Sunday, November 21, 2010

autism: the final step towards recovery



As a 3.5 year old, Seth did not speak. He did not point. He had never called me "mama". He did not communicate in any form, other than screaming. Tantrums. Screaming. All day, every day. He didn't know how to play with toys. All he did was spin the wheels on cars/bikes/strollers all day long. We would go for walks in the stroller, and he wouldn't enjoy the outdoors, he would look down at the wheels the entire time. We couldn't go out in public and we couldn't have play dates. We were at the end of our rope.

Then, we found our naturopath. By nothing short of heavenly intervention, we found an amazing woman who is recovering autistic children every day. She started Seth on supplements, homeopathic remedies, and told me to cut out all wheat and dairy from his diet. She explained to us that these children are toxic. This world full of pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, toxins, unhealthy food, artificial colors, etc., and is producing children that exhibit the same symptoms of truly autistic children. What do I mean by truly autistic? Someone who has a true neurological disorder. 1 in 94 children in the United States does not have a true neurological disorder. 1 in 94 children has heavy metal poisoning. Growing up, by the time I reached school aged, I had 10 vaccines. Kids now are getting 36 by the time they enter school. You do the math. If you look at the symptoms of mercury toxicity and the symptoms of autism they are almost word for word. For Seth, his 15 month (MMR) vaccines are the straw that broke his back. My diet pre conception and during pregnancy, environmental toxins, emotional trauma, pitocin during labor and formula feeding are all the things, I believe, led to his collapse after the MMR vaccine.



We followed our naturopaths orders and little by little, Seth came back. He started to wake up to the world around him. He started playing. He started talking.

We radically changed our lives. We went from eating whatever looked good at our local mainstream grocery store to eating vegetables from a farmer's market and meat from local, grass fed animals. I threw out all of our Tide laundry detergent, our window cleaners, our children's tylenol, all of it. If it was conventional, it was in the garbage can. Conventional is what made Seth sick. If you had told me 6 years ago that I would have a baby in my bedroom, have chicken feet in my freezer for broth, and be contemplating homeschooling, I would have laughed in your face. But, when your child is sick, you will do anything to make them better.



Seth is so much better. He makes eye contact, he laughs, he plays, he communicates. He attends a preschool in the mornings where none of the teachers have any idea he use to be "autistic". But, I don't think I can say he's 100% recovered. He still screams. He still tantrums. He still has a lot of sensory issues. I've been doing what I do best (researching) and I think it is time for us to take another step forward in Seth's healing journey. Making this publicly known, will help me to stay focused and committed to what we are doing.

We tested a few different diets with our naturopath (Gut and Psychology Syndrome, Specific Carbohydrate Diet, Body Ecology Diet, and Gluten/Casein Free diet) and The Body Ecology Diet won with flying colors for Seth. Seth doesn't eat "bad" food right now - but I think he's become addicted to starches/sugars. Over the past couple years, he has slowly weaned his approved food list down just beans, rice, buckwheat pancakes, homemade muffins, and bananas. Right now, he gags whenever he put any other type of food in his mouth. We don't know where to start with that. I know what to feed him, I just don't know how to get it in his stomach. I am crossing my fingers that as we introduce young coconut kefir (body ecology diet protocols) that his cravings for the starches will diminish and he might want to eat other foods. (Any tips are humbly appreciated when it comes to feeding sensory-stricken autistic kids)

I believe that this diet could be the last piece of the puzzle for Seth. Energy healing, homeopathy, supplements, and taking out allergenic foods are the things that have helped the most. Another radical diet change, I know, can be the final step to Seth's recovery.

I am making my menu plans, and figuring this all out. The craziness of the holidays are upon us, and I might not be in the right state of mind to fully start until January. But, in the mean time, I will be preparing.

It's game time.




Looking for some more answers?

Nourish-ed

Autism Treatment and The Body Ecology Diet

"AUTISM YESTERDAY" Autism is Reversible from JB Handley on Vimeo.

5 comments:

  1. Oh Meg, I pray for Seth and his sensory issues each and every day. You will all be in my prayers as you embark on this new journey through healing. You never cease to amaze me with your hard work, research and patience in doing all you can for your baby. I wish you peace and harmony in your home, and positive results from your monumental efforts. I've seen you find success in your hard work of the past...this shouldn't be any different :) Heavenly Father will help guide you because He knows what a sweet spirit Seth is. Know that I love all of you and will help in ANY way that I can. Good luck sweet girl.
    I love you, Mom

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  2. You've helped to inspire me and help my family, especially William; let me know if there's anything I can do to help you continue your efforts with your Seth. I probably don't know anything you don't know, but if you think of anything I could do, just say the word.

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  3. I just came across your blog, and wanted to tell you I have had a similar experience, and that things have gotten a lot better. My son is almost 7, and will actually try new foods now. He usually says no thanks to a whole serving, but he at least doesn't gag anymore. We have put a lot of work into it, but I think that just getting older has helped a lot too. Good health to you and your family.

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  4. You've got it. You go girl, just keep it up. Our son is about 95 percent there and yours will be too. Diet can work miracle!! Our son is still picky but he slowely makes progress. Now that he's five and conversational we discuss the importance of good food and bad food with him and I can tell by the questions he asks it's sinking in. What took us this long to finally learn they will know it as plain and simple truth from the get go. This will prepare them for when they get bigger and can tell people why they eat differently and the damage bad foods can do.

    Have you tried Bento boxes? (just google bento blogs) This has really helped our child.

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  5. hello Megan,
    it's year 2012 now, wonder if this blog is still active.
    how is Seth doing? hope he is doing great.

    i also have a son who's 13 year old and 5'8" tall,
    with the same diagnosis. i have just recently
    joined Market America that have products
    that may help our children. we also try to stick
    to gluten/wheat free diet and vinegar free diet
    (or any products of fermentation or
    alcohol in vanilla) try, meaning he still
    get it because he requests it (like ice cream),
    for us, the importance of verbalizing
    and letting him know he is right in saying it then he gets it, it will motivate him to talk more. we just watch him more closely coz usually
    it's either too happy or too sad like crying (like a drunkard effect)
    that passes away. i have just started
    my son on the Mightamints Omega3 and Isotonix
    activated B complex... and hopefully be able to
    continue and add the recommended regimen by Dr. Gary
    Zhai, (who's got a PhD in Biochemistry and is
    working on nanotechnology...cellular level).
    When our son starts to talk more in sentences, i will let you
    know. He has a mind of his own, but can not process
    words unless it's something that he's heard many times
    or been taught. He communicates his needs in one or two
    words sentence (he used to be non-verbal). He can read but we
    are not sure if he comprehends everything.
    Diet works and just from what i have seen from my son,
    the effects are not permanent. once it's out of the blood
    and broken down
    and passed out of the system... the effects are gone, can
    focus more and irritation or hypersensitivity of the ears are gone.
    so what we really need to do is correct inflammatory processes in the gut, correct nutritional deficiencies by giving supplements and detox ...remove toxins with the use of nutritional supplements.

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