Doctors ‘Guilted’ Us Into Catching Up Our Toddler on Vaccines While She Was Sick. She Was Never the Same
I told the doctor I just wanted medications for her fever and ear infections, but they insisted we catch her up on her vaccines during the same appointment. She was never the happy, talkative baby after that.
By Kelly O’Dea-Wilson
Editor’s note: In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, we invited members of the CHD community to submit their personal stories about autism, and how it has affected them and their families.
In April 1996, I took my 18-month-old to the doctor for a fever and double ear infection. I missed several well checks, according to them, and they strongly suggested we “get caught up” on her shots.
I protested several times and just wanted meds for her ear infections. They guilted me into getting them, but my mommy red flags were going off. I finally agreed.
By 9 p.m. that night, her fever was 103.8, she was in convulsions, eyes rolling in the back of her head, she was screaming, and then stopped. I took her to the emergency room, and they packed her in ice, since her fever was 104 at that point.
They said it was just a reaction to the ear infections. She was never the happy, talkative baby after that. Withdrawn, no interest in people, cried a lot that night, and the doc said she was just colicky.
At 3 years old, she was thrown out of 19 daycares for aggressive behavior, constant crying, and finding places to hide. She bit a little boy who wanted to play with her, and he got a few stitches above his eye, so we had to find yet another daycare.
One of the providers said she seemed “autistic.” Never heard that word before until that day. I had her evaluated at Franciscan Children’s Hospital in Brighton, Massachusetts. It was a 3-day outpatient evaluation and the pediatric neurologist, Dr. Doreen Carroll, said she was autistic with pica (an eating disorder).
After kindergarten, the school said she qualified for an IEP (Individual Educational Program). Julia excelled in academics, but socialization, organization and executive functioning were not there. She was considered to have high-functioning autism or Asperger’s Syndrome.
I dove very deep into that world and tried to find everything I could to help heal my daughter. We did chelation, hyperbaric, parasite cleanses, supplements, diet change, sensory integration dysfunction therapy, social therapy, etc. We tried everything and she did get better, but she was never really the same.
At 6, she was diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and put on Ritalin. If I knew then what I know now, I would never have put her on that drug or any drug (RX), but it was the only thing that would keep her calm in school and somewhat focused.
Julia is 30 years old now. She has a bachelor’s degree from ASU (Arizona State University) in English literature. It was pure hell for my husband and I to get her through college, but she did it. I would love for her to go back and get her master’s in teaching and teach, but she is not sure about that.
For now, she is my volunteer in my classroom and helps me with my students. The more exposure she gets to social situations, the more mature she grows. She also helps my husband with the cooking and bills.
She still has the attention span of a box of puppies, so completing chores is arduous and time-consuming! Biologically, she is 30, but emotionally/mentally, she is about 15, but again, incredibly smart and intellectual.
Julia is an artist, can sing like a canary, and is a very impressive writer. However, things that hold her back from success are lots of difficulties self-regulating her emotions. She can become enraged at times, and it can be a challenge to get her to be calm and see reason.
She still has sensory issues (auditory, oral, kinetic, etc.). My husband and I still have lots of hope that someday she will be self-sufficient, but being an adult, she is no longer open to healing.
She has made the decision to take Concerta when she comes to school with me, to help her focus. My advice to parents out there: hold off on iPhone, iPad, computers, laptops, etc. for as long as you can.
Julia didn’t get a phone until she was 18, but because of her lack of emotional maturity, she is now addicted to the computer. She freaks out if we lose Wi-Fi connection. I believe kids and adults who are on the spectrum are more susceptible to electronic addiction.
They just don’t need the added radiation toxicity to their already damaged brains and the constant dopamine hit they get from constant scrolls and “likes.” I also keep the whole family on a detox protocol for possible Covid transmission that we may contract from the vaccinated. She is at least open to that.
On vacations, we try to head north to the woods where there is no Wi-Fi and we can explore nature. Julia gets very agitated the first couple of days due to no Wi-Fi, but because she loves the woods and nature, seems calm for the rest of the vacation.
Nature can amazingly heal the body and mind. Our journey is not over, and I will never stop trying to heal my girl of this horrible condition. Mamas out there … your gut is never wrong! When you feel it, listen and take action. Walk out of that doctor’s office! God Bless.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Children’s Health Defense.
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