funded by the drug/vaccine industry. Here is the rest of the story:
Vaccines are made of animal cells, preservatives and obviously strains of bacteria. While doctors may tell you your 2month old is getting one shot many of the doses have multiple vaccines in one injection. The harm in vaccines is not the 'mercury'. It is because the multiple vaccines overwhelm a young immune system with foreign material and multiple strains of disease. The result is usually an overload of metal from all the preservatives and a leaky gut unable to process all the disease it is flooded with. Leaky gut means the intestinal wall develops holes in it which leak harmful cells into the blood stream. Because of the imbalance of healthy bacteria it is very common for ear infections to occur which lead to more antibiotics and more healthy bacteria being wiped out.
Because of the bacterial imbalance it is very easy for these children to develop severe yeast problems internally. Yeast can cause mood changes, food allergies, body aches, sleeping disorders, skin rashes and break-outs and so much more. These problems, especially mood changes can be so severe the child may actually mimic autism or develop severe behavioral problems that are not genetic as believed. It is well known that almost all autistic children have digestive problems, skin problems and/or food allergies.
I was shocked to learn in my research that a very small percentage of children are born with autism...most develop it after 9 months of age which is concurrent with the injection of one of the riskiest vaccines: MMR.
This information is probably overwhelming and somewhat unbelievable but we have seen such huge results with Stephen and Ruth that I have no choice but to believe it. We have literally 'pulled' Stephen out of the fog of autism with diet and supplements and just as quickly seen him slip back when his digestive system is off.
I don't believe the answer is eliminating vaccines totally. Modern medicine has made great strides in protecting us from disease and helping the sick. There are several options for parents to consider as they make a decision for their child's health.
1.Ask for a limited vaccination schedule per the 1980s list.
2.Give high doses of Vit C and other specific vitamins the day before and after each shot
3.Ask the dr's to separate the vaccines into individual doses, not the multiple strains
4.Delay shots until the immune system is fully developed and the child is able to handle it better.
Whatever you decide is best for your family is the right course to take. It takes faith to vaccinate and faith to not vaccinate—either way we are trusting God for the right outcome. I encourage you to get information, do your own research and give the doctor your decision instead of waiting for his.
Monday, May 30, 2011
The Why and What behind Stephen's Diet....
Before I share the 'what' of our diet I want to share two main thoughts that came to me that first year and gave me motivation for the 'why' of our diet.
The first thought was shared with me by another mother in our aspergers/PDD support group. I was discouraged with the lack of help and support from the IU and felt so helpless about Stephen's future. She looked at me in the eye and said, “You are Stephen's biggest advocate. No one else cares about him like you do. It is your job to access services, design his educational program and advocate for what he needs. At this point I realized that it was my responsibility to get help for Stephen— no one else!
There are so many supports available to us in America that sometimes I think we forget to think for ourselves. This was something I remembered and had to apply over and over....when I requested a re-eval for Stephen to get more services, when I told all his teachers that he couldn't have the school snacks, when I discussed vaccinations with several pediatricians, when I asked the head gastro doctor at Hershey to transfer our daughter to another hospital. Not everybody agreed with my/our decision but the end result was our responsibility and they all respected that.
The second major thought was shared with me by a Christian herbal consultant. We were discussing healthy eating and supplements and she told me that we are what we eat. If we eat sugar that is what our body cells crave and thrive on. If we eat healthy food that is the state of our cells also. The 'why' of eating healthy became much more clear to me as I took in all this information. It was my responsibility to help Stephen and he needed the highest quality nutrients to support his brain growth and development......now WHERE to start?
At this point we had all ready removed all the 'bad' stuff from our cupboards but it was overwhelming to think of planning three healthy meals every day, on a budget, for a very picky eater, a toddler and a growing baby! Back to the drawing board we went :-) With the help of my friend, again :-), I wrote out a weekly menu of what Stephen typically ate. Then I went hunting in the stores for healthy replacements. The first principle I learned....start gradual, start with favorite foods and pick replacement foods that are appealing and taste good! The goal is to train your body to crave less sugar, less white flour and more 'good stuff.' In the beginning I didn't worry about variety or balance as much as quality. Breakfast was the easiest meal for us to start. Here is the before and after picture of his menu:
Before: Lucky charms, pop-tarts, cereal, instant oatmeal, doughnuts, pancakes(syrup with HFCS), sausage, eggs
After: Jones(all-natural sausage), organic instant oatmeal, whole grain pancakes with flax seed added, maple syrup or Log Cabin(no HFCS), scrambled eggs, french toast with whole grain bread.
We did the same thing with his lunch and supper menu items...keeping plenty of healthy stuff on hand—within less than a week we noticed a difference! As he stopped craving all the pure white sugar and white flour he started to clean his plate and eat more meats and more balanced meals!
I found several places including Amelia's, Sharp Shopper and Wegman's where I could get 'safe' food at a discount and learned what to keep on hand to make meals doable and healthy.
At this point he began speech therapy at the IU(September 09) and also started receiving Behavior therapy support in the home once a week(October 09). His stimming, chewing and other abnormal behavior lessened with the healthy diet but he still had a hard time relating to other people...especially his sisters! I found myself making excuses for him or answering for him when an adult asked him a question that he rarely knew how to answer....I desperately wanted him to be 'normal'...to be like all the other little boys that I saw playing together and interacting with friends...Life continued to be a whirlwind of therapy, research, shopping and reading as we tried to make sense of this diagnosis and anticipate what the future might hold.
The information we had learned so far was the key to unlocking Stephen's world...the door wasn't open yet but the key was in the lock and we were primed to go! Keep reading future blogs as I share more of what we learned!
The first thought was shared with me by another mother in our aspergers/PDD support group. I was discouraged with the lack of help and support from the IU and felt so helpless about Stephen's future. She looked at me in the eye and said, “You are Stephen's biggest advocate. No one else cares about him like you do. It is your job to access services, design his educational program and advocate for what he needs. At this point I realized that it was my responsibility to get help for Stephen— no one else!
There are so many supports available to us in America that sometimes I think we forget to think for ourselves. This was something I remembered and had to apply over and over....when I requested a re-eval for Stephen to get more services, when I told all his teachers that he couldn't have the school snacks, when I discussed vaccinations with several pediatricians, when I asked the head gastro doctor at Hershey to transfer our daughter to another hospital. Not everybody agreed with my/our decision but the end result was our responsibility and they all respected that.
The second major thought was shared with me by a Christian herbal consultant. We were discussing healthy eating and supplements and she told me that we are what we eat. If we eat sugar that is what our body cells crave and thrive on. If we eat healthy food that is the state of our cells also. The 'why' of eating healthy became much more clear to me as I took in all this information. It was my responsibility to help Stephen and he needed the highest quality nutrients to support his brain growth and development......now WHERE to start?
At this point we had all ready removed all the 'bad' stuff from our cupboards but it was overwhelming to think of planning three healthy meals every day, on a budget, for a very picky eater, a toddler and a growing baby! Back to the drawing board we went :-) With the help of my friend, again :-), I wrote out a weekly menu of what Stephen typically ate. Then I went hunting in the stores for healthy replacements. The first principle I learned....start gradual, start with favorite foods and pick replacement foods that are appealing and taste good! The goal is to train your body to crave less sugar, less white flour and more 'good stuff.' In the beginning I didn't worry about variety or balance as much as quality. Breakfast was the easiest meal for us to start. Here is the before and after picture of his menu:
Before: Lucky charms, pop-tarts, cereal, instant oatmeal, doughnuts, pancakes(syrup with HFCS), sausage, eggs
After: Jones(all-natural sausage), organic instant oatmeal, whole grain pancakes with flax seed added, maple syrup or Log Cabin(no HFCS), scrambled eggs, french toast with whole grain bread.
We did the same thing with his lunch and supper menu items...keeping plenty of healthy stuff on hand—within less than a week we noticed a difference! As he stopped craving all the pure white sugar and white flour he started to clean his plate and eat more meats and more balanced meals!
I found several places including Amelia's, Sharp Shopper and Wegman's where I could get 'safe' food at a discount and learned what to keep on hand to make meals doable and healthy.
At this point he began speech therapy at the IU(September 09) and also started receiving Behavior therapy support in the home once a week(October 09). His stimming, chewing and other abnormal behavior lessened with the healthy diet but he still had a hard time relating to other people...especially his sisters! I found myself making excuses for him or answering for him when an adult asked him a question that he rarely knew how to answer....I desperately wanted him to be 'normal'...to be like all the other little boys that I saw playing together and interacting with friends...Life continued to be a whirlwind of therapy, research, shopping and reading as we tried to make sense of this diagnosis and anticipate what the future might hold.
The information we had learned so far was the key to unlocking Stephen's world...the door wasn't open yet but the key was in the lock and we were primed to go! Keep reading future blogs as I share more of what we learned!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
The Journey Begins
July 7th, 2009: Dave and I met with the psychological review team at Keystone and they went over Stephen's needs and official diagnosis: Pervasive Developmental Disorder. I remember standing over his bed that week watching him sleep. He was curled up in a ball sucking on a blanket. He looked more like a 12month old than a 3yr old and it broke my heart. I wondered: would I ever really know my son?
It was around this time that I began to research and learn about 'healthy eating' and diet changes. I learned that most High Fructose Corn Syrup has some mercury in it. I learned that some forms of Red dye are made from the shells of South American Bugs. I learned that most dyes have been proven to cause allergic reactions, hives or behavior problems in children on the spectrum or ADHD. I learned that most autistic children have an overload of metal in their system and the above foods often triggered behavior because of the child's inability to deal with the food. At this point we were desperate to find answers, willing to try anything that might help Stephen. A friend helped me clean out our cupboards....we dumped Kraft Macaroni and cheese(yellow dye), Pillsbury biscuits(Red 40), Chocolate pudding (Red 40), Hot dogs(nitrates and nitrites), Hershey's syrup(HFCS) Jiffy PB(hydrogenated oils) Welchs jelly(dye), Heinz Ketchup(red 40 and/or HFCS)...the list goes on and on. It was very overwhelming to see the pile of discarded food and the empty cupboards with not much in it!
I know it sounds impossible and you may wonder what we eat :-) but we have found many ways of eating healthy that are doable and even economic and fun! Once you learn what is safe and how to eat healthy it is actually easier to plan a menu. More on that later.....
It was the beginning of a rough summer but God provided in so many ways. One of my cousins traveled over an hour to work with Stephen several days a week. Another teacher also drove a long distance to coach her and work with Stephen. A educational consultant donated almost $600 worth of teaching materials and language cards so we had material for his language program. A friend from church volunteered many hours that summer working with Stephen, cooking our suppers, babysitting and overall helping me maintain my sanity :-) Another friend helped me fill my cupboards with 'safe' foods to replace all the ones we got rid of. One thing I have always been grateful for is the overwhelming support and acceptance we felt as a family before and after his diagnosis. It was this support and God's grace that carried us through the next two years.
That fall I fought with the IU to increase his hours and finally compromised on speech therapy twice a week and one language group class. We began to try different supplements to increase his brain activity, cognition and language. It was that fall that we began to see improvements in his language. I think it was a combination of the intense summer program, weekly speech therapy and the diet changes and supplements we added. He began to label things but at this point we had all ready lost over a year of his developmental life so his frustrations and behaviors continued to be challenging as he struggled to express his needs and cope with two younger sisters.
In the next chapter I am going to talk about specific medical issues that we found related to Stephen's Autism, Ruth's Pancreatitis and Asthma and Allergies for both of them. I am going to talk about the path we went down and the dramatic changes we saw in Stephen!
It was around this time that I began to research and learn about 'healthy eating' and diet changes. I learned that most High Fructose Corn Syrup has some mercury in it. I learned that some forms of Red dye are made from the shells of South American Bugs. I learned that most dyes have been proven to cause allergic reactions, hives or behavior problems in children on the spectrum or ADHD. I learned that most autistic children have an overload of metal in their system and the above foods often triggered behavior because of the child's inability to deal with the food. At this point we were desperate to find answers, willing to try anything that might help Stephen. A friend helped me clean out our cupboards....we dumped Kraft Macaroni and cheese(yellow dye), Pillsbury biscuits(Red 40), Chocolate pudding (Red 40), Hot dogs(nitrates and nitrites), Hershey's syrup(HFCS) Jiffy PB(hydrogenated oils) Welchs jelly(dye), Heinz Ketchup(red 40 and/or HFCS)...the list goes on and on. It was very overwhelming to see the pile of discarded food and the empty cupboards with not much in it!
I know it sounds impossible and you may wonder what we eat :-) but we have found many ways of eating healthy that are doable and even economic and fun! Once you learn what is safe and how to eat healthy it is actually easier to plan a menu. More on that later.....
It was the beginning of a rough summer but God provided in so many ways. One of my cousins traveled over an hour to work with Stephen several days a week. Another teacher also drove a long distance to coach her and work with Stephen. A educational consultant donated almost $600 worth of teaching materials and language cards so we had material for his language program. A friend from church volunteered many hours that summer working with Stephen, cooking our suppers, babysitting and overall helping me maintain my sanity :-) Another friend helped me fill my cupboards with 'safe' foods to replace all the ones we got rid of. One thing I have always been grateful for is the overwhelming support and acceptance we felt as a family before and after his diagnosis. It was this support and God's grace that carried us through the next two years.
That fall I fought with the IU to increase his hours and finally compromised on speech therapy twice a week and one language group class. We began to try different supplements to increase his brain activity, cognition and language. It was that fall that we began to see improvements in his language. I think it was a combination of the intense summer program, weekly speech therapy and the diet changes and supplements we added. He began to label things but at this point we had all ready lost over a year of his developmental life so his frustrations and behaviors continued to be challenging as he struggled to express his needs and cope with two younger sisters.
In the next chapter I am going to talk about specific medical issues that we found related to Stephen's Autism, Ruth's Pancreatitis and Asthma and Allergies for both of them. I am going to talk about the path we went down and the dramatic changes we saw in Stephen!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Searching for Answers
It was January 2009. I was 8months pregnant with our third child and Stephen had made little progress in 8months of Early Intervention Therapy. I questioned the therapist again....couldn't it be Autism? Why isn't he learning? Why does he line up his cars instead of playing with other toys. Why does he chew his blanket? Why does he run around and bounce off of things? She repeatedly brushed me off and reassured me that it could NOT be Autism because he gave such good eye contact. Given he did not initiate contact with anybody, never ran up to me and said I love you or gave me a hug. I wanted to believe her but a deep sense of unease began to build inside of me.
March 2009...in conversation with a friend about another boy with a delay I realized it was possible to have autistic tendencies and not be full-blown autistic. I went online and took a questionnaire and Stephen scored very high for Pervasive Developmental Disorder. I showed it to the therapist but she brushed me off again and pointed out the weakness of online tools. Stephen's diet continued to be limited and his vocabulary was less than 13 words. He didn't say hi or ask for anything unprompted. He did not understand questions, especially not yes or no. His main words were juice, cookie, truck and car.
At this point Dave and I felt like we were going crazy. We were desperate to find answers, to point out a reason for his unusual behavior and lack of communication besides poor parenting skills. From what I have read this is very common with parents of high-functioning autism children. Because they don't 'appear' to have a problem people often offer parenting advice and think the child is just out of control.
With my experience as a Special Education teacher I saw signs that I couldn't ignore....random fears and sudden cries or temper outbursts for no reason...I saw the autistic tendencies that I had overlooked for so long. I became desperate to find a professional who would agree with me so that I could get him help.
May 2009. We had Stephen's hearing tested and they found no problem. I left that appointment with a sick feeling in my stomach. If it wasn't his hearing there was something definitely wrong psychologically but how I could find someone to help me? Stephen went to the IU for his Evaluation and they assured me he could not have Autism...he was way too 'interactive' and high functioning. They brushed me off again. I was furious when I got a phone call saying he qualified for one 3hr class a week and no speech therapy!!! At this point his vocabulary had not improved and he was barely at a 12month level.
I learned that parents are entitled to request an Independent Evaluation at any time if they do not agree with the school district. Parents have so much more authority and rights then the school district tells them. I called Keystone and scheduled an eval for Stephen in June. Meanwhile I began to pour over websites and books searching for answers, searching for hope.
It was hard to connect with Stephen...he didn't have much of an emotional affect and seemed happier playing by himself. With a 2yr old with asthma problems and a nursing infant it was tough to give him attention when he didn't seem to care either way. I struggled with guilt and exhaustion constantly but pushed down all the feelings and would not allow myself to believe he was autistic until I found a way to 'fix' him. His behavior worsened and was unpredictable around other people. I began to fear for the girls safety and could not leave them alone for more than 15seconds. My emotions began a downward spiral as life seemed impossible and hopeless. Instead of trusting God and waiting on His timing I begged Him for help, for a solution. Now looking back I can see God's provision and love in every step—it was meant to be a journey of growth and faith, not desperation and discouragement.
March 2009...in conversation with a friend about another boy with a delay I realized it was possible to have autistic tendencies and not be full-blown autistic. I went online and took a questionnaire and Stephen scored very high for Pervasive Developmental Disorder. I showed it to the therapist but she brushed me off again and pointed out the weakness of online tools. Stephen's diet continued to be limited and his vocabulary was less than 13 words. He didn't say hi or ask for anything unprompted. He did not understand questions, especially not yes or no. His main words were juice, cookie, truck and car.
At this point Dave and I felt like we were going crazy. We were desperate to find answers, to point out a reason for his unusual behavior and lack of communication besides poor parenting skills. From what I have read this is very common with parents of high-functioning autism children. Because they don't 'appear' to have a problem people often offer parenting advice and think the child is just out of control.
With my experience as a Special Education teacher I saw signs that I couldn't ignore....random fears and sudden cries or temper outbursts for no reason...I saw the autistic tendencies that I had overlooked for so long. I became desperate to find a professional who would agree with me so that I could get him help.
May 2009. We had Stephen's hearing tested and they found no problem. I left that appointment with a sick feeling in my stomach. If it wasn't his hearing there was something definitely wrong psychologically but how I could find someone to help me? Stephen went to the IU for his Evaluation and they assured me he could not have Autism...he was way too 'interactive' and high functioning. They brushed me off again. I was furious when I got a phone call saying he qualified for one 3hr class a week and no speech therapy!!! At this point his vocabulary had not improved and he was barely at a 12month level.
I learned that parents are entitled to request an Independent Evaluation at any time if they do not agree with the school district. Parents have so much more authority and rights then the school district tells them. I called Keystone and scheduled an eval for Stephen in June. Meanwhile I began to pour over websites and books searching for answers, searching for hope.
It was hard to connect with Stephen...he didn't have much of an emotional affect and seemed happier playing by himself. With a 2yr old with asthma problems and a nursing infant it was tough to give him attention when he didn't seem to care either way. I struggled with guilt and exhaustion constantly but pushed down all the feelings and would not allow myself to believe he was autistic until I found a way to 'fix' him. His behavior worsened and was unpredictable around other people. I began to fear for the girls safety and could not leave them alone for more than 15seconds. My emotions began a downward spiral as life seemed impossible and hopeless. Instead of trusting God and waiting on His timing I begged Him for help, for a solution. Now looking back I can see God's provision and love in every step—it was meant to be a journey of growth and faith, not desperation and discouragement.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Stephen's Story
He would play for hours by himself, lining up cars or watching TV. He spoke little and used gestures and sounds to get what he wanted. His diet changed from eating anything to a very limited carbs and sugar diet. He became afraid of new foods, gagging or crying in terror when we put them on his plate. When his sister arrived his behavior erupted and he threw toys in frustration or attacked her when she got too close. He would run in circles, make loud noises or chew on items when he was worked up.
The innocent habits I brushed off early on became my worst nightmare in July of 2009 when this boy, our son, Stephen was diagnosed with PDD or high-functioning autism. The diagnosis was no surprise to us—just a confirmation of what we had feared for so long. It was the starting point of a journey, a journey of hope, despair, anguish and frustration as we tried to find an answer, a way to unlock the window of Stephen's world and find our little boy inside.
How did we get from there to here?
It is a story I want to tell, a story I need to tell. How a young mother found answers, found hope and ultimately found her little boy.
Today I sat in the IU office and heard Stephen's teacher exclaim over his progress. She pointed out his levels and progress report with NO sign of a language, articulation or cognitive delay. She told me that he was helping the speech teacher lead his play group class! Modeling language for the students and prompting them when they didn't know the answer. She reminded me of the little boy that entered her office not two years ago with a sound repertoire of 6 sounds and 13words. A little boy who couldn't answer questions and was locked inside his own world.
This amazing account of his progress has inspired me to do something I have wanted to do for so long: tell Stephen's story. Piece by piece as I remember the dietary changes, the supplements, the search for therapists and finally finding a doctor who believed me and was able to help our son.
I hope that this story touches you, that the information I share may help someone else's son or daughter struggling with a disability or challenge. But ultimately, I hope that this story gives glory to God and praise for His touch on Stephen's life.
The innocent habits I brushed off early on became my worst nightmare in July of 2009 when this boy, our son, Stephen was diagnosed with PDD or high-functioning autism. The diagnosis was no surprise to us—just a confirmation of what we had feared for so long. It was the starting point of a journey, a journey of hope, despair, anguish and frustration as we tried to find an answer, a way to unlock the window of Stephen's world and find our little boy inside.
How did we get from there to here?
It is a story I want to tell, a story I need to tell. How a young mother found answers, found hope and ultimately found her little boy.
Today I sat in the IU office and heard Stephen's teacher exclaim over his progress. She pointed out his levels and progress report with NO sign of a language, articulation or cognitive delay. She told me that he was helping the speech teacher lead his play group class! Modeling language for the students and prompting them when they didn't know the answer. She reminded me of the little boy that entered her office not two years ago with a sound repertoire of 6 sounds and 13words. A little boy who couldn't answer questions and was locked inside his own world.
This amazing account of his progress has inspired me to do something I have wanted to do for so long: tell Stephen's story. Piece by piece as I remember the dietary changes, the supplements, the search for therapists and finally finding a doctor who believed me and was able to help our son.
I hope that this story touches you, that the information I share may help someone else's son or daughter struggling with a disability or challenge. But ultimately, I hope that this story gives glory to God and praise for His touch on Stephen's life.
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