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| me and my sweet boy |
The neurologist
couldn't keep his eyes off my son. "The change in him is remarkable!"
he said.
We were back at the doctor a full seven months after
the last visit. During that time, I had changed Caleb's diet radically and
eliminated gluten, wheat, yeast, dairy, eggs, corn, soy, shellfish, peanuts,
tree nuts, sugar, artificial flavors/colors/sweeteners.
As the doctor is shaking his head, marveling at what
he sees in Caleb's behavior, he asks, "Do you have any video of him from
before the diet change? Because he would make a great case study for the
medical board! He is proof that diet change can improve autistic
behaviors."
Our neurologist is a believer in the role that diet
can play in the treatment of autism, but the medical board of his hospital is
not. They are definitely behind the times, and he felt that Caleb's improvement
was so remarkable that it would be good for them to learn about his
case! During that same appointment, he confirmed what I already suspected,
which was (finally) an official diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (still
unspecified at this time). He also agreed that Mitochondrial Dysfunction was a
very likely root cause of the autism and we are pursuing further lab testing at
this time.
Originally, I had embarked on this new
"diet" as a way to determine if I had food sensitivities. I had just
a shred of hope that things could get better for me (you can read more about my journey here). I also had hope that it
might make a difference for my son, Caleb. I had heard that many children with
autism, ADHD, and various other disorders, benefited from a diet that was free
of gluten and dairy products. Oh. My. Word. Not only did I start losing
weight and feeling amazing, but my son started to come alive. He came out of
his "fog" and was so much more alert and interactive with everyone
around him. He began to have more energy and was able to do things physically
that he couldn't do before.
A few more months into this diet change, I began to
devote myself to research regarding Caleb and his condition. I had a suspicion
that he might have autism, but I felt I needed to educate myself more on what
autism was. I began to read everything I could find online. I checked out a few
books from the library, and had a conversation with Lexie of Lexie's Kitchen, and read some
articles from various medical journals...and my whole world changed.
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| Caleb with Grandma (one of his favorite people!) |
Not only did I feel that at least SOME of what Caleb
had could be explained by autism, but I felt there was a good chance of a
further diagnosis for him of mitochondrial dysfunction (when all the cells of
his body don't produce enough energy, causing delays and malfunctions in many
of his major organ systems). Then, I began to learn about the ramifications of
these diseases. I don't want to completely overwhelm you, but in the last
two or three months of research, I have uncovered some startling facts. I
learned that:
1 .These conditions are caused and/or made worse by
environmental triggers. This could be a myriad of things...exposure to
pesticides, dangerous gases (like car exhaust), the nasty ingredients in
vaccines, constant exposure to allergens, pesticides, etc. We are talking about
children whose immune systems are weaker to start with, and when they get
exposed to something that is really not good for any of us - it can start a
downward spiral. For some children, this happens while still in the womb. For
others, it happens when they get immunized or there is a combination of
exposures to various environmental pollutants. I am over-simplifying a bit -
but it's been quite eye-opening to digest the amount of information there is on
it. This is a childhood epidemic that CAN be reversed. I wish that when I was pregnant
I had known what I do now...my pregnancies would have looked TOTALLY different,
and in fact, my lifestyle before even becoming pregnant would have looked
different, too.
2. Children with autism - and ADHD and allergies and
OCD - can "recover". There is hope! It takes a huge commitment on the
part of the family, but it can be done. Most traditional doctors don't have the
answers for this, though - they rely heavily on drugs (as they were taught to
in medical school) - while experiential evidence has shown that diet changes,
environmental changes, and various bio-medical treatments give the greatest
results. Most typical MD's are out of the loop because they are busy with their
practices and aren't able to keep up with all the latest research...not to
mention that autism has been affecting children at such an alarming rate it's
been difficult for them to keep up. So it's an emerging field that
requires a fair amount of research on the part of the parents. But it's SO
worth it!
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| He's not strong enough to walk, so he's figured out another way to get around...scooting on his bottom! |
Here are a few of the recent changes I have
made:
- This is the biggie: I implemented an elimination
diet...no gluten, wheat, yeast, dairy, eggs, corn, soy, sugar, artificial
flavors/sweeteners/colors; and several other things have been excluded based
upon my observations of how they affect Caleb's behavior
- I buy organic food only
- I got rid of my non-stick pans and replaced them
with stainless steel (non-stick pans are coated with teflon, which is a known
carcinogen that is both food-born and air-born)
- I replaced his PJ's with organic ones (regular pj's
are coated with a flame retardant that is extremely harmful for most kids, but
especially those with autism and allergies)
- I replaced the kids' soaps, lotions, shampoos, and
toothpaste with organic ones
- We stopped using the microwave (it's said that every
microwave leaks electro-magnetic radiation, harms food, and converts
substances cooked in it to dangerous organ-toxic and carcinogenic products)
- We stopped using plastic dishes in the kitchen (even
BPA-free ones) - using only glass, ceramic, or stainless steel instead
- We're using filtered water for not just drinking,
but cooking with as well
- We are considering possibly moving out into the country,
where the air is cleaner and we can grow more of our own organic food.
This list may seem to some like I have gone off my
rocker and become a totally paranoid mama. Though I confess there are days I
feel like that (!), those who have known me a long time can attest to the fact
that I was never a person who cared about these sorts of thing before. That's
what knowledge does to you. When you discover that there are things that you
thought were perfectly harmless, making your child sick, you start to feel a
little sick yourself. It's taken me weeks, months, to process what I am learning...and
I'm still processing. But, after you pick yourself up off the floor, you
realize that some of the knowledge you've gained can be converted to power. In
the same way that all these things contribute to my child's illness, removing
them and replacing them with healthier options can actually help in healing my
son. So, while it is very overwhelming, it's also very empowering. I don't have
a son with an illness for which there is NO help. Granted, you will find
medical professionals who will tell you that. But it's not true. I've read too
many hope-filled stories of mothers helping their children to recover from
autism.
And I plan to add our story to that list.
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed...Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are bing renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." - II Corinthians 4:7-8, 16-17
