Autism and The Ghosts of Christmas Past
By Teresa Conrick
Those are my two daughters in 1995. They were watching a favorite Christmas video, The Snowman, based on the UK story by Raymond Briggs. Unlike our giddy, holiday Frosty, the Snowman, the UK version is a beautiful, haunting story of love and loss. The many times I watched it with Meg -- winter, summer, fall,spring -- it didn't matter the season. Nights she woke up crying from gastrointestinal pain or intense, physical distress, she wanted to watch, The Snowman, but she could never, ever watch when he melted. She would leave the room.
Megan, now eighteen, has both an autism diagnosis and an autoimmune diagnosis. Rare? Unrelated? I think not. I believe as we end 2011 and enter into 2012, the upcoming year will bring us more facts and research into the connection between autism and autoimmunity. With that, let's say goodbye to the autism ghosts of Christmas past which gave little hope for meaningful research on preventing new cases of autism (regression) or research on medical treatments for those currently affected (progression) Junky genetic studies, Drosophilia eye-gazing, unknown autism prevalence, and bullshit research has to END. We know that bacteria, viruses and metals can cause autoimmune effects and the research needs to be centered around that.
Going back in time each holiday season, the ghosts of past Christmases can haunt those living with autism and autoimmunity. In 1995, my daughter's autism diagnosis was never related to her ongoing illnesses with Streptoccocus and other bacterial infections as well as numerous viral infections. Labs now have shown IgG quantitative titers for each -- Measles-Mumps-Rubella -- to be elevated. That was the vaccine that dramatically affected my daughter with many days of rash, fever, GI issues, loss of language and then odd visual issues. Brief definition of IgG:
Antibody testing
Measles and mumps (rubella) antibodies are virus-specific proteins produced by the immune system in response to an infection by the measles or mumps ( & rubella) virus, or in response to vaccination. There are two types of antibodies produced, IgM and IgG. The first type to appear in the blood after exposure or vaccination is IgM antibodies. Levels of IgM antibodies increase for several days to a maximum concentration and then begin to taper off over the next few weeks. IgG antibodies take a bit longer to appear, but once they do, they stay in the bloodstream for life, providing protection against re-infection..
There are very sick children and young adults with an autism diagnosis, and there seems to be mounting evidence that the MMR (Measles Mumps Rubella) vaccine has quite possibly left its mark in them. So back to high titers and autism. If a toddler is vaccinated at 15 months, what is happening to produce very high titers 18 years later? Why are the Drosophilia scientists not dropping the fruit flies and looking at viral titers -- or Strep in those affected by autism?
Levels: Range Megan
Rubeola (Measles) 2009 0.91 - 1.09 2.88
Rubeola (Measles) 2011 0.91 - 1.09 3.34
Mumps 0.91 - 1.09 3.53
Rubella 5 - 9 12
Each of these is high. A few facts to add - Meg had an initial grand mal seizure in 2009 and then in 2010, she began to have monthly, grand mal seizures coinciding with another elevated level -- Estrogen. Maybe that has something to do with autoimmunity then starting or picking up speed. The fact that her Measles titer became even more elevated in that time frame would make one wonder - why? Back to 1995. Meg was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder in October of that year. My heart and brain have been on full throttle ever since and it is a travesty that research and science keep detouring away from the labs and connections to immune and autoimmune dysfunction and disease. I do think it is getting harder to ignore these sick children as their numbers are increasing and as a result, so are the affected families.
While trying to make sense of this, I came upon this page from CDC in 1998:
Almost all persons who do not respond to the measles component of the first dose of MMR vaccine will respond to the second dose (82) (CDC, unpublished data). Few data regarding the immune response to the rubella and mumps components of a second dose of MMR vaccine are available, but most persons who do not respond to the rubella or mumps components of the first dose would be expected to respond to the second (82-84) (CDC, unpublished data). The second dose is not generally considered a booster dose because a primary immune response to the first dose provides long-term protection. Although some persons who develop normal antibody titers in response to a single dose of MMR vaccine will develop higher antibody titers to the three component vaccines when administered a second dose of vaccine, these increased antibody levels typically do not persist (57).
But what if they do, "typically persist?" My daughter had only one administration of MMR and that was at 15 months so the above statement seems to apply to her. She had only one MMR shot and it seems her body had a different response. -- "these increased antibody levels typically do not persist " seems to be a key factor. One does not have to wonder why research in this area is not promoted and why those who do, like Dr. Andrew Wakefield, would be viciously attacked by both those who promote and profit from vaccines. Most researchers will grab those safe Drosophilia to examine, accept grants and research money, yet continue to ignore these very sick children.
Back to Megan and the present ghosts of Christmas 2011. I am always thrilled by her intermittent, joyous moods and loving innocence but the devastation of her health and future is gut wrenching. I walk around my home and see the past Christmases, illnesses, seizures, divorce and the immense physical and emotional pain that has affected so many. I remember a part in Dan Olmsted and Mark Blaxill's book, The Age of Autism: Mercury, Medicine and a Man-made Epidemic where Bridget Muncie's (Barbara K from the original Kanner paper) brother is recalling a Christmas memory. In it, he describes sharing a bed and sharing anticipation as young siblings do, waiting for Santa to come. The dark side of autism then enters - the pain and suffering of their family is shared by us all in different memories of the holidays -- "I vividly remember the drives back home in the wintry darkness, my mother weeping continuously, my father silent at the wheel of the car, and me scared and still in the backseat." I dream of future Christmases, where the autism numbers decline, Meg is healthy and communicating, smiling and able to navigate in the world. How will we get there if the unpleasant truths continue to be denied?
Teresa Conrick is Contriobuting Editor to Age of Autism.
Teresa,
Funny how us "autism" parents have the same kind of data compiled in charts at our fingertips:) Yes, indeed, I have that same chart for my son, now age 15-1/2 years old. He also received just one MMR vaccine at 15 months old, just like Megan. From ages 5-10 years old, we ran titers tests on 4 different occasions (ages 5, 6-1/2, 7-1/2 and 10 years old). My son's Rubeola IgG titer at the age of 5 was an elevated 2.74 and then at age 10 was grossly elevated at 4.74. At this time, we then began homeopathic treatment and everytime we would "clear" his MMR vaccine, he would not only break out in a full-body, head-to-toe measles rash, but would also present with all the other physical symptoms of someone with measles disease: red, watery eyes, high fever, runny nose, cough, etc.
Posted by: Susan | December 28, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Dr Richard Kelly, Kenney Krieger.....
The natural history of AMD and the events
surrounding the period of regression are as important as the biochemical abnormalities in establishing the
diagnosis. Before regression, all affected children have had normal or even advanced language and cognitive
development and no neurological abnormalities apart from mildly delayed gross motor milestones and
hypotonia in a few. Regression often can be dated to a specific event, most often a simple childhood illness,
such as otitis media, streptococcal pharyngitis, or viral syndrome, or, rarely, an immunization, most often the
MMR vaccine or the former DPT. The common feature of all identified precipitants is inflammation.
Regression occurs either acutely during the illness or within 14 days of immunization with the MMR
attenuated virus vaccine. Regression is otherwise typical for autism and includes acute or subacute loss of
language, onset of perseverative behaviors, and loss of eye contact and other social skills. Although
neurological regression in many mitochondrial diseases and other metabolic disorders often occurs because of
illness-associated fasting, most children with AMD continue to eat normally during the crisis. Moreover,
regression during an illness can occur whether or not there is fever. The nature of the regression and its timing
suggest that mitochondrial failure is caused by immune-mediated destabilization of mitochondria as part of a
TNF-alpha/caspase-mediated apoptosis cascade [5]. Because “steady state” loading of complex I in brain is
close to 50% [6,7], if a child had a 50% reduction in complex I activity due to haploinsufficiency for a
complex I null mutation, just a 5 or 10% further reduction in mitochondrial activity could cause neurons to
cross the threshold for energy failure and cell death
Posted by: kathy blanco | December 24, 2011 at 01:25 PM
only a few Christmases ago... the ghost/ panic of H1N1...
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/10/24/after-fear-h1n1-more-americans-putting-flu-shot-on-to-do-list/?&test=flu
......The panic of the H1N1 pandemic just two years ago changed the way Americans feel about the flu shot.
Once regarded as an annoyance, something that had to be put on one’s to-do list and make time for, became an urgency—and statistics show it has stayed that way.
Nearly 131 million people, or 43 percent of the U.S. population, received the influenza vaccine last season, representing a steady increase over several years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
H1N1 surfaced in April 2009. It caused at least 18,449 deaths worldwide and shut down schools.....
*********
Were not about 136 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine throw away, (as hazardous waste due to the mercury/ Thimerosal content ???)
Posted by: cmo | December 23, 2011 at 08:15 AM
Teresa,
Your simple chart showing the range and then Megan's titer levels for measles, mumps and rubella is such an indictment of that vaccine, considering Megan's dx. Obviously there is an immunological connection. Blow that chart up huge, mount it on a board and mail it to Geraldine Dawson. Demand answers. Demand meaningful studies.
Posted by: First do no harm | December 23, 2011 at 02:32 AM
Kids with Kawasaki disease has elevated IgGs.
The treatment for Kawasakis is IVIGs.
IVIGs Is processed IgGs gathered from 1000 blood donors.
IVIGS cost 10,000 dollars, but I am sure that once every man, woman and child that creeps upon the earth eventually has to have them - the cost will go down.
There is only a short time span in which IVIGs will help in Kawasakis disease.
I am not sure why a limited time span? It could be that IVIGs can reteach the IgGs to behave. It could be that the IVIGs stop the IgGs from taking their behavior on the road and teaching its bad behavior to the IgMs and the IgAs. If there is going to be a reaction to a IVIG treatment it is because of the IgMs.
Even though IVIGs are now the standard treatment for kids with Kawasakis disease, as opposed to just asprin as in the days when my kids were small. There is still a lot of complaints from parents that thier kids continue to suffer from: legs, muscle pains and stiffness, GI problems, reoccurring unexplained fevers, reoccurring strep infections, reoccurring sinus and ear infections, irratibiltiy that persist, mood swings that persist, learning disabilities, and even seizures.
I had two kids. One had typical Kawasakis, the second had atypical Kawasakis. If the first one had not had the typical kind of Kawaskis - the peds nor I would have guessed that he had atypcial Kawasakis -- no rash, no blood dripping mouth, or bloody eyes - just a high fever that last two whole weeks and a pink looking skin- and in the end peeling skin on the toes.
It took seven weeks after my daughter had her fourth DPT shot to develop Kawasakis.
It took seven weeks after my son's third reaction to his third DPT shot to develop atypical Kawasakis.
Kawasakis is hypersentivity type III.
The time for my kids to DPT shot was seven weeks, and had different symptoms.
My daughter in her late twenties made the mistake of becoming a nurse and taking three Hep Bs. It took two weeks for the return of pain and stiffness, but it continued into to high Sed rates. It really never goes away the IgGs.
Four years later she is still fighting it, with GI problems, reoccurring fevers, OCD, bipolar, depression, manias.
Posted by: Benedetta | December 22, 2011 at 10:55 AM
I remember watching the Snowman video with my two sons when they were little. Nicholas loved it, too. He seemed to understand everything that was happening without the burden of language getting in the way of the story. I remember giving him the stuffed snowman for Christmas and it was his favorite bedtime snuggle toy. We even had his picture taken with it! Fast forward to 2010, when my oldest son, Thomas, who was performing with the youth symphony orchestra, told us "I have a great surprise for you at the Christmas concert this year!" When we got to the performing arts theater, I remember crying throughout the whole performance as they played and performed "the Snowman." Nicholas (dx'd with autism in 1997)sat giddily beside me and watched the entire show in amused happiness. I still get tears thinking about that. The same stuffed snowman is sitting under our Christmas tree as a beloved display piece right now.
Posted by: Shelly Sulkoske | December 22, 2011 at 10:08 AM
I never know what to do with all of the glossy new flat photo pics that arrive disquised as Christmas cards, so I put them in a little wooden box on the end of my coffee table where I have always placed the little bifold pics of the nineties , the little 2*3's that were often enclosed in holiday mail. Each time I open that box I take out the '91pic of my nephew, a beautiful baby perched on his older brother's knee, smiling BIG ,which is understood as a belly laugh response to the photographer's jestering. The next Christmas, age 20 months, he was in Hopkins fighting for his life with toxic encephalopathy of unknown cause. His MMR was in May!! By June we had to cut short the family ocean trip, because his screams were disturbing the rest of the family, this pleasant ,sweet baby, was caught up in a cycle of gastro pain and diarhea that no medical doc could explain. His eyes told the story, pics from that early summer, until the seizures in December show deteriorating health. The sparkle was gone , the battle was lost as shown in those eyes. I thought, I'm smarter, I will protect my children from autism!! NO NO and NO!!..I waited until my next son, the first of the kids born after the "event" of autism hit our family, was four to get his mmr. Imagine my panic when he became seriously ill with gastro symptoms with no known cause!. For four months he was bent over in pain, we had to stop all of our normal activities as his routine became dependent on the "nearest" bathroom. He never had a booster after his titers measured TEN times the norm a year later. I was so taken up with these events that I didn't notice the baby was losing his language, was developing gastro illness, he was there that same doc visit getting his dtap, hib, prevnar..lord knows what else..the same day his brother was "mmr'd". His illness was milder, more manageable, BUT it was HIM, that took the hit. I have the pictures, the same pictures , the beautiful bright eyed baby, deteriorating over a period of a few months, all the while you can see it in pics, the eyes tell it all.
Posted by: barbaraj | December 22, 2011 at 09:30 AM