The Next Generation
Categories: Autism, Jenny McCarthy, Louder than Words, Immunizations
This year brings with it many exciting new experiences. Foremost is that I and some of my friends are becoming grandparents for the first time. I suppose I am in a bit of a unique position in that I have a daughter old enough to make me a grandparent and I have a child young enough to still be in primary elementary school.
When my daughter was born there were no home computers or internet. We got our first computer when my oldest son was about 18 months old. Even then, I was intimidated by the machine and afraid that if I so much as pushed the power button it would blow up and I would have no idea what to do next. Hmm…a bit like raising children I suppose. Well, obviously I got past that thinking…
When my youngest child was born at 26 weeks gestation I found I had an endless need to research everything I could about his situation. I researched the drugs they were giving him and the side effects that they had. I researched each condition that developed due to his premature entry into this world and what the possible impact would be on his development. The information that has been available to me while travelling this path with this child has been mind boggling at times. But, I am eternally grateful to have this at hand. I feel so much more empowered and capable as a parent.
That brings me to the point of this message.
My children will have at hand, right from the start of their parenting experience, all of the information that they may ever need in regards to rearing their children. We are all much better informed about a great many things. Of primary focus for me is the immunization issue. I am in full agreement with Jenny McCarthy from the standpoint that we need to be more particular about which immunizations we are giving our kids and that an altered schedule, a later start with the immunization schedule, is well worth considering. As parents we need to make our own decisions about what is best for our children but those decisions should be based on good information. Parents need to understand the pressures that are placed on the medical establishment to follow the medical ethics as prescribed by the governing bodies. Doctors are not permitted to encourage parents to “think for themselves” when it comes to medical treatment for their children. When K was born and in the NICU he turned 2 “months” old. He weighted under 3 pounds at the time. The pediatrician handling our case came to me and my husband and said, “Tomorrow your son will receive his immunizations”. I responded with “but he is too small still, I think we should wait until his corrected age of 2 months, he will have a larger body mass to handle the immunization”. The doctor told me that if we didn’t have the immunizations that he would no longer be able to treat our son. I said to him, “Well, I sure hope we don’t end up dealing with Autism down the road”. Of course the response from the doctor was that there was no evidence that immunizations are linked to Autism. What else was he permitted to say? Well, my son and the child that was in the next incubator received immunizations at the same time. Both have since been diagnosed with Autism. Is this coincidence? I think not.
To all of the new parents, I wish you Bon Voyage. You are embarking on an incredible journey, the delights of which await your discovery, regardless of the map you choose to follow.
Do you have an experience where a doctor bulldozed your parental rights? Leave a comment. We love to hear from you!
I made use of every resource I could get my hands on when my son was born because he was, technically, still-born and had to be resussitated twice in a span of 30 minutes after his birth via c-section. I, too, was on top of every eventuallity regarding the brain damage caused by his birth and, I have to say, Autism never crossed my mind. A close friend asked me if he had Asperger's Syndrome about a year ago and I had no idea what he was talking about so I researched that as well and, after having to push three of his specialists about it, he was tested and confirmed to have Asperger's. My point? I find it astounding how much information is available to those who seek it, and a bit over-whelming sometimes too. I've found, also, that doctors don't like for us, as parents, to be informed. The don't like having their diagnosis or treatment plan questioned but, frankly my dears, I don't give a hoot! That's my baby and I'm going to do all in my power to protect him from any further harm and that includes harm from the medical community. They nearly cost me his life once. It won't happen again.
What I find difficult to deal with at this point is the idea that the very immunizations that were meant to protect my child could be partly (if not completely) to blame for his Asperger's. He has mild cerebral palsy and his doctors believe that the brain damage he suffered is more likely the cause of his Asperger's but I have to wonder, after what I've been reading, if his weak condition and ill health at birth might have made him more susseptible to the negative affects of such immunizations. It seems to me that kids who started out in the NICU tend to be more prone for such negative effects later on, but perhaps that's just how I'm reading it. Regardless, I do wish they would study it more closely, especially given the higher rate of Autism occuring in our children. More kids than ever are being diagnosed every single day. I'd like to know, once and for all, WHY this is happening. It just breaks my heart.
Anyway... thanks for sharing your experiences. It's good to know that we're not alone in dealing with this quirky little world that is my child's autism and CP and it makes HIM feel better knowing that there are other kids out there, just like him, who are so very special in so very many ways. Bless them all and bless you!!!
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Hello Saille,
Thank you so much for your input!
My son K also has Cerebral Palsy and is deaf as well as having the Autism diagnosis.
My other son, J is diagnosed with Asperger's. I have to concur with the many other parents that report seeing a change in the child after the MMR. In those days, I knew nothing about Autism Spectrum Disorders. I think I had heard my Mom mention one friend of hers whose child had Autism and she didn't live at home with her parents. J was diagnosed at age 12 with Asperger's. The diagnosis would have come earlier if the pediatrician that he was referred to at age 9 had actually listened to me when I said "No, he doesn't have ADHD, his issues are related to socialization not attention". She said, "That may be, come back to see me when you are ready to medicate him". Needless to say, we haven't been back to see her! It took another three years to get the diagnosis. Most of that time was spent on waiting lists and doing testing. So much wasted time. At this point we are dealing with a 15 year old that has not had near enough intervention/therapy and in somewhat typical teenage fashion resists anything that "Adults" suggest in way of assistance eg: IEP accomodations at school.
Well. we just keep on keepin' on...
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The doc problem first came to me with my son's pediatric neurologist that tended to his care immediately after his birth. He and his rehab staff kept saying that Al's little quirks they noticed in therapy sessions were nothing of real concern... just "red flags" we would have to keep an eye on. It frustrated me because I KNEW something wasn't quite right but everything I asked them about ended up being shoved aside, insinuating that it was all in my head. It took one of his in-home therapists to encourage me to get a second opinion to find a top pediatric neurologist who could explain it to me. My son, by then 2 yrs old, was in his office for all of 10 minutes before he told me he had "the mildest CP 'he'd' ever seen". I didn't even know what "CP" was. I was crushed, not at finding that my child had CP but that two very important, very valuable years of development were past and he could've been getting better, more effective care that whole time.
Since that day Al has had a miriad of diagnosis added and we're taking one day at a time but I have to say that his pending teen years, lurking ever-so nearby, is a frightening thought. I have to give it to you, Lori-Ann, you're one brave soul and you have my complete respect. It's good to see other parents who are going through this who are willing to stand up to doctors, schools, businesses, and anyone in general who would get in the way of their child having every possible chance at as normal a childhood/life as any other kid their age.
What really blows my mind are the parents (and I'm sure you know at least one) who's children have blantant signs of such disorders and choose to ignore it... calling them "hard headed" or "in need of a good butt warming". I have a relative like that and it drives me nuts. Their kid is showing similar signs that mine shows in regards to Asperger's behaviors but he also has a serious defiance disorder. They say he has ADD and give him Adderall only when he's going to school... and that's just so he won't be expelled from FRIST GRADE! The rest of the time he suffers being yelled at and unfairly (overly) punished for behaviors that he cannot control. I mean, when a little boy cries and tells you he can't help it and he doesn't feel "right" when he isn't taking his medicine, perhaps it's time to seek a specialist for proper testing rather than your small-town family doctor that knows little to nothing about such matters. Grrrr! I just wish all kids with these problems could get the help they need. It's so frustrating.
K.... enough with the venting about that. Good luck with your teen and you're right... we'll just keep doing what we do. Good mom's do that.
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