The Vaccine Debate and the Art of Bullying

Today is a bit of a snarky day for me, so I am sorry in advance for anyone I may or may not offend.

So here goes today's blog.

Pro-vaccine people and also anti-vaccine, (I know quite a few and most are very very wonderful people), Stop the name calling please.

I personally am a holding off vaccines until at least the age of two, and then only get one at a time. Am I wrong in that? Not for myself and my family.

My eldest daughter has autism, and yes, I do feel that the vaccines has something to do with it. (She had alot of allergies as a baby, and even so was given her shots.)

So I feel I am right in holding off my youngest daughter's shots. That and the fact that I have done a lot of research on the subject, and don't feel that a baby needs that much put into their systems at such a young age.

So that leads me to the pro-vaccine people. Yes, I know there have been numerous reports stating the MMR doesn't cause autism, (in most cases). And I have no problem with that. But what I and most other, (I guess you would call me anti-vaccine) want to know is the effects of all of the shots combined are, and why do you have to have so many shots.

If you look at your own shot chart from a kid, you'll see quite a few less. Now why is that? That is really the question.

Okay onto the name calling. Why call names to people who are just questioning vaccines. These are some of the only reasons I can come up with, (if there are more please let me know,)

A) Because you are afraid that without my child being vaccinated, she will infect your child. (Okay, but my problem with that answer is, if your child is vaccinated, then you wouldn't pick anything up from mine.)

B) Oh, the vaccine only covers certain strands of the diseases. (Okay, so you may pick it up from my child, but then again if my child was vaccinated she still would have picked up the disease.)

C) That if it's proven that in some children vaccinations lead to a regression in this instance autism that you will question whether they did in your child. (Okay, this is a very valid point, but if they are proven, it wouldn't be your fault. You aren't the one who gave your child the shot, and told you they were safe.)

D) Okay I can't come up with another point, but you get my drift.

I understand your view on these things, I just tend to disagree.

If there are tests done on each of the shots singularly and combined that show there is without a doubt no instances where they may cause autism or any other neurological or physical problems, I will change my stance on the vaccines. Until then, we each have our own opinions.

And this is where the bullying comes in on both sides. There are those who believe their view is the only right one, and everyone else's is wrong. Really? Aren't we all adults here? Aren't we trying to teach our children that being a bully is wrong?

I know not everyone can get along, but we are an Autism Community, and we all should be working to figuring out the problem, not starting other problems.

That is all.

Riddle me this Riddle me that

Oh yes, once again I hit up my blog, woohoo go me. Okay enough of that, here is today's topic.

Research.....

Lately I have noticed a growing trend on my twitter and facebook of those who are tired of research on autism and think that it needs to stop in order for the kids who are dealing with it now to get more help.

Okay that is understandable, I would give up both my legs and arms for Kenz to have more....but....

Here is where I tend to think parents are forgetting the big picture. (Nothing against this way of thinking at all, seriously.)

The big picture meaning, without research into the causes of autism there can be no forward thinking therapies developed. Without research into the cause of autism, the way to fix the problem, (i.e. the growing numbers) will never be discovered.

Maybe I am by myself in this thought: If they were to discover some form of surgery, or vitamins, or the like that would fix Kenz would I do it? Oh yes, yes I would in a heartbeat. I know this sounds like I don't love my child for who she is, but I do. She normally, (on her very good days) a very sweet child, and makes the sun shine brighter when she smiles and laughs. But, and this is a big one, she isn't happy. As a barely communicative child, we have the meltdowns, the attacks on herself and me and my husband, the screaming, the biting, headbutting, throwing herself off of things, etc. So yes, if I could change that and get her to the point of enjoying life at the fullest, (having friends, enjoying movies, even just hanging out with the family, school activities, etc.) oh you darn well know I would.

So those of you who think money should be removed from research, great, I hope that your children are much better than mine. Cause I want those answers so future generations don't have to have the problems we are facing.

I love my daughter and who she is: a great big ball of energy, and a very goofy kid.

So for those of you who do want the research: (shameless plug here!) go to our research project's web page and help out. https://sites.google.com/site/theautismfamilytree/home

Sorry if I offended or made anyone angry with this post, I am just stating what I am thinking.

What about this?

My Grandmother for Christmas bought me the book "Age of Autism: Mercury, Medicine, and a Man-Made Epidemic" by Dan Olmsted and Mark Blaxill.
So far I have made it through 33 pages of it. It's an awesome read so far. For anyone interested in the developement of medicine throughout the ages. If it has "an agenda" I am not seeing anything more than trying to inform people of what has been done to our ancestors and our planet. So I do recommend it for everyone who has any interest in the world at large.

That being said, today's blog is based around a question that while reading this book formed in my mind.

If the numbers of autism have increased so much in the past twenty years, maybe it's something that was done to my generation. Poor generation X'ers. Think about it, we are now becoming parents or have been in the past ten years. What was given to us, (and yes this does include mercury and thimerosal in our shots) and what about the other things we have put in our bodies, or the jobs we have done. I know I worked with fuels for almost six years, JP-8 to be specific. (I'll let you look it up, nasty stuff), I have had the anthrax shot, and whatever else they gave us in the military, (I would have to look at my shot records), I was on the depo shot. So think about it. Could anyone of these things, let alone together have set me up for an autistic child?

Maybe, I think it's a good thing to look at though. I guess the saying is true, what we put into our bodies now, can really hurt us in the future.

Another point I am going to make is that besides Autism, look at all the allergies out there in kids. When I was a kid we never had anyone with killer peanut or perfume allergies. I don't think I ever even know someone with it. Now, Kenz' school is a peanut/perfume free zone. Also, celiac or chrohn's disease can be included in this. 10 years ago it was almost unheard of; but now.....

Something is going on. Research is definitely needed in this department.

Yes I know that they are "supposedly" finding mutated genes for autism in the DNA strand, but nevertheless, where are those genes coming from? Something in my generations.

So basically I believe that there needs to be a study done on all of the parents of Autistic children to see if there is a common denominator.

We really need to have someone unbiased set up a census bureau for families on the spectrum. If we are ever going to find the answer to why, (which in the long run will find the answer to stop it, and help those who have it now), we need to all work together.