I am a mother of a 27 year old PDD Autistic son. I have another son who is 19 with a high IQ. Both boys had the vaccinations from DPT shots at birth and at 3 years old. I did notice my son with autism showing signs of neurological jerking and stiffening of his body shortly after receiving the second shot at age 3 years and 5 months. He also was born with a cyst on his trachea and was removed immediately at birth.
Undergoing surgery and oxygen at home for 7 months. The cases of newborns are having some type of problem at birth and undergoing birth trauma as a part of this complex illness, autism. There are suggestions of medications or procedures of hospital environments causing newborns with problems to retain levels of metals in their bodies, to cause even more injections of mercury through vaccinations.
This is certainly something to factor in how many of these children received special care during birth through an extended stay in the hospital. The idea of doses of mercury and other metals can inflict so many children is an alarming concern.
My oldest son was diagnosed at age 10 after spending specialized doctors in the Blue Bird Clinic in Houston. Autism was not fully understood and only cognitive testing was done to determine these diagnoses. His MRI was normal and not direct link to brain damage was noted in his report.
The only neurological test done at this time, to indicate a problem, was EEG test showing activity on both sides of the brain. There is a relationship with epilepsy for a neurological disorder as contributes to 35% of people with autism. My son suffers from absentee and petite seizures, as most doctors do not know there are over a 100 different types of seizures. I could never get a doctor to properly treat his illness.

Recap; I would like to see a breakdown of children being hospitalized as infants or during birth as reflecting a part of the vaccination study. I do believe there is a relationship with medical practices, to increase the level of metals in an infant from birth.

I have two sons, 10 1/2 and 9, who both have autism. The elder of the two had all of his vaccinations from the time he was 2 months old on up, all on schedule. He is nonverbal, still not toilet trained, and has been judged to have a cognitive level of approximately 21 months. My youngest son, 9, had not had any immunizations until his 10 month checkup with the pediatrician. Before the immunizations, I asked the physician if he seemed alright because at the time we were just starting to deal with my elder son's issues. The physician assured me that my youngest son seemed perfectly fine but informed me that we needed to start his immunizations because he was 8 months behind at that point. Not knowing the information about immunizations and autism at the time, we started his immunization process.....within just a few months, he was not "alright" any longer. He now is 9 years old, is verbal and toilet trained but has severe sensory issues. I believe he is higher functioning than his older brother because his brain was allowed to develop for that 10 months before being assaulted with the immunizations. If I had only know what I know now, neither one of them would have had ANY immunizations.

I have 3 children. My oldest was vaccinated on the "regular" vaccine schedule and has autism. My #2 son had his vaccines stopped at 12 months after I read Generation Rescue's website. He does not have autism. My number 3 has 1 vaccination and no autism.

I saw my oldest child's regression after her flu shots mostly, and they had thimerasol in them. She was the most brilliant, and think the most sensitive and the most affected by environmental toxins.

#3 is only 10 months, but she show the most typical development of any of them.

Dawn,

Welcome.

We need you here, and I hope you'll stay. I think we've been (collectively) maybe a little slow to grasp unpleasant truths about vaccination in general.

The idea that vaccines are your *only* reliable protection against deadly disease is so deeply, deeply ingrained that people are afraid to research more thoroughly even after they see (or suspect) a really bad vaccine reaction.

So, they continue to vaccinate, feeling that's still the best choice. Or they continue to vaccinate because they're bullied into it, feel they "have to" to get their child into school--literally, don't know how to stop.

There are some here who are openly against vaccines, but lots more who are asking for safer vaccines and a safer schedule, and still believe in vaccines as being mostly effective for most people.

I've been kind of on the fence--both pushing for safer vaccines (and a delayed and lessened schedule) and simultaneously losing faith in most vaccination most of the time for most of us (if not all of us).

But even if you lose faith in vaccines completely, lots of other people are still going to vaccinate, and many of them will go according to whatever current "schedule" is put in front of them. So pushing for any increase in the safety of the "program" or the safety of individual vaccines (i.e., no mercury, etc.) is still going to do a lot of good.

Anyway, welcome. Thanks for the link.

Thanks for your story.

It's amazing--I keep waiting for somebody to come up with just one contradictory example here--a vaccinated sibling who's healthier than one who's unvaccinated--but it hasn't happened yet.

Terri L.

I think it is time to admit, that in some cases, autism can occur without vaccines, due to some other infection or toxins, which loads up the system with cytokine reactions and metabolic load, and whala, autism. So vaccines can do the same thing? There is no argument in this, autism can be caused by infections, out of control immune respones, low glutathione, high iron, you name it, the combinations are numerous. So the point is, any infection, any toxin, in a time frame where the child is developing, is of concern. For instance, the flu virus has been known for centuries that it can cause or initiate the proces of schizophrenia in the unborn. If mother uses antipyretics, this also causes a glutathione loss, and damages the fever mechanism...so what do we brainiacs do? THE ACIP says, use it for vaccine fevers, use it if mother has the flu while pregnant..NOT! I believe also, there may be a silent infection in most parents who have autistic children, either derived from THEIR vaccine series in childhood, or natural things like vector bacteria like lyme disease (else why would moms have Chronic Fatigue, Autoimmne isues etc) or even a simple cold or flu while pregnant. I am in the Rimland treating autism book, read more, but read how many parents gave their children tylenol duirng these fevers? Any time a hit and run infection or toxin occurs, it can damage the thyroid of mom, and that can create creatinisms in the child (bad word, but general term of IQ loss). What mom eats, can cause autism such as MSG and ingesting FLUORIDES or her own PROBIOTIC imbalances. All this POOL of toxins, viruses, imperfect immune response, the perfect storm gathers, and you have a large number of kids reacting to vaccines, and if not to vaccines, to the other stuff. How we birth our kids, damages their brains by hypoxia in medical settings? SO, in that light, my two NT daughters (I have two others with autism a boy and girl, ages 27 and 20), had children (all boys mind you), did not vaccinate, did not immediate cord clamp, did not ingest bad things such as gluten and the like, don't have amalgams, did not do anything, (definately had a birth contract, and baby in the room so no vaccines or pokes) AND THEIR KIDS ARE FINE, INTELLIGENT, PRECOSCIOUS. so you tell me, is AUTISM REALLY GENETIC, or is it EPIGENETIC? Are we IATRAGENICALY causing this? The answer is yes. We must avoid modern everything...

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[email protected]
www.lyme-autism.org

I found this October 3rd article interesting. The doctor you mention is interested in the subsequent children after a first child diagnosed with autism. My husband and I have had this experience. My first son developed a blood disorder (IPT) after his 15 month round of vaccinations (he outgrew the blood disorder after about 1 yr). Shortly after this blood disorder we noticed that his language had pretty much stopped. It was then that we realized that the vaccinations not only caused the blood disorder but also the new diagnosis of autism too. Before he was born we consciously made the decision not to vaccinate our 2nd child. He did not have the Hep B vaccine at birth, nor any other vaccinations since. We have noticed a significant difference between our two boys. Our second son has a mild speech delay, but does not have autism at all - not even mildly. My husband and I feel that he was at a high risk of autism considering our experience with our first child. Granted we're not scientists but in our gut we knew that the vaccinations caused autism in our first son. We trusted our judgement and believe we were proven correct - our 2nd son was not vaccinated and did not develop autism. Believe me... we watched his every move as he's developed in to the 5 year old he is today. We did not and have not seen any autism symptoms.

Are you attempting to get research from Moms?

I can go to my school and get facts?

What are you looking for?

I have like many Mom's have developed a good reputation with my school. I can possibly get information on unvaccinated health and the amount of neurologically challended students. Ofcourse this would be done without names.

We have medically treated ourselves and I assume we have to do our own research as well, but where to start?

I know it is the schools as a third party reporting the real numbers.

I know there have been a ton of comments and I don't know if mine will help because my kids are so old (22 & 25) but I feel compelled to answer.
My daughter born in 1983 had the standard vaccines for that time. She developed totally normally and was precocious with her language, talking in phrases by 18 months of age. At the age of 5 years 4 months, (a few months after her MMR booster) she suddenly developed drop seizures. From about the same age she also showed signs of sensory dysfunction screaming like she was being killed when she had her hair brushed and she was also very uncomfortable with being touched or hugged. She had significant learning problems in school, and didn’t learn to read until she was
six and a half. The professionals kept pressing to diagnose her as ADD which I wouldn’t accept. At eleven she was diagnosed with sensory dysfunction. She received the full complement of Hep B vaccine at age fourteen. A few months after she turned sixteen, in 1999, she was vaccinated for a number of diseases because she was traveling with our church to Korea. Shortly thereafter she developed severe and chronic diarrhea which persists to today. By 2001 she was experiencing fatigue and pain throughout her body (In muscles and joints). In 2007 she was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Since that time she has been on a wheat free diet, has tried to be careful getting enough sleep, (even though she is pursuing her Masters In Fine Arts and teaching college) and taking supplements. She continues to struggle with Fibromyalgia but it is nowhere near as bad as it was prior to her diet change and taking better care of herself. She still has sensory issues but knows how to cope with them.
My son was born in 1985,two years and nine months after his big sister. He was a big happy and healthy baby and had 15 words at 15 months. He received more vaccines than my daughter did as an infant and toddler, including the HIB vaccine.
At 16 months he received his MMR and Oral Polio vaccine while he was recovering from an ear infection, a cold and a nasty case of Roseola. Because I had no idea that it was unsafe to have him vaccinated or that because of illness his immune system was seriously compromised. Less than 4 months later I went back to the Pediatrician deeply concerned because he has developed chronic constipation and had stopped adding new words to his vocabulary. I was told this was normal. Fast forward to a year later and he had lost all his language, lost all eye contact and was having severe meltdowns almost daily. Because I had no idea vaccines had anything to do with what was happening my son, he continued to get ALL of his vaccines up until the day the Pedi wanted to give him the Hep B at age 11. I said NO WAY. Today at the age of 22 my son has Autism which is considered to be fairly severe.
There is no doubt in my mind that both of my children have been negatively impacted by vaccines. I am just grateful that my daughter has not been as affected as my son.

I welcome this question, especially having four kids and making different choices for them all (whether by “chance” or choice). And this is all the more reason to support Rep. Maloney’s briefing and a study comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated children. I have a veterinary technician, pre-nursing, and pre-midwifery educational background. I don’t know what the curious good doctor will be doing with this information so I included pregnancy and birth info as well, because this is important information. There are many things (interventions) during pregnancy, labor and birth that can be a set-up for a pre-disposition.

Isaac (my prince) was born the first week of June 1999. ASD diagnosed in June 2006. Terrific pregnancy. Hospital birth. Iatrogenic vacuum extraction after a beautiful labor (2 hours from 2cm to pushing – no drugs – water labor). Apgars above 8 at 1 and 5 mins. For what ever reason I refused (gut) Hep B at birth. Isaac had the following vaccines.
7-1-99 Hep B
8-2-99 Hep B, IPV, DTaP
10-04-99 Hep B, IPV, DTaP
He was quite fine. A bit of colic at times but a happy baby, meeting milestones. We moved from NY to WA when he was almost 5 months and had no insurance for several months. THANK GOD! When we finally did have insurance again we took him to the pediatrician we signed up with. His doc at the time (whom I still hold in high regard) thought that he may have craniosynostosis. Go google that one. He may have to have major surgery. “Behind” on his vaccines… the only one given that day was Hep B. April 3, 2000. Three weeks later he was gone. I came home from work and he was on the couch rocking. The only reason he has stopped rocking on the couch is because he had surgery (Aug. 2007 – 8 years old) for a tethered spinal cord (occult – terminal filum 4 times normal size and full of fatty deposits which makes the cord hard – you could google that one too). No rocking – no nothing for two weeks basically. He now rocks other places, in other ways. After that one vaccine of Hep B the chronic ear infections resistant to antibiotics started and continued for months. Finally ear tubes. No speech. EI… nothing… Gut issues, but thankfully not as severe as what so many of our children have. He had no more vaccines until the following Dec. and again THANK GOD! Because in hindsight I truly believe that this saved him. After that they were extremely spread out, just by “chance”. But it was the Hep B single and alone that sent him over the edge. But I will add that he had a flu shot in 2003 (Dec I think? I have the record) and things got worse after that.

Isaac also has a SEVERE allergy to grass pollen. It’s systemic. Twice his heart rate was in the forties, eye’s swelling shut and nose gushing snot. We can joke about it and tell him he’ll have to marry a woman who will mow the lawn, because he’s been relieved permanently of that duty. Makes me wonder which one of his vaccines was contaminated with grass pollen.

Nathan (my angel) was born the second week of August 2001. ASD diagnosed “officially” in March of 2005. Terrific pregnancy. Hospital birth, no interventions, water labor, land birth (as we “midwives” call it). Labor about 7 hours, pushed for about 30 minutes. No Hep B at birth. First Hep B was at 16 days. He fared ok. Some colic and sleep issues but nothing “crazy”.
10-19-01 Hep B, DTaP, HIB, IPV, PCV (pneumococcal conjugate)
No longer the same. He was so sick off and on for the next year that any time I had made an appointment for a “well child visit and vaccines” I either cancelled or just didn’t show up. What’s interesting is that I think this all (again in hindsight) compromised his immune system. Isaac got the Varicella vx a month after this and in Thanksgiving pictures you can see spots on Nathan. That’s a live virus… no??? The positions have changed on this so many times it makes my head spin, but you’re not supposed to give a live virus vx to anyone in the house when they are in contact with an infant or vice versa… Chemotherapy patients absolutely can not have contact with someone who has had… say, an OPV vx? Right? So Nathan was finally healthy enough for more vaccines in August of 2002. A one year old who was so sick from his “two month well child visit” and the vaccines administered to him that he could now have more. BOOM! Talk about playing catch-up!
8-16-02 DTaP, HIB, IPV
9-20-02 Hep B, DTaP, HIB, IPV, MMR (NINE count ‘em NINE!!! in one day)
Nathan changed. That was a tough time. Then the ear infections started. Resistant to antibiotics, of course. I was in a car accident (rear-ended – not my fault – please laugh at the rear ended part as others have). I love my Chiropractor (Dr. Tom). He treated Nathan for free when I told him about his ear infections, and they cleared up immediately. They have a “thingie” up on one of the walls in their practice with the last bottle of antibiotic that Nathan was on when he began treatment with Dr. Tom. He was two days into the antibiotic and I stopped it. Nathan has had I think one ear infection in the past six years. He was on his way to ear tubes at that point as well. I think of all the Tylenol and antibiotics my boys have had and it just makes me shudder.
2-18-03 DTaP Things changed… and with the two of them it was already out of control, but it was one of those situations where everyone denies it for you. I was pregnant with Emma, a stay at home mom, and taking full time college courses… hubby was taking ¾ time in addition to working full time. Don’t ask me how we did it… I think things are crazy now and I still don’t know how we did it. We were in constant motion. It was easy to deny that something was wrong.
That was it until Nathan got the same flu vx that Isaac did in Dec. 2003.
8-30-04 Enter the VARICELLA vaccine. It was the only vaccine given that day and the last one he will ever have. Within three days Nathan was gone… I mean gone. Far worse than anything had ever been with Isaac. It’s really hard for me to go back to that time and think about it. I was dealing with the situation completely on my own. Dave had left for basic training 13 days before Nathan got that damn shot, so he knew nothing of what was happening. Not something you write in a letter to your husband in basic. Nathan received his first diagnosis in Dec. 2004 which was ADHD with features of autism. The psych who diagnosed him was not experienced with autism, and by that time I had already done my research and I knew he needed a second opinion. The ADHD with features of autism (while it might be more accurate now) did not fully explain his behaviors. Finally in March 2005, he was properly diagnosed. In July of 2005 after finally convincing his doc (since been fired for numerous reasons) that he should have an EEG, they found abnormal temporal lobe activity. Not enough to be considered a full blown seizure, but enough for me to know (and I think them to finally realize as well) that when Nathan disappeared that was where he was and that’s what was going on.

Also worth mentioning… When Nathan was first starting solids, he reacted to spinach, peas, and you guessed it, eggs. There are still times where I feel so stupid and get mad at myself for not being more educated about vaccines, and for blindly trusting the medical community.

My boys have very different issues, which I’m sure you can imagine makes for an interesting household. There are many a day when I think I am going to lose my sanity. They are both high functioning. They have made huge progress, especially Nathan. I thank God every day that we didn’t vaccinate them according to the schedule. Our lives would be very, very different.

Emma (my sunshine) was born the last week of August 2003. No ASD. Terrific pregnancy. Home birth, I was induced (yes at home) with gel. My midwife used a quarter of the usual dose. At the end I was miserable and had been walking around at 4 cm for almost 3 weeks. Water labor, water birth. Hour and a half labor, 2 min. 58 sec. (yes we have it documented) of pushing! Apgars above 8 both times. No Hep B ever.
12-5-03 DTaP, HIB, PCV
02-6-04 DTaP, HIB, IPV, PCV
03-26-04 DTaP, IPV
After this Emma came down with chronic ear infections resistant to antibiotics. We did chiropractic care for her – same as Nathan – after several rounds of antibiotics. Her ear infections cleared. She was fine. No worries about development at all. Perfect!
11-?-06 Flu shot – I made an educated decision to get this one for her after talking extensively with my midwife (same midwife for both girls births) about the risks versus benefit. Sam had just been born and Emma’s healthy curiosity about the world around her. I questioned (as we’re here in WA-only thimerosal free flu vx for kids) if it was thimerosal free. She hastily said no and jab… I should have asked to see the insert, because in looking back on that day I have my doubts. Who is overseeing the mandate? Who does the shipping? Think about it… Anyway within a week the ear infections returned. She then reacted to Augmentin (although we didn’t know it at the time) and developed a stutter which lasted for months and finally stopped. Emma’s language had always been developmentally perfect. Then a few months later, this perfectly healthy child of mine developed Transient synovitis. At points over a two week period in dealing with this and trying to get her help, her hips were so painful she could not even walk. The pain went on, off and on for months. I know it was related to the flu vaccine.

During this time frame and after the stutter had cleared up, she needed antibiotics again (I think it was another ear infection) and they rx’ed Augmentin. Within four hours of that first dose, the stutter returned. She is allergic to the Potassium Clavulanate in Augmentin. She can take Amoxicillian without problems. Developmentally Emma is right on track and just started kindergarten, which she adores!!!

Samantha (my princess) was born the second week of September, 2006. No ASD. Terrific pregnancy, although stressful thanks to ASD. Home birth, induced again (same reason as with Emma and same amount). Water labor, water birth. Labor was about 3 hours, pushing maybe three minutes. Apgars above 8 both times. No vaccines ever. She’s been sick twice in her life. She is developmentally perfect.

As I’m sure for so many of us, what I’ve listed here is just the tip of the iceburg. If we sat down and wrote everything that happened, we’d all have a book I’m sure.

So sign us up for that vaccinated versus unvaccinated study once it finally passes. We’ve got our own study going on here in the Warner home! Vaccines can be life saving, yes, when used judiciously, but as we all know, they are not. Different diseases are more prevalent at different times of the year. We also need to look at the child’s season of birth in comparison. Are they breast feeding or being bottle fed? And above all we need to remember that before roughly four months of age an infant’s immune system is simply not capable of developing an immune response to a vaccine. Period. Too Many Too Soon. Period!

My 5yo received all her vaccines up to 4years. She is very smart, but will be lucky to escape an ADHD dx. My 3 1/2 yo received hep B and the other early vaccines up until 4 months. He had a "leaky gut" and we were told that that was normal. At his 4 month DTaP shot, he screamed for 4 hours and then stopped all eye contact...which we did not get again until he was 2 1/2. We stopped all shots at 4 months. He was later dx with CNS dysfunction, apraxia, disarthria, PDD (not nos) and SID. At his 3 year check up our doctor finally admitted that he had a brain injury, (yes, folks that is how he put it). Interesting to note that we started evaluating him, or trying to at two years. Long waiting lists and all, he was not completely evaluated until 3 years. But for the time between our doctor becoming involved and the actual dx, our ped stated that our son was not to receive anymore shots until we knew what was going on. Of course, after his dx, and the absense of a classic autism dx, he wanted to resume vaccines. What a laugh. That never happened. We spent the next year in a minimum of 8 hr/wk in therapy. Five hr/wk for just speech. It bothers me that our ped wanted to stop the shots to see how is evaluation went. They all know the truth, this just sickens me:(
I am truly blessed that we escaped and autism diagnosis. His existing problems are difficult enough for him, and I still cry everyday wishing that I had had the back bone he needed me to have. As perfect as he is, I know that he will always be the odd man out in class. He can repeat most all of what is said. He can get across to you what he wants (what a blessing), but if you ask him what he did today.....it's a mess. And he knows this. To see his head drop when you are not getting what he says, the feeling of complete failure for parent and child. And lets face it....if I can't understand as his mother....there isn't a chance in the world that other's understand what he is saying. It's crushing to a mom's heart.

What about the live vaccines?

My first child had severe allergies and is fully vaccinated.

My second child, fully vaccinated,has no neurological issues but started suffering from leaky bowel syndrome after his first MMR.

My third child, fully vaccinated, has sensory issues and autistic traits, but no bowel issues.He is currently classified as a mild learning disability.

Child number 4 was partially vaccinated, but no live vaccines. She is healthy.. no sid,LBS, allergies, or other.

And I was given Rubella vaccine after the birth of child #2 even though I was a breastfeeding mother. I believe that live vaccine I was given is what ultimately set all of my kids up for problems. Hence i declined all live vaccines for child #4 and do not find it a coincidence, she has no health or neurological issues.

I had my second son after my first son was diagnosed with autism/vaccine injury but before I knew anything about the harm vaccines do. My second baby received all his shots up until jusst before his 12-month visit when I became involved in the DAN approach and our DAN noticed some early-autism signs in my second child at the same time I brought my first son in for his initial DAN visit. THANK GOD we started seeing this doc....I fully feel my second child would be diagnosed with autism had she not been there for us.

We began the DAN approach with my youngest son, stopped all vaccines for my second little boy....no MMR, nothing. Diet change (SCD diet) and no vaccines and my second little boy shows ZERO signs of autism. At two years old (in a few days) he speaks in 4-word sentances, is highly social and runs and jumps like a champ...just like how I think my first little guy would have, had he not been poisoned.

My sister just had her little boy and they are on a delayed vaccine schedule with a fabulous doctor who has such disdain for the current vaccine schedule.

People who hate us for following out gut instincts have never had to deal with the hell we have all been through.

Wow, it's been a while since I've come back to read these and I'm floored by all of the similar responses....These stories need to be told...

Craig-All 3 of my children(1 with asd)have MANY food intolerances/allergies, even my youngest who only had 3 vaccines one at a time. But the immediate food intolerances and swallowing issues was how I knew to stop her schedule. My ASD son has the worst of the food reactions. All 3 are allergic to dairy, all 3 allergic to beef, all 3 allergic to tree nuts and almonds (not peanuts), all 3 extremely intolerant of any food dyes, or strong scents, especially chemical scents. 1 is allergic to Chicken and the other 2 allergic to eggs. My son never tested positive for gluten sensitivity, allergy, celiac, etc. But if he gets into a TINY CRUMB he can display absence seizures for 4 days or more. Our list can go on.

Many food proteins are in these vaccines, including dairy, wheat, eggs, beef heart,etc, etc...

These vaccines are burning up little brains. these poor babys dont know any thing but pain. shame on you in the name of money.what are you doing to the next generation? my grandson has danced in front of a tv for seven years now. it is so sad. my heart hurts for all the children.

If they ever do a study on the Vaccinated and Unvaccinated children and they are looking for "Vaccine Free Children". Just go to the parents that have a vaccine injured child because their other younger children will definitely be vaccine free!!!

I was going to write our story. The one where I got Riley vaxed and he went downhill and we stopped vaxing our youngest Lily at 6 months and how she is bright and beautiful and perfect in every way...But I don't have to. You all have written our story....over and over and over again. I find it comforting in a frightening way.
I often tell people that I encounter that do not "buy" the vaccines are toxic thing, listen to the parents. LISTEN TO THE PARENTS DAMN IT!!
Why do people like Paul Offit, Amanda Peet and Dr's etc... continue to put the autism/vaccine community down? What is their real gain (besides money)? They are hurting children to prove they are right? What kind of sick, demented people are these? What part of their moral fiber is so twisted that they want to hurt children? Not even put forth a real effort to find the truth. Giving the public lies and bullshit to cover their asses.
I cried with every gut wrenching story I read. Because it's painful to know that people don't care that this is happening. They don't care until it happens to their child.
As you can tell, I'm having a bad day.

My husband has progressive MS (an autoimmune disease). Also interesting to note, after investigating vaccines, my husband recalls that his initial MS symptoms years ago (which were misdiagnosed) were around the same time he was traveling internationally and had to get a series of immunizations (including Hep B).
We asked neurologists, OB/GYN, etc, about impact on having children. We were told that MS does not often "run in families/not to worry". Our survey of research on MS agreed with the doctors. No one ever mentioned autism or autism being connected to autoimmune diseases. Our story is different from most on this blog, in that our younger child is ASD, and the older one is NT.
Son #1: APGAR 8. Received HepB at birth and all shots upto 15 months on recommended schedule. Most vaccines in one day was 5 at 12 mths (started with chronic ear infections following 12 mth shots). Never has received a flu shot. Colicy baby and had milk intolerance issues until ~2 yrs olf. Neuro typical.
Son #2 (20 mths after #1): Induced with pitocin. APGAR 8. Hep B at birth. All shots at recommended schedule upto 15mths. Had thrush at 2 mths, RSV at 5 mths (both were preceded by the shots). Lovely baby -- no colic, smiled, engaged, laughing, clapping -- loved his big brother -- met all milestones upto 15 mths. We gave him Tylenol prior to shots. Difference in my sons vaccination schedule: at 12 mths received 5 shots/7 vaccines (including MMR + Varicella) on the same day. Was up all night screaming -- absolutely inconsolable. Called dr -- said it was "normal". 6 weeks later -- 1st flu shot, 4 weeks later 2nd stage of flu shot, 4 weeks later 15mth shots. The flu shot was given in 2004 (I mention the year because I've noticed on this blog and others, that several parents have mentioned the flu shot from this year. Not sure if there was a bad lot from '04?). After the 1st stage of flu shot he started pulling at ears and we began to notice sensitivity to milk. He had not shown a milk sensitivity prior to that. He was initially diagnosed as high functioning autism. We had an MRI done and results were "unremarkable" -- no issues, that should impact speech. Except they did note he had scattered "unmyelinated" spots. I had thought myelin grew in womb; I found out that it actually grows during the 1st two years of life. His pediatric neurologist "could not propose an etiology" for this, and he should have been fully myleinated at the time of the MRI. My husband and I wonder if this could be the reason for some of the "crossed circuits". When he began saying words again, he was eventually diagnosed with apraxia as well.
*I strongly believe that the autism was preventable*. We have decided that we will delay further vaccinations for both of our children until we can see a more in depth study regarding autoimmune disorders. Neither of our children should have received HepB at birth or MMR and varicella on the same day. With my younger son, I believe that there is a genetic predisposition, but there is also some type of "tipping point" that threw him over the edge: pitocin, too many shots at 12 mths, and spaced too closely with the flu shot/15 mth shots, potentially use of Tylenol (if it does in fact lower immune system response).
Interesting how all these "anecdotal" stories are so similar. You do not need a degree in rocket science to see the parallels -- more vaccines = more neurological injury.

"Not sure when the big push to vaccinate for flu began or when those other 2 vaxes even came on the market?"

I gave my son the flu shit (that was a typo but I decided to leave it in there) in the winter of 2001-2002. Unsure when the push began. My son was very sick with multiple illnesses in the 2000-2001 winter. His immune system was crashing. These medical doctor "assholes" don't know how to read the "signs" of a body in distress. My son should not have never ever got another vaccination. The flu shit (I swear it happened again) was his autism shot.

As I'm reading through these stories I'm noticing depending on when a child is born what vaccines they may have been given.

My kids (born in 94 and 96) never had a flu shot or rotavirus or Prevnar. Not sure when the big push to vaccinate for flu began or when those other 2 vaxes even came on the market? I never said "no" to a vax when offered it. Vaccines save lives, right?

My son with autism is the youngest of my two. His sister had all her vaxes on the schedule of the day. He did as well except my kids got Hep B vaxes (insult to injury vax is what I call it) after my son was diagnosed. Ped felt being around other kids in his developmental play group might put him at risk. Administration of the MMR with Chicken Pox at 12 months in one visit took him down. His sister got the chicken pox vax but had already had her MMR at 12 months so she was spared all that in one day.

These posts are a testament to the fact vaccines schedules change like the wind blows. Something new comes on the market and it is put into use. No long term studies, no studies to see how adminstering these vaccines together is safe, nothing.

Our children are literally being used as guinea pigs. And the proof is all right here.

Our daughter who tanked after MMR (first ever recieved at age 4 years- we had lived in Europe for 3 years and though I was a natural parent by Amercian standards and breastfed til she was 1 and then started giving brown rice and cuisan-arted carrots and brussel sprouts and greens... she loved them all)... was told by the Finnish pediatrician that her horrid eczema that I had scheculed the visit for (she was 19 months at the time) could be related to food and certainly the American vaccine schedule. I left there feeling hopeless as I thought that he was just anti-American and we are on the cutting edge of prevention and I truly was scared that my newborn at the time who was vacc'd in Finland would die as soon we flew into JFK... because that is how we are trained to think from our American pediatricians. Strangely enough, I got prego with kid in Europe and decided to be in control of my birth (could not get insurance becuase pre existing maternity when entered states)... turned out to be the best thing that I ever could have done. Esther Hope was born at home in the bathtub after a total of 1 hour and 11 minutes of labor. Midwife guided me... but we moved to Atlanta 4 days later with a newborn and pre knowledge of exemptions... Liv (our oldest- 4 at the time)... received her first ever MMR to start preschool. I called my pediatrician prior because I had issues and she assured me that the mercury preservative that I had expressed initial concern over was definately not in the MMR. ( hello, 3 live viruses of course not but how was I to know my child was a gut viral kids that could not handle this)...She tanked. Have a 4 year old (boy) who is perfect beyond belief (give him elderberry everday) and a 2 year old now(that dear Esther Hope who was born in the bath tub) who is has never had a vacc/never had an ear infection/never had a crying fit/never had a runny nose. For me, I feel that i have somehow, by the grace of God... been able to make choices for my younger childhave pulled them out of the abyss- Siblings that have similar or even worse genetics are saved by not pulling the trigger!

I will add my story as well. I am a special education teacher who works with children affected by autism. When I had my daughter, my gut instinct was that the vaccines were a major cause in the rise in autism. There were 12 children between the age of 3-5 from the same town in my class! I questioned the doctors continuously about ingredients, spacing out the vaccines, etc. Besides, they said, she is a healthy thriving, attentive, and responsive infant, and autism is seen from birth. The vaccines do not cause them, etc. And they were right about the first statement. I had a attentive, responsive, reactive, and happy baby. Always looking to share with us her discoveries. I saw all those things slowly fade after her 18 month vaccines. It was slow and incedious, but in happened right in front of me. And my daughter followed the same path as so many of my students. When I brought my concerns to my pediatricians, they told me I was obsessed with autism and that babies cry. Because at that time she cried and screamed all the time. However, I had also had my son when Ava was 19 months. He was born with biotinadase deficiency and at the time we were taking him to specialist after specialist and we were told he was at risk and needed his shots. They immunized him for 8 diseases at once when he was 2 months including Heb B and he subsequently spent the next two months incredibly sick. He lost four pounds at one point. To sum up another long story, I got rid of my pediatricians, got my daughter the help she needed, stopped vaccinating my son, changed my family to organic, milk and wheat free, and continue to become even more educated. My daughter is still profoundly affected by autism but makes progress every day. My son was thought to be hyperlexic around age 36 months and showed some signs of autism. However, now at age 5, he is no longer elible for special services as he tested superior. And best of all he has friends over to play, loves sports, and is doing well in Kindergarten. So yes, my daughter, now 6, was affected by the massive amount of vaccines and is severly disabled. My son, now 6, was able to develop and thrive by being extremely conscoius of what he was exposed too and providing him with early intervention.

We have 7-year old twins both diagnosed with autism at age 2. Both of them received all vaccinations until kindergarten. We have a third child that is almost 2 years old. She has had absolutely no vaccines and so far has no signs of autism.

My story kind of falls in the middle. My oldest grandson(whom I am raising) was diagnosed with full-blown autism before his third birthday. At that time-we stopped vaccinating his younger brother(who was 4 months old at the time). he had the HepB and his 2 month and 4 month shots in 2000. As the result of just the early shots he received-he was diagnosed with PDD/NOS at 12 months of age-he had not one word at 15 months-not even mama. And he didn't speak until he qwas almost 2 and a half. At that time-Connor, the youngest, was diagnosed with verbal dyspraxia and then neurological stuttering. We started therapies early with him-diet, OT, speech, supplements--at 15 months of age. But because his symptoms were so much less than his brother's due to so many fewer vaccines------he was totally reocvered by age 4 and today at age 8-he is NT and extraordinarily intelligent. I am still working on recovering Joshua, who is now 11.

I have 3 kids. First child, daughter fully vaccinated, Hep not at birth but at 8 wk-but no 4-5 y/o shots. Has some ASD issues. No official dx yet, but obvious to my husband (a physician) & myself something is not quite right. Vaccine damaged.

Second child, son, pitocin induced birth, Hep B at 24 hr old, was at neurologist office at 10 days old-r/o possible seizure. Fully vaccinated, until autism dx at 15 months old, no MMR-thank god! Had many gross motor delays. Now, nearly 5 is still mostly non verbal. Has several food allergies and eczmea head to toe.

Child #3, Boy, No shots yet, He is 14 months. He did get the flu type A at 5 months old and RSV at 8 weeks old. He is doing GREAT. Talks up a storm-well babbles, great fine and gross motor. No delays, so far no signs of anything other than diagnosed dairy and peanut allergy.

#1Son: No Hep B ever, no flu shots ever, other shots one at a time. Ear infection after first DTaP shot, antibiotics. Was always spitty from birth and had constipation problems starting around 6 months. Recurrent ear infections/antibiotics. DX variously as PDD-NOS, HFA, Aspie age 3.5. Stopped shots, started DAN, OT, GF/CF (yes, allergic to wheat, dairy, eggs, various random other foods, all low-level allergies.) Chelation (pulled high aluminum, lead, mercury, uranium), probiotics, LDN have helped, now mostly NT tho social/anxiety issues remain and yeast is a problem. At first round of DAN doc tests age 4, he had ZERO good bacteria in his gut.

#2Daughter: No Hep B ever, no flu shots ever, other shots one at a time except for last round age 4 got DTap and Varicella together. Fine and gross motor coordination problems, left side weakness, speech motor problems. No social or cognitive issues. MRI normal. Last round of shots caused stuttering and regression in motor coordination. Currently chelating pulling high aluminum, mercury and lead. Food allergies egg, dairy, nuts, celiac level allergy to wheat.

Gee, is it just me or do we have a trend here? I just feel so stupid for not stopping the vaxs sooner. I believed the "no more mercury" line too -- hook line and sinker.

We are another family with an affected older child who is almost 11 and a completely unvaccinated 22 month old.
We never thought we'd have any more children because caring for my older son was so overwhelming and I was also very afraid about making the vaccine decisions.
Our older son had an immediate and indisputable regression after the MMR and DTaP at the 1 yr 'well visit' and was severely afflicted with autism until he began the gfcf diet. He has made amazing progress as long as we are 110%gfcf and homeschool. His autism is undetectable to the average person but with only one tiny diet slip-up we have a week to 10 days of stimming, slurred speech, inability to learn anything in school, and emotional instability. Interestingly the day that he actually eats the offending food he is unusually happy and cheerful. The crash comes during the following 7-10 days.
Our unvaccinated child, not even two yet, is already speaking in complete sentences, can tell you the color of most objects, and can count to 5. He has surprisingly complex pretend play, pretends to be a baby, animals, drive a car etc. He has absolutely NO symptoms of autism whatsoever, is very loving, attached to us and friendly to everyone.
The difference between their development has been so striking I can't even describe it. It's actually difficult for me to write here because I know so many readers at AOA are going through what we did so many years ago with our first child, and hearing all the 'amazing' things his peers were doing was very painful to me.
But I think this is very important to get out there---same parents, same prenatal care, both born by csection, same environment etc. the vaccines are the only major variable besides our age (and don't some claim older parents are higher risk?).
I would LOVE to see a study of families like ours vs families who continued to vaccinate later siblings and compare the incidence of autism.
Also to those of you who have not had more kids (I can relate so much when I hear Jenny McCarthy say in interviews that she isn't having more children) because of the struggles you've had--I'd like to give you hope. Having a little brother has brought such joy to my first son--and to us as a family. It took us 8 years to even THINK about having another child because of fear of the unknown and being totally overwhelmed with caring for a sick child. Having another child has been such a bittersweet experience--watching him easily meet milestones his older brother had to have years of OT to achieve---but it has been such a blessing. I feel 10 years younger from the joy this child has brought into our home and his big brother is learning to love as only a brother can!
Hope this helps someone in some way.

My first 2 were vaccine injured. Third time's a charm, no vaccines, no problems. All of us share a sensitivity to gluten and casein, though.

Food for thought, I am undiagnosed, but very likely Aspie; mom stopped vaccinating myself and little brother after we both had significant reaction to our childhood vaccines; subsequent vaccination as an adult caused me all manner of discomfort and dis-ease.

Craig, my son who is recovering is "allergic" to gluten and casein. I say "allergic" only in the sense that he doesn't function properly if he's ingesting G&C. He does not go into anaphylactic shock if he eats like I do. Of course, I didn't know any of this because his immune dysfunction is somewhat opposite than I imagined it would be, based on all my research. His immune system is in constant hyperdrive. He is rarely, if ever, sick, or he'll start to come down with something and within 24-48 hours, he's fine. However, if he gets a mosquito bite, his entire limb will swell for 7-10 days. So when this all began for us, I thought I would see more "outward" signs of allergic reaction (vomiting, diarrhea, etc.). Of course, once we moved and found a DAN! doc in our area, it took him all of a minute and a half to tell me that my Jack was carrying elevated levels of antibodies to gluten and casein in his system (bloodwork and stool checks to confirm later). So we immediately gfcf'd him. The bright red ring (sorry if that grosses anyone out) disappeared and his language exploded exponentially. I mean he started speaking in complete sentences - ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE!! His hyperactivity also subsided to the point where I can take him places without a stroller. What I don't know, of course, is when exactly all this started. Since he was vaccinated with Hep B hours after birth, who knows if he was born with this allergy or if the constant barrage of toxins and multiple viruses damaged his little body.

Here's what I wonder: was his blood/brain barrier damaged by the reactivity of mercury and aluminum in his early vaccines that the G&C isn't absorbed properly, but instead act as opioids to the brain? What about his ten-times-the-load of varicella in that ProQuad, followed by two doses of Fluzone? Oh and hey, how about that Roseola dx a month later...yet another herpes-family virus to hang out and wreak havoc.
At any rate, our ped had us do some of the same testing on our second that he's had us do with our oldest - I'm guessing to establish some kind of baseline or to see if he's got any allergies. We'll see what comes of all that. Meanwhile, he, too, gets a pass on any further vaccines for the moment.

I have 3 kids.

Older two fully vaccinated. (Also Rhogam and flu shots during pregnancies #2 and #3).

Daughter #1 : Type 1 Diabetes at 11 months.
Celiac Disease at age 19 months.

Son #1 : Diagnosed with what they called "sensory integration disorder" (I call it vaccine reaction). Also GI problems starting at 12-15 months... Needed to have GI scope, etc... Issues with both dairy and gluten.

Son #2 : Stopped vaccinating him after 4 month vaccinations. I was concerned about his screaming after vaxx's. He is now perfectly healthy and BY FAR my easiest going child (knock on wood) ... But I love them all :)

No doubts here.....

I am convinced that much of the damage we are seeing today (conditions inherited) is from our previous generations - the majority being vaccinated. Merck's own manual even states that they don't recommend live-virus vaccines for anyone suffering from allergies, ezcema, neurological diseases, and on and on. The vaccine can be if not life-altering, then fatal. How many physicians know this or even read vaccine package inserts for that matter? None of our doctors did. My son's pediatrician is now researching vaccines and I have a funny feeling that she is going to change careers.

My 8-1/2 year old son was fully vaccinated, all except the birth Hep B shot which had not yet achieved "required" status at the hospital where he was born in 1999. Loads of ear infections and high fevers, but the worst reaction was after an MMR, Prevnar, and two Varicellas on the same visit at 12 months. Yep, you read it right - 2 chicken pox vax's - because the newbie nurse didn't get the first one fully injected before my son pulled his leg away. "Best to make sure we got it in there!" Sigh. Diagnosed PDD at 3, recovering at 8, thank you very much!

Our daughter, born in 2005, received no Hep B birth shot. I told my husband that if we had to take a magic marker to her entire body and write NO HEP B directly on her, I would do it in a heartbeat to keep that needle out of her. We did vaccinate her in infancy, but on a much slower schedule, and only one at a time. Looking back, and knowing what I know now even two years later, I am utterly thankful that she didn't regress as well, given how many shots I did allow. Fortunately, she is absolutely normally developing. Every day I look at something new she does and think, Oh, THAT's what a normal 2 year old looks like!

One interesting note - food allergies were common to neither my or my husband's families. Yet my son has food allergies out the wazoo, including soy, and we recently discovered a soy allergy in my daughter. The Prevnar vax is cultured in soy peptones. Gee, do you think that an allergy got provoked there when it was shot into my babies' bloodstreams?

Continued best wishes to all parents with ASD kids who write and post here.

My first son has autism and he was fully vaccinated and I received a Rhogam shot while pregnant with him. With my second son, I did not get the Rhogam shot and he only recieved three vaccines during his two month well check (his brother wasn't diagnosed, yet). At 15 months old, my second son already has about 25 words. He puts a few words together "more bubbles", "more eat", and "bye daddy". He has great receptive language and understands simple commands. His motor planning and problem solving skills often out do his three year old brothetr. Unfortunately, he is very, very small. His pediatrician tells me she thinks he has a metabolic issues (not uncommon in children with autism. She then thinks I should put the link of autism to vaccinations to rest. She thinks the fact that both my children have metabolic issues should prove to me that the problem is genetic and nothing else. Let me just say, this does not PROVE that vaccinations don't trigger autism. If anything, it shows me how harmed Ty was from his vaccines. Two children, same parents, both with underlying metabolic disorders. One fully vaccinated = autism. One hardly vaccinated= neurotypical.

Our 6-year-old was diagnosed at 20 months and had many GI issues, asthma, allergies, and intolerances. He received all of his shots, and even had the MMR after we had a diagnosis - we didn't know of the risks yet. Through diet, some biomedical interventions (antifungals - which are not the permanent solution to yeast), and many natural therapies, he is becoming healthier and reversing his ASD symptoms more and more each day (fully mainstreamed, with a para for attention and social reasons).

His brother (almost 3) also has the allergies and intolerances, but is not on the spectrum. He has always been GFCF,SF, and nut-free and starting at 6 months, he had the HIB, two months later, the Polio, and at 1 year had the DTaP (big mistake). His eczema, which affected his sleep and other areas, became worse and worse after each shot and he began having wheezing incidents. His speech is delayed and has a few minor sensory issues, but is okay otherwise.

Both of them are detoxing with an experienced naturopath who uses a combination of herbs,homeopathy and homotoxicology. The little one has more severe immune issues than his older brother (hospitalized in PICU at Yale for asthma and at another point had a herpes virus on his eyes). I do regret giving him the 3 that he had - our kids' immune systems can't handle a virus and toxins entering the body in such an unatural way (through the blood).

Momof3twowithASD brought up something that I am curious about. I would like to ask a slightly off topic question to everyone.

How many of your autistic children are allergic to wheat or milk (or both)?

My oldest, a son, was fully vaccinated before 15 months (except for his MMR booster that came after 4 and chicken pox which he received at 2 and shortly thereafter started showing signs of autism).
My 2nd child, a girl, has never been vaccinated including NO Hep B in the hospital, and she is extremely social and bright. Before my daughter was born, I found a Pediatrician who would honor my request not to vaccinate and he worked with me to insure that the hospital did not slip anything in.

My first born, a boy and now age 6, received all recommended vaccines up to age 3. He was diagnosed with ASD at 23 months old. He even received the flu shot one month before his diagnoses. I am rh- and had to have rogham at 28 weeks gestation (had thimerasol at that time). He was developing nomarlly, he had 10+ single words by 1yr. Some where between 1yr and 18months all his language, eye contact, and interaction, just disappeared. As I think back on his first year of life, there where indications there that something was not right. He liked to spin the wheels of trucks and tractors. When he started to walk he started opening and closing cabinet doors, he started to spin himself in circles. If I only knew what was going on, he would have never received another vaccine. We educated ourselves on Autism.

My second born also a boy, now age 5, received all his recommended vaccines up to age 2, I had the flu shot while pregnant with him, he had the flu shot when he was 8 months old. I had rogham at 28 weeks gestation (still contained thimerasol). He reached all his milestones really late. We knew something was not right with him from the get go. He was diagnosed ASD at age 26 month, we where not surprised by the diagnoses. The doctor was surprised that I did not react as most parents do, I told her I knew before he was 1, we just held off until after he was 2 for the offical diagnoses and focused on early interventions.

My youngest a girl has never been vaccinated, age 3. She sometimes display "quirks" that reinforce our decision not to vaccinate. I refused rogham and would only have it if it was thimerasol free, which is was (I read the package insert and did some research prior to the injection). She did get the vit. K and eye drops at birth. So far so good, she has been evaluated and is developemental on target. Our DAN doctor has told us not to vaccinate her at all.

Both my boys are allergic to Dairy. My oldest is allergic to eggs. He is sensitive to tomato, onion, cabbage, cane sugar, and corn. He is severaly allergic to antiboditics. He was always sick!

My younger son, is sensitive to wheat and corn. I think eggs my be a problem for him as well. He too is allergic to antiboditics and was always sick.

My daughter, is hardly ever sick. She hardly ever has high fevers. She has not shown any signs of food allergies or sensitivities. She is allergic to antiboditcs too. She is like to polar opposite to her brothers.

I whole heartly believe that the vaccines played a PART in my boys ASD, not the sole cause of the Autism. They both have come a long way, both are mainstreamed students with support.

My oldest son was born 5 weeks premature in 1998. Before he was even 2 hours old he was shot up with the Hep B vax. Between then and his 18 mo. well check visit he was fully vaxed and had the 'common' side effects of mild fever, hot spot at the injection site, etc. with each appointment. The first year of his life he had many ear and bronchial infections that were treated with antibiotics. At 18 mos. old he had a severe vaccine reaction. That day he received his 4th DTP, 4th HIB, and the chicken pox vax. By that evening he was lethargic; by the next day he had a fever of 105, had about 10 chicken pox spots, was still lethargic (worse then the night before) and had a febrile seizure. I rushed him to the doctor and was told my perfectly healthy baby from the day before was not having a vaccine reaction but instead had a throat infection that needed antibiotics immediately. (huh? what you just happen to miss that 24 hours before?) He had just been on antibiotics the week before the well check appointment for yet another ear infection. The high fever lasted for 5 days, as well as the other symptoms of vaccine reaction he experienced. At the time I was 6 months pregnant with my 2nd son. I made a decision that day to delay vaccines for him when he was born.
By the time my youngest was born 3 months later my oldest son's personality had changed and symptoms of autism were in full swing. He never lost speech but he stopped looking at people, he stopped pointing, he became obsessed with Blues Clues, he stopped playing with his toys and started lining up ABC wooden blocks repetively for hours at a time. He started having severe GI issues at 26 months that landed him in the hospital. He later went on to be diagnosed with Aspergers. And now has severe GI issues, OCD behaviors, and high anxiety, among all the other immune dysfunction, mineral/vitamin deficiency, heavy metal burden problems that our kids suffer.
Back to my younger son. When he was born in late 1999 they had moved the 1st Hep. B vax to the 2 month well baby visit instead of at birth. I had already spoken to our new family doc (switched after the poor care my oldest son received after the vax reaction) and told him in no way was my new baby receiving the Hep. B vax and we were delaying all others. We sat down together and figured out a schedule we both could deal with. We delayed all vaccines until 6 months old. He was to receive no more then 1 vaccine at each visit, never ever if he was sick or had just been sick, we delayed the MMR until 18 months, and he has never received the chicken pox vax or Hep B vaccinations. We have an exemption for school for those particular shots. My youngest son does not have autism or any other health issues to speak of except for a mild dairy allergy (as do I).
We don't plan on having anymore children but if I did I would not vaccinate at all knowing what I do now.

Previous posts also indicate that vaccines should be considered just one of the environmental triggers for those with a genetic predisposition for "auto-immune disregulation." My family lives in ground zero for heavy metal toxicity - Pittsburgh - so it's possible that environmental exposure alone could trigger autism in a genetically-predisposed child who was never vaccinated. From some of the other posts, I wouldn't be surprised if others here are from the Pittsburgh area and under the world-class biomedical care of Dr. Scott Faber. He's doing tremendous research on the neurological effects of industrial pollution and is helping many children in the region recover, just like he's doing with my own kids.

The genetic predisposition theory has certainly manifested itself in my family. My very accomplished mother battles MS, allergies and asthma. In fact, her first MS symptoms (another autoimmune disorder) immediately followed a flu shot that knocked her sideways for more than six months back in her 20s. I have three boys, and my older children (Max and Jack) are both ASD-diagnosed. Both were fully vaccinated.

We withheld vaccinnations for our third child, Will. He's barely had a sore throat and is an absolute dynamo -- potty-trained and talking in full sentences by his second birthday. Though I do recall that milk-based formula did not agree with him, and he along with his brothers is GF/CF.

Max and Jack displayed differently. Max was sick from the day he was born - excema, allergies, constant ear infections, rarely smiled, horrific tantrums, a late-talker. Jack was perfect - beautiful smile, very coordinated, spoke a number of words by 12 mos, etc. -- and then promptly lapsed into autism immediately after his MMR vaccine at 18 mos. Dr. Faber suspects that Max suffered from heavy metal toxicity in utero.

Their turnaround through biomedical intervention has been miraculous. I never truly believed Max was ASD - just "polluted." He's going to kindergarten next year, without an aide. He's extremely bright, funny and feels great. Jack, the more classic case, is doing great too. Very talkative, smart, just needs work with socializing and being patient!

Since my youngest is the one who got autism (about 80% to 90% recovered now) I don't have unvaccinated children, but I do--thank God!--have children who are less vaccinated.

What if I had remained ignorant?

What if I had been so stupid as to unthinkingly accept the Gardisil shot for my then 9-year-old daughter? And make no mistake--this shot was being "mentioned" as one I'd want to get "soon" for my 9-year-old!

Would she have ended up dead, or permanently paralyzed, given that our family "doesn't handle" the "current schedule"?

What if I'd given my asthmatic 5-year-old her "booster shots"? Would her asthma be about 90% less severe than it was at the age of two, or would it have "inexplicably" and "coincidentally" gotten worse after the multiple booster shots?

And despite the mainstream thinking that asthma "can't be cured," I consider my daughter to be nearly free of it--prone to just an occasional and very mild episode, compared to the lightning-quick, life-threatening flare-ups that would leave her in an oxygen-deprived state of rage and unreason. . .it was so bad at one office visit they actually had to physically help me out the door with my two-year-old. I had no one else with me. . .just one hand full with her brand-new, kid-colored nebulizer and Bubbles the Asthmatic Fish mask, and I couldn't even begin to control her with my one free hand. And that was after she was well enough to leave the office!

What about my seven-year-old son? What if I'd gotten booster shots for him at the age of five (or at the age of four, as I did with my older daughter--all at once, just to "get it out of the way" as my doctor helpfully suggested)?

Would he now be a healthy, happy kid in a typical 2nd-grade classroom? A great reader; a sweet, easy-going kid who fits in at recess; a boy who can look you in the eye (usually) and tell you what he's thinking?

Or would he have suffered another slow-down, or a complete stalling, in his hard-won development?

What if I hadn't heard about autistic kids who got worse after their booster shots?

And still, those doctors--who have known all three of my kids since birth--remain clueless about what caused their problems.

Look at the other stories--just the ones here, commenting on just this article--and note the behavior and *attitudes* of the mainstream pediatricians.

It's more than sad; the refusal to see and the sheer lack of compassion is sickening.

Terri Lewis

My 8yo son is currently autistic and nonverbal. At the same time my husband and I were in the process of getting a dx for him at age 2, my other son was just born, and as I write this the overwhelming regret brings tears to my eyes, the fact that I dismissed the vaccine-autism controversy and gave him hepb at birth, dtap and hib at two months. My internet research on autism brought me to hearing the same story of kids regressing after vaccinations-how could so many parents be wrong? Coincidence? Phooey. Anyhow, second son is autistic too, albeit less severe than my older son.
IF the autistic genes actually exist (I personally think its a susceptability to our toxic lifestyle), I think me or my hubby has it/them as ADHD/neurological problems and autoimmune disease is rampant in our families. Which leads me to say THANK YOU to this website and all who fight for the cause, had I just HAD the information before having children I would have taken all precautions to avoid autism. I naively assumed my pediatrician would have told me everything I needed to know!! He certainly did not. One size does NOT fit all.

I think gathering family stories and histories into some sort of database would be extremely helpful in identifying patterns in different subsets of autism.

I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at 17 years old. I dismissed the diagnosis at the time, thinking it to be some stupid psychiatrist label. My parents had forced me into therapy as a rebellious and unruly teenager. So, I never took the time to learn about what it actually was. Only later (after having my own children) did my parents tell me that they had suspected autism when I was 2 because of my anti-social behavior, stimming and lining things up. But, when I was evaluated - they were told I did not have it. Back then in 1972, there was not the spectrum that we have today. You were either full-blown autism or you were nothing. I was also fully vaccinated, but not nearly to the extent of what they are giving nowadays. When I was in my early twenties, I developed hyperthyroidism and a huge goiter. My thyroid was removed and I've been on thyroid hormone replacement drugs ever since.

My first son was given the HepB at the hospital after birth. He was then fully vaccinated up until 12 months (when he got the MMR). He was diagnosed with DD-NOS at 13 months, and then later with autism at 2 1/2. He is moderately affected - and has classic symptoms. He did not regress, there were signs right from birth or shortly thereafter. He would not make eye contact as an infant and was extremely hypertonic (stiff/hard to bend). He also had severe colic. He does not have "gut" and bowel issues or any allergies. Besides his autism (and what appears to be... just brain damage) - he is a healthy horse. With so many very sick children with autism - I feel fortunate in this regard.

I then gave birth to 2 more boys and each time was hoping for a girl - because the odds were better with girls. :) But, my subsequent sons have never been vaccinated and I made sure they didn't receive the HepB in the hospital - they were not allowed to leave the room. We also passed on the Vitamin K and eye drops.

My second son is 2 1/2 and completely NT. My third son is 6 weeks old and makes great eye contact, is not colic and does not have hypertonia. He started smiling at me at just 4 days old and seems to be developing ahead of schedule. I am feeling very confident that he will be fine.

Obviously, there is a genetic influence in my case. But I also believe there needs to be an environmental trigger of some sort. I think it is very possible that I could have ended up with 3 autistic boys had my first son not opened my eyes. I think he saved his little brothers...

My two oldest were vaccinated through 2 years old, except for flu shots, which I thought were ridiculous, and prevnar, since their ped seemed to always be out of that shot. My oldest, a boy, was diagnosed PDD-NOS at age three. He never had any health issues that we noticed, but he was way behind in speech and eye contact was dodgy. He also insisted on sameness, and after he did start talking, he spent a lot of time stimming by quoting lines from movies incessantly, which he still does to a lesser degree today at almost 6 years old. He struggles to have normal conversations, but is making gains all the time. I have chosen to homeschool him, and this decision is bolstered every time I see him in a large group of children. He has no attention span whatsoever for lecture-type situations, and cannot stay in a chair for longer than a few seconds unless someone holds him in their lap, or he is being worked with one on one.
My second, a 4 year old daughter, does not have autism, but I wonder if she has either Aspergers or ADHD. I am not interested in getting a diagnosis, since I'll be homeschooling her as well, and a diagnosis would do nothing to help either her or me. She is fine all alone, but in the lecture-style situation I mentioned above, she cannot pay attention for longer than a minute or so. She is very hyper-active in large groups, and along with her brother, is extremely uncooperative when trying to take her picture.
My youngest, a girl, is completely vax free. She was born at home, so I didn't have to fight off a HepB shot, but I did take her to one well baby visit at two months old. Upon being informed that we would be kicked out of the practice if we didn't vaccinate, I shrugged my shoulders gathered up my children, and never looked back. No more doctor visits for us. I suspect she may have had pertussis last winter (cough lasting about 8 weeks with the occasional whoop) but other than the length of the illness, she was happy and energetic, and I never considered her sick enough to take to the doctor, who I knew couldn't do anything for her anyway. She recovered completely and hasn't been sick beyond the occasional one day sniffle since. Out of the three, she is by far my most neuro-healthy child. Her speech is AMAZING, and everyone comments on how weird it is to hear so much sophisticated speech coming from a child so young. She just turned two years old, and regularly says things like "Mommy, what day is today when Daddy stays home with us?"
For me, the difference between my vaxed and non-vaxed kids is striking. That, along with the ever-emerging evidence convinces me that vaccines are not safe.

Julia C.

I am a mother of 2 children who were diagnosed with classic autism at the age of 3. The interesting thing is that my daughter born in mid-2002 is slightly lower functioning than my son born in Dec. 2003. Both had identical vaccine schedules, but both had different onset of autism.

I saw some of autism red flags since my daughter was an infant (not responding to name) but she also had severe colic, gastro problems, eczema, reoccuring respiratory illnesses which were treated with lots and lots of tylenol and antibiotics (w/o probiotics). She had the Heb B at birth and was done with her early childhood vaccines by the time she was 18 mos (included MMR and Varicella). Despite some of the red flags, she still developed language by 12 mos. After 12 mos (her vaccines), she lost all language and that was when the real nightmare began.

Since we already were aware of our daughter's delays, we watched our son like a hawk. He was NT reaching all milestones, yet he was also constantly sick. We started noticing a change after we gave him the first 1/2 of the flu shot at 11mos. He had sensory issues. Then by 12 mos, we took him in to get the varicella and the 2nd half of his flu shot. He was still recovering from an illness and we gave him the typically pre-dose of tylenol before the shots. He lost all language w/in a matter of days and I immediately contacted a local grant funded organization who evaluates and monitors children w/ communication delays and autism. They noted that he had delays in communication and language. He had the MMR at 18mos and w/in 6weeks he regressed and was now red flagged w/ autism.

Keep in mind that during our son's ordeal, we asked our pediatrician about the vaccines and the possibility of having a 2nd child with autism. We were told that the chances were rare and that the MMR no longer had thimerosal (little did I know at a later date that it never had it!!!).

So in my professional parental opinion, vaccines did play a major role in my children developing autism.

With my 3rd son, we have only given the Hib because in my research it seemed to be the safest and I felt (along w/ my DAN doc's, new pediatrician's opinion and the research from various places in University of Google) that we needed to have it because of the area we resided. My son does not have any signs of delays nor does he have any of the chronic health issues my first 2 had. I actually have an evaulation conducted 2 weeks ago by the grant funded organization I mentioned earlier to prove this. (it is framed as the first NT eval my husband and I have ever received in the mail) On top of that, we have been trying to feed him as organic as possible, giving cod liver oil, probiotics and other things that ensures he maintains optimal health.

After my extensitve research and attending several conferences relating to the role the environment plays in autism, as well as how to treat it through biomedical interventions, I had absolutely no concerns about having a 3rd child (even though he was not planned) that would develop autism. He won't if I can just provide him with a chance at a healthy life. Doing a delayed, selective vaccine schedule is the one thing I can do.

I deeply regret vaccinating our child born after my son's Autism diagnosis.
I didn't stop until after our DAN practitioner implored me to request inserts.
When I did, I found that my pediatrician, who insisted all Thimerosal was out of his shots, had it in there (full strength) in late 2002. Long after the time for voluntary removal suggested by the AAP.
My daughter's mercury levels are very high tho' she is not Autistic.
My confidence in my pediatrician and vaccines in general were utterly destroyed.
It would be best for parents with a child already diagnosed, to make a very educated decision rather than be pressured to vaccinate.

Both my boys had hep B at birth (we got bullied into it by a nurse for our second son which still pisses me off). My older son had the flu vaccine right before he turned two. That's when we saw the most regression. Regression had already started but those two doses of the flu shot within a month of each other was the final blow. He received all, plus prevnar but did not get the MMR and chicken pox ones. Both boys are speech delayed (older son is non-verbal, second son has made huge gains and now the only speech concern would be a lisp--he only recieved the first 9 month's worth of shots).

I have three girls too--our oldest had all her vax except the chicken pox one. We were in a different state when she was born and I always wonder if the shot lots there were 'better' than the ones we got here. She is beyond her years in smarts :) Our two youngest are compleletly unvaccinated and will hopefully remain that way.

In all my years of reading and research, I of course wish I'd had more info before decided to vaccinate our oldest three. We have history of autoimmune diseases on both sides of the family. It was reported that if you have that in your background, you are more likely to have a vaccine injury. There is so much info out there to uncover. It's going to be through families' real stories that will tell the world what is truly happening. That should be the 'hard science' for those people that don't want to listen to the vax-autism link.

Cathy

My three year old, who is recovering, received ProQuad at his 12 month check (July 2006) in addition to the standard other vaccines. He also received the entire Hep B series, although his six month vaccines were all given too early (nice, huh?) In October and November, he received the nasty, thimerosal-containing Fluzone doses and the week of Thanksgiving, he was gone from us. VERY IMPORTANT: HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ROSEOLA IN DECEMBER AS WELL. The following May, when he was diagnosed with autism, I was five months pregnant with our other son. I, like Holly M., instructed the hospital staff not to give Hep B to our second-born and had my Hep B negative results in hand. In addition to waking my husband and I up at 4:00 a.m. to sign the "refusal form," they rolled their eyes and treated us terribly. I will also say this: two different pediatricians have asked me in writing whether my son with autism received the Hep B series, beginning at birth. Another interesting piece: We were still afraid not to vaccinate our second born at all, so, under the advisement of our pediatrician, we gave him one at a time starting at a little over two months. At his six month check, he received a second dose of DTaP and his leg swelled for four days - but more importantly, he STOPPED BABBLING for two weeks. Our pediatrician was more than alarmed and said we needed to stop. All of this was noted in his chart and both our pediatrician at the time and subsequently our new DAN! doctor (we moved to another state) agreed that something is up and he is not to receive another vaccine indefinitely. At 12 months, our second born is completely NT and has almost ten words. Thanks for asking about this. I have wondered exactly the same thing about vaccines and sibs. And my apologies regarding how "all over the place" this was.

I have 2 sons with ASDs. My oldest is dxd with Autism. He was "moderate" at the time of dx, and now just 1 year later he is "high functioning" thanks to biomedical interventions that I actually started 9 months before he was dxd.(but that's another story). My 2nd son has not received any vaccinations, but does have a dx of PDD-NOS. Now, I will say, that his characteristics are few...but enough to qualify for the dx and services in our state. The only idea I have for why this has happened is that while I was in labor with both of my sons I had an IV antibiotic for a group B strep infection. I also allowed the vitamin K shot...and now I'm wondering if that was a bad move. We live across the river from a coal burning power plant, and I am positive that we are just sucking mercury into our bodies every day. My sons both have in common leaky gut syndrome, food allergies, vitamin deficiencies and yeast overgrowth. I also have dental amalgams that have negatively affected my body-I believe they have caused my hypothyroidism-and I'm certain that my boys were exposed through my breastmilk, and each of them breastfed past one year old. Though I do believe the environmental impact is significant, I also wonder if there is something genetic going on. My husband has SPD (SID), and his brother was a "late talker", "very organized" as a child, "like to put his toys in order", and an "extremely picky eater" until he went off to college. I myself have MCS, multiple food and environmental allergies, and hypothyroidism. I also had gestational diabeters with my 2nd son, and I worry that the medication I so blindly took had a negative affect on his development. Don't know if this provides an answer to your question, but hopefully you can get something from my story.

5 years ago, before birthing plans, etc., my 4th child was born at the fire station in an ambulance. When we arrived at the hospital my husband stayed with the baby and instructed the nursery there were to be no vaccines administered. Prior to the birth, I called and wrote a certified letter to the hospital refusing the Hep B vaccine and the Vitamin K shot. We also had a large sign in her bin instructing no vaccines are to be given to this child. Of course the hospital ped told me I was full of shit and I asked for another ped. At age 5, my never-vaccinated daughter has never had a sick visit and is by far the smartest of all her siblings.