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In reply to the discussion: "Like Your Most Paranoid, Far-Out Conspiratorial Left-Wing Nightmare," But It's True... [View all]proverbialwisdom
(4,959 posts)104. Or, "Our stories, our successes, our anecdotes are the first step in the scientific process."
http://thinkingmomsrevolution.com/autism-recovery-ill-say-loud-hes-recovered-im-proud/
Autism RECOVERY: Ill Say It Loud, Hes Recovered and Im Proud
by Zorro
February 13, 2014
Autism RECOVERY: Ill Say It Loud, Hes Recovered and Im Proud
by Zorro
February 13, 2014
About a year ago I was invited to speak at a local autism/ADHD conference. I was nervous because it had been a while since Id spoken in front of an audience, or even dressed up (make up! lipstick! hair blown out!) like a professional-ish adult. What I was really nervous about was telling our story and coming out . . . as the mom of a recovered kid.
Yeah, I said it. Recovered.
Recovered kids are not fairy tale creatures. I know of a few other recovered kids, and theyre all underground. Passing for normal. Correction: just being normal, typical, not-special-needs kids. They all switched schools, and no one in the new school knows. So why did I buck the status quo? Why do I insist on telling this story? I felt feel! its important for parents just starting out to know that kids can and do improve. Not false hope. Real hope. Its hard work and expensive, but its real.
Formally assessed at age four, Code Name: Connor had a full 299.0 autism diagnosis. What speech he had was limited to echolalia, all done and no. He tested at the 2nd percentile for expressive language. He flapped his hands, toe-walked, lined things up, and ran in circles. He threw monster tantrums daily (think toddler Chernobyl). I want to be clear that we did all the speech therapy, OT, Floortime, special day class, etc., that was recommended PLUS a full immersion in biomed intervention. Gluten-free diet alone is NOT enough. These kids have what Ive come to think of as NICF: neuro-immune clusterfrak. Its complicated, and it takes time and effort to unwind.
The talk went well, but more than one mom challenged me that he wasnt really recovered because he struggled with anxiety when he hit puberty, like they didnt believe my story.
Sigh.
I concede that anxiety is a vestige of a larger brain-based issue that has been resolved. But its not autism. Its not a mountain. Its a molehill and its a molehill thats since been swept away.
If you met him, youd just think he was a nice kid, kind of quiet, good looking in a swarthy, one-eyebrow-cocked way. He has friends, he was a junior counselor at his school camp, he loves movies and acting, and hes on the yearbook staff. Girls think hes cute. Hes funny as hell and has a heart for social justice.
I am honestly perplexed that more people dont ask me how this happened. My son is walking around having successfully scaled a mountain, for heavens sake. Geesh, someone drops 10 pounds and theyre met with How did you do it?? Someone drops an autism diagnosis and . . . crickets.
<>
Our stories, our successes, our anecdotes are the first step in the scientific process. Ask a question, form a hypothesis, make a prediction, test the hypothesis through experimentation, analyze results. Where do you think the questions come from?
If we dont talk this up, we dont create a buzz of anecdotal experience that leads to a question that leads to a hypothesis that leads to testing that leads to scientific validation. The buzz of anecdote also reaches other parents, more now than ever before.
Doctors at UC Davis have been studying methylcobalamin. A Stanford doctor has been studying N-Acetyl Cysteine, a means to boost glutathione, in children with autism and has had positive results. They didnt pull these ideas out of thin air.
You see, theyd heard about these unicorns . . .
<>
http://www.generationrescue.org/latest-news/recovery/jenny-mccarthy-s-official-statement/
Jenny McCarthy's Official Statement
by Generation Rescue on 4 January 2014
Jenny McCarthy's Official Statement
by Generation Rescue on 4 January 2014
"Stories circulating online, claiming that I said my son Evan may not have autism after all, are blatantly inaccurate and completely ridiculous. Evan was diagnosed with autism by the Autism Evaluation Clinic at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital and was confirmed by the State of California (through their Regional Center). The implication that I have changed my position, that my child was not initially diagnosed with autism (and instead may suffer from Landau-Kleffner Syndrome), is both irresponsible and inaccurate. These stories cite a "new" Time Magazine interview with me, which was actually published in 2010, that never contained any such statements by me. Continued misrepresentations, such as these, only serve to open wounds of the many families who are courageously dealing with this disorder. Please know that I am taking every legal measure necessary to set this straight. "
- JENNY MCCARTHY, @JENNYMCCARTHY
Related: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014690087
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"Like Your Most Paranoid, Far-Out Conspiratorial Left-Wing Nightmare," But It's True... [View all]
Hissyspit
Feb 2014
OP
Glad to hear that one ground breaking scientist will escape with his reputation intact.
truedelphi
Feb 2014
#2
In their respective fields, Andrew Wakefield or Arpad Pusztai come to mind. Take it to the bank.
proverbialwisdom
Feb 2014
#18
Didn't Andrew Wakefield fabricate a research paper purporting to show a link between the MMR vaccine
EOTE
Feb 2014
#44
Don't you know about the ongoing libel suit? Read up here, including comments (some, not all).
proverbialwisdom
Feb 2014
#114
The anti-vaccine garbage has been debunked countless times yet they still cling to it.
EOTE
Feb 2014
#56
I thought you were trying to say that I advocated that crap, which isn't true.
reusrename
Feb 2014
#100
Or, "Our stories, our successes, our anecdotes are the first step in the scientific process."
proverbialwisdom
Feb 2014
#104
I once tried to correct a very damaging and erroneuous section of commentary
truedelphi
Feb 2014
#66
What seems like a branding process results in opinions which appear intransigent regardless of facts
proverbialwisdom
Feb 2014
#78
What does Carl Sagan have to do with this story of a scientist being surveilled and smeared for
El_Johns
Feb 2014
#109
Sounds exactly like the smear campaign against Greenwald. I actually recognize some of the talking
sabrina 1
Feb 2014
#4
Yes it is, exactly the same. Which means they are hiring these think tanks/security contractors to
sabrina 1
Feb 2014
#72
The Center for Media and Democracy is capable, experienced and relentless sabrina 1
bobthedrummer
Feb 2014
#77
Wow, those are all great sites, bobthedrummer. I wonder if they have been posted in the
sabrina 1
Feb 2014
#92
Yes, I'm a drummer with 2 kits in my apartment (Tama & Ludwig) I've always had an ear for rhythm
bobthedrummer
Feb 2014
#103
There was supposed to be an investigation into that whole despicable scheme, which some Dems called
sabrina 1
Feb 2014
#36
Hank Johnson, that's who I was trying to think of. And Conyers among others, and yet, nothing has
sabrina 1
Feb 2014
#68
This paragraph is almost exactly what the Greenwald smear campaign described in the HB Gary emails
sabrina 1
Feb 2014
#110
Wow. We keep saying 'Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you'
ck4829
Feb 2014
#32
As I'm reading the article (phenomenal read, btw) I'm casting the upcoming film ...
brett_jv
Feb 2014
#43
Think we would be a lot healthier country if USA used the EU banned chemical list.
Sunlei
Feb 2014
#57
They are soulless monsters imo, not human, lacking all the elements that give someone the right to
sabrina 1
Feb 2014
#69
Standard practice, I assume: to monitor and attack anything which might hurt their profits.
El_Johns
Feb 2014
#111
K&R But it's like every time they are caught doing this kind of thing, people's reactions
Egalitarian Thug
Feb 2014
#88
I know, we get excited when we see these exposures, hoping that finally, something will be done
sabrina 1
Feb 2014
#95
That's terrible, and conspiratorial, but no, it's not nearly as paranoid and far out...
Silent3
Feb 2014
#108
Cost benefit analysis measured in dollars and cents an NO sense. The EPA needs a mission infusion.
LiberalAndProud
Feb 2014
#112
Syngenta, DuPont Pioneer and Agrigenetics Inc. sue county of Kauai, HI.
proverbialwisdom
Feb 2014
#115
More Syngenta news: "Cargill to reject for export crops with new GMO Syngenta corn trait."
proverbialwisdom
Feb 2014
#117