Hello, Detox. How’s it going?

By Cathy Jameson

I check my favorite Yahoo Message Group--ChelatingKids2 (CK2)--daily which really means almost hourly.  I leave the web window opened all day and refresh the page frequently.  As soon as I can break away from my chores and kids, I link to the outside world. By the end of one day, I may have checked the board up to seven times to read as many as 80 messages. The Old Timers have subscribed to the group eons ago and are years ahead of Ronan’s recovery.  Parents like me are on the board doing biomedical intervention for 2-3 years, but we still feel like Newbies absorbing every single message. Then there are the New Newbies who have joined only weeks ago.  It’s sad to read their messages because their stories remind me so much of my own.  I want to cry every time I see and “Hi, I’m new here; I need help.”  The New Newbies are immediately welcomed and find themselves quite at home researching with the rest of us. 

I was a “Hi, I’m new here,” little lost soul two winters ago.  I had been skirting the autism issue with my 4 ½-year-old son far too long. A BioMom connected me to the CK2 board after I asked about heavy metals and how they plays a role in my son’s delays on another message board.  I was learning that some mainstream medical professionals weren’t going to have answers about Ronan’s issues.  I was also figuring out that parents had many more answers for me since they were living in the trenches as I was.  They were the ones that helped me connect the dots and encouraged me to seek a more natural approach to healing Ronan’s overburdened body.

I lurked for days and days on CK2 reading threads from previous months, catching up on new words and supplement schedules I hadn’t heard before. I was stunned by the detox stories, paying more attention to the gains that followed than the detox itself.  I couldn’t wait to see Ronan detox and make some improvements.  If I’d known how horrible detox was going to be, maybe I wouldn’t have been so excited. 

Detox is short for detoxification and describes ridding the body of toxins.  Most detox occurs through the liver, parts of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the kidneys.  People who haven’t been poisoned by their vaccines have bodies that work and detox on their own.  My kid’s body can’t detox so I have to make that happen.  When the body is being cleansed, toxins are removed and a child makes gains in their cognitive and physical skills. Some even gain social skills they once had.  Sign me up!  I bought new supplements and started dosing Ronan with the basics hoping we could catch up with others’ success.

Holy meltdowns!  I was floored that Ronan began weeping at the drop of a hat. One supplement promised us better eye contact.  The only thing Ronan’s eyes did was cry buckets of tears!  Another was supposed to help with social skills. The once-aloof professional cabinet door opener and closer who insisted on opening and closing the cabinets for 10 minutes straight was my “Clingon” who would not let go of my leg!  Ronan’s autistic behavior was more manageable than the disheveled basket case I now had. 

I thought I was going to drown in Ronan’s tears.  I forgot that those nasty toxins coursing through Ronan’s body were able to wreak havoc again as they were stirred up.  I’ll never forget how I described the yeast overgrowth we were battling in Ronan’s gut.  My Dad asked why Ronan laughed for hours at night. “Isn’t he tired? What’s so funny in his bedroom?  Shouldn’t he be sleeping; it’s 10:00!”  Well, when yeast sits in a dark, damp place like the GI tract, it multiplies.  The bad yeast overpopulates, taking over the intestinal flora (good yeast) that is supposed to be there so pandemonium ensues.  While yeast parties, it releases toxins.  I compared it to the yeast in beer:  it festers, gets all kinds of giddy and makes happy bubbles.  Ronan had happy bubbles causing him to appear ‘drunk’ so he laughed. In the morning, Ronan then seemed to have a hangover.  He’s grouchy, irritable, tired and won’t comply with the simplest task of getting dressed.  Yeast caused us the most setbacks initially but nowadays, I see the signs that it’s coming and know how to handle it. 

Once the yeast overgrowth was at bay, we got through the detox episodes and saw gains. Ronan came out of some of the fog and occasionally would say, “Daddy.”  Ahhh, to make a heart melt!  Any parent of a non-verbal child will be able to tell you exactly where they were and when they heard their child speak.  It brings on the warm fuzzies.

Months go by and we’re used to hearing, “Daddy.” I was starting to get jealous since here I am home with the kids most of the day, making those gluten- and casein-free meals from scratch and all Ronan can say is Daddy. What about me?! 

We were giving Ronan a supplement vacation and had removed all but one of his supplements when my Mom and sister came to visit.  One evening we were playing Scrabble.  It was a fierce game with lots of girl talk and laughing.  Ronan was up late babbling in his room. His nighttime behavior was so unlike the daytime when people at the stores would say hi to Ronan but he didn’t respond; I was getting embarrassed by his silence.  I was hoping I hadn’t made a mistake of removing the supplements I had convinced myself were keeping him alive. 

Half way through our Scrabble game, Ronan spoke as clear as day. It was just about 9 p.m. and the sweetest voice said, “Mommy.”  There was nothing more.  One single word from my son reminded me that all the toxins in the world couldn’t keep my boy silent. He was going to win this battle, and I was just the right person to be put in charge.

Toxins don’t belong near my kids and they have another thing coming if they think they can stay.  We don’t hear too much from Ronan lately, but without his few words, I wouldn’t have the strength and voice I have today.

Cathy and her husband Steve have 4 children.  Their 2 boys are vaccine injured. Cathy continues to read every message on the CK2 board hoping and praying her boys will detox those damn toxins completely.  cathy@stphilomenagroup.org

Comments

[Christine Heeren]

Great post.

Yeast is such a problem in many kids and CK2 is a great resource.

My son has improved greatly with various detoxing.

Keep up the great work.

Christine in NY

[JB Handley]

To whomever the weirdo is quoting Steve Edelson:

So, what's your point? If recovery happens in "only a minority" of cases, we shouldn't strive to have our kids be one of those cases? I sure will. "Minority" beats the holy bejeezus out of "no chance"!!

Doesn't biomedical intervention happen in "only a minority" of cases? Coincidence? I think not.

JB

JB

[steve edelson quote]

"While I am very excited about these children, the goal of ARI is to
help all individuals with autism-not solely to promote recovery, which
happens in only a minority of cases (although the number is growing)."

[JB Handley]

Cathy:

You speak for thousands of parents when you discuss the challenges, and gains of detox. It's one hell of a roller-coaster, but I love how it ends!!

Thank you for capturing what so many of us live.

JB Handley

[Do'C]

Do'C, good morning. Nothing nefarious I assure you. When you submit a comment the moderation wording generated by the site says that the "author" approves the comments. Cathy wrote the piece. But I am the "author" who puts it physically into Rescue Post. We don't require our writers to respond directly to comments.

Hi Kim,

You wrote:

"Editor's Note: Do'C, I'm Kim Stagliano, a comment moderator for RP. I don't ask our writers to moderate their own comments, but the blog copy says "author" I realize. Sorry for the confusion there."

Sorry Kim, you lost me. What are you trying to say?

"Many of the books in our resource section go into the detox pathways and the chemicals required within the body to eliminate toxins."

Which ones of the many would you suggest provide evidence (not hypothesis) that autistic children have impairment in those detox pathways? Which ones of the many contain evidence that deficiency of chemicals required within the body to eliminate toxins, actually leads to autism, and that autistic children have deficiency to such degree?

"David Kirby has a lot of this info on his powerpoint presentation too. It's available at his site."

Does David Kirby have evidence (not hypothesis) that autistic children have impaired mercury excretion?

"Hope that helps."

I appreciate your congeniality, really, I do. But I'm hoping someone can anwer my actual question. I'm interested in what parents like Cathy have seen, that has them convinced that their children are poor mercury excretors? I want to know what evidence about their own children they found compelling, if any. If they've seen good evidence, I want to see it too.

[Candice Castillo]

Cathy, thank you so much for writing this. As I sit here in tears, I am feeling the terrible results of detox as we speak. Yeast has overcome my sons body and the medicine helping the kill it, is stirring autistic behaviors I have not seen in him. With the constant nightwakings, thoughts of will we ever get through this... cloud my judgement and patience. And I can't help but wonder if I am losing him more or if there is light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks for your touching story. Daily I wait for the day my little boy will say that first word he lost "MAMMA" and I am given renewed hope that maybe someday I too will hear it and that all the pain of detox will take us one step closer.

[Do'C]

Editor's Note: Do'C, I'm Kim Stagliano, a comment moderator for RP. I don't ask our writers to moderate their own comments, but the blog copy says "author" I realize. Sorry for the confusion there. Many of the books in our resource section go into the detox pathways and the chemicals required within the body to eliminate toxins. David Kirby has a lot of this info on his powerpoint presentation too. It's available at his site. Hope that helps. Here's your comment. Thanks. KS

"My kid’s body can’t detox so I have to make that happen."

Hi Cathy, I hope you'll take my question.

Even though I am skeptical, and have seen no evidence that supports the "poor mercury excretor" hypothesis, I acknowledge that an impaired ability to "detox" is absoluty a scientific possibility. Would you be willing to share what evidence was shared with you by any doctors that your son, specifically, has a body that "can't detox"?

[Mih Jayne]

There is a reason why God sent those children to you and Steve, because he knew you would cherish and love and protect them no matter what!

[Granny]

I was sitting with my grandchildren ... who were glued to a Veggie Tale video about Queen Esther...listening to her cousin Mordacai telling her..."Esther, there must be a reason..." Reading Cathy's articles makes me realize how nothing is wasted in God's Economy. Who knows how many mothers and fathers will be inspired to KEEP ON TRYING... when the medical profession per se throws them "crumbs" Ronan's struggle will help blaze a path for other little guys and girls.. and their families. I am so proud of the efforts and the love and the outreach that Cathy and my son Steven put into action on behalf of Ronan, his siblings and all those other children who have been harmed by toxins and those who push them.

Love and hugs...Granny

[Patrick]

Way to go Cathy!

[ann marie]

Cathy (Sister in Christ)

YOU ARE MY HERO.

ann marie