I've never hidden my opinion on vaccines & Autism. But lately I've gotten a fresh new wave of questions & friends with new babies. Emails, phone calls & texts that all ask the same question. What would you do? What did you do? What happened with Reid? Do you believe vaccines cause Autism. So..here it is. Here's what I believe. But first, a message to my friends that vaccinate your kids. I think you're doing the right thing for your child. I do not think you're a bad parent because you choose to vaccinate. But sadly, sometimes I feel that you think the opposite of me.
Sometimes, the only way you can learn something is through experience. I learned to never take your eyes off a kid in a pool..not even for one second. Because my son drowned. I learned to question vaccines because my son reacted to one. I don't call you crazy because you vaccinate. But I can't tell you the looks & emails & comments I get because I don't give my kids every single vaccine that comes out. I'm just asking for the same courtesy. The same respect. There are some on BOTH sides that are crazy. Name calling. Insults hurled back & forth about parenting or lack thereof because you do or don't vaccinate.
Before Reid received his last MMR everything was fine. He hit all of his milestones, earlier than most. Was he a little different as a child? Yes. I would say genetics loaded the gun. And I KNOW that the MMR vaccine pulled the trigger. To full blown Autism. Hours after the vaccine, he spiked a raging fever, was covered in a horrible rash, vomited & had black & red diarrhea for 2 days. He was also admitted to the hospital with severe stomach pains & was diagnosed lymphadenitis later that week. Over the next few months whatever problems he had before were now off the charts. He slid back into this nightmare of tantrums, vomiting every day all day, stomach pains, cramps & swelling, not eating, not sleeping, not communicating, he lost the ability to ride a bike, which he did months before. He could no longer swim or write a sentence. He was NOT THE SAME CHILD. Greg & I spent every last dime we had looking for an explanation & received several. But none fit. Then one day I watched Jenny McCarthy on Oprah. I could not breath. She was talking about Autism & every thing fit. Except Reid could talk. I called my childhood friend Aimee, who had been listening to me for years & knew Reid so well. With tears streaming down my face told her I knew that's what it was. I had finally found a solution & it wasn't good. I called the Autism clinic at Texas Children's. For months we waited. I researched, read every book I could find. I stayed up all night every night just scouring for information about what Autism was. Finally our testing day came. Within minutes I saw that the Dr. knew what I knew. We both remained silent & after 3 days of testing the words came. "Your son has a form of Autism called Aspergers. He will never....blah, blah, blah." My heart broke. For Reid & for myself. "You need to mourn the loss of whatever you thought he was going to be." And I did. But then I got mad. No, I got angry. From my research I knew what to do. So we dug in for 3 years of classes. Classes for us, for him, therapy. For everyone. You name the therapy & we did it. And now he is more than I thought he could ever be. Kick Autism's butt every day!
So..about vaccines. I think they serve a purpose. But the dosage is wrong for babies. It's too many too soon. And the people that are making them & saying you need them are making millions. And they add more to the list every year. Why? I just ask that you research. Instead of saying there's NO way that a vaccine could cause Autism. Read. Research. Think. The amount of vaccines given has increased, Autism has increased. When Reid was diagnosed it was 1 in 88. Now it's 1 in 50. There are so many options. Space the vaccines out. Think about what I stand to gain if I'm right. Nothing. What do I win? My son has Autism. Every day for the rest of his life. What does Big Pharm & the govt stand to lose? Millions. Billions. I don't want to be right. I don't want anyone to go through what we did. I pray each time I see a baby getting their vaccines. And I'm SO beyond happy when I see that they're fine.
Here is some more info:
http://gianelloni.wordpress.com/2013/09/13/why-all-the-measles-outbreaks/
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/side-effects.htm
http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/facts-about-autism
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/additives.htm
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Football
In high school Friday nights were spent watching my brothers. Football was a tradition passed down from Uncles & cousins. One that my brothers were proud to continue. Reid has always been a bigger child. This has prompted many conversations from school coaches, friends & family. "Is he going to play football?" He had the size but lacked the desire to play. This summer he went to his school football camp. And loved it. I was very happy he chose to play a sport & make that commitment. I was a little worried though. He's never played. Football can be dangerous. And....he's an Aspie.
There, I said it. It did run through my mind. How could it not? I was more concerned about that than an injury. Crazy, I know. Would the coaches understand? Would the players? Would he like after it got difficult? The summer camp was no picnic but it was also no contact. What would happened when he put pads on? And had to hit someone. And they hit him? I never told him these things, of course. I prayed. A lot. Talked to my brothers & hubby. And waited. Turns out, it's been the BEST thing for him.
It's given him a purpose. He's up early for school, he's doing ALL of his homework. Sure, mostly to avoid "do rights" but it's working. He loves it. And he's pretty darn good. I think football in Texas gets negative press sometimes. Are there crazy parents that take it WAY too seriously? Yes, but you have that in every sport. Are there coaches that take it way too seriously? Yes, but again, you can see that anywhere. I'm choosing to see the positive side. And there are SO many great things about football. Here's a few.
1. Exercise- Hours of practice in the Texas sun with pads on.
2. Team work- I'm sure not everyone likes everyone on the team. But that's real life. And you still have to work together. That's invaluable for a young man that thinks he's the center of the universe.
3. Friends- There are over 100 boys on our freshman teams. They have spent & will spend hours, days & weeks with each other. Getting their butts kicked, winning, losing & getting hurt. They are friends when it counts. Brothers even. They can pick on each other, or call each other names. But you cannot.
4. Accountability- You can't miss practice. You can't miss school. Sure, if you're REALLY sick, you can. But it's great when your kid is having a morning when they just don't want to go. And not get out of bed. They have coaches, teachers & friends expecting them to show up. Also, there's 20 other kids that can play your position, waiting for you to not show up one day.
5. I know where he is- And who he's with. He's at practice. Or home doing homework. Or eating. Or sleeping. Or at the other games watching the JV or Varsity. With his teammates. And at lunch, he sits with other players. And I know their parents because we sit at the games together.
6. He belongs to something- He found somewhere he fits in. To any kid that's invaluable. To MY kid it's...amazing. Awesome. Just a beautiful thing.
7. He's too tired to get in trouble.- He's 14 & has a little more freedom. I keep an eye on him but I'm not stupid. I was young once & I had brothers. There's ALL kinds of trouble for boys that age. But between practice, games & school he's worn out.
8. Mentors- There are some amazing upperclassman at his school. The same boys that helped with Rowan's room are setting a wonderful example for Reid. We hear so many stories about kids at school getting in trouble. We don't hear enough about young men like this!
9. Coaches- These men are doing something right. They get hundreds of boys to show up to something every day, on time? To practice & play with all their hearts. I'm sure they want to win. But let's be honest, that's a whole lot of work to just say you won a few games. They're investing time in our sons.
10. Sacrifice- Such a great thing for an Aspie, or any young man, to learn. These boys sacrifice their time, their ego's & themselves every day. They also sacrifice their testosterone & leave it on the field.
There are so many more but I won't bore you. Texas football is many things. It's Friday nights with a thousand of your closest friends. It's respect for everyone that is investing in your kids. It's the band. For me it's all of those things & more. Reid is happy to be a part of something. I would be writing about band or art the same way if that's what he chose. But he chose football. And I think it chose him a little too.
There, I said it. It did run through my mind. How could it not? I was more concerned about that than an injury. Crazy, I know. Would the coaches understand? Would the players? Would he like after it got difficult? The summer camp was no picnic but it was also no contact. What would happened when he put pads on? And had to hit someone. And they hit him? I never told him these things, of course. I prayed. A lot. Talked to my brothers & hubby. And waited. Turns out, it's been the BEST thing for him.
It's given him a purpose. He's up early for school, he's doing ALL of his homework. Sure, mostly to avoid "do rights" but it's working. He loves it. And he's pretty darn good. I think football in Texas gets negative press sometimes. Are there crazy parents that take it WAY too seriously? Yes, but you have that in every sport. Are there coaches that take it way too seriously? Yes, but again, you can see that anywhere. I'm choosing to see the positive side. And there are SO many great things about football. Here's a few.
1. Exercise- Hours of practice in the Texas sun with pads on.
2. Team work- I'm sure not everyone likes everyone on the team. But that's real life. And you still have to work together. That's invaluable for a young man that thinks he's the center of the universe.
3. Friends- There are over 100 boys on our freshman teams. They have spent & will spend hours, days & weeks with each other. Getting their butts kicked, winning, losing & getting hurt. They are friends when it counts. Brothers even. They can pick on each other, or call each other names. But you cannot.
4. Accountability- You can't miss practice. You can't miss school. Sure, if you're REALLY sick, you can. But it's great when your kid is having a morning when they just don't want to go. And not get out of bed. They have coaches, teachers & friends expecting them to show up. Also, there's 20 other kids that can play your position, waiting for you to not show up one day.
5. I know where he is- And who he's with. He's at practice. Or home doing homework. Or eating. Or sleeping. Or at the other games watching the JV or Varsity. With his teammates. And at lunch, he sits with other players. And I know their parents because we sit at the games together.
6. He belongs to something- He found somewhere he fits in. To any kid that's invaluable. To MY kid it's...amazing. Awesome. Just a beautiful thing.
7. He's too tired to get in trouble.- He's 14 & has a little more freedom. I keep an eye on him but I'm not stupid. I was young once & I had brothers. There's ALL kinds of trouble for boys that age. But between practice, games & school he's worn out.
8. Mentors- There are some amazing upperclassman at his school. The same boys that helped with Rowan's room are setting a wonderful example for Reid. We hear so many stories about kids at school getting in trouble. We don't hear enough about young men like this!
9. Coaches- These men are doing something right. They get hundreds of boys to show up to something every day, on time? To practice & play with all their hearts. I'm sure they want to win. But let's be honest, that's a whole lot of work to just say you won a few games. They're investing time in our sons.
10. Sacrifice- Such a great thing for an Aspie, or any young man, to learn. These boys sacrifice their time, their ego's & themselves every day. They also sacrifice their testosterone & leave it on the field.
There are so many more but I won't bore you. Texas football is many things. It's Friday nights with a thousand of your closest friends. It's respect for everyone that is investing in your kids. It's the band. For me it's all of those things & more. Reid is happy to be a part of something. I would be writing about band or art the same way if that's what he chose. But he chose football. And I think it chose him a little too.
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