Connor was a typical toddler. He was happy and loved to smile for the camera. Connor had a vocabulary of at least 10 words and used them frequently. At Connor's 12 month visit to his pediatrician he had an ear infection. With Connor it was one ear infection after another, one anti biotic after another. At that visit we didn't give him his vaccinations. When we returned at 15 months Connor received 7 vaccinations. Almost immediately we were back in the pediatricians office with symptoms of another ear infection. Connor had a weak immune system at the time he was dosed with all these shots. Connor also had tons of antiobiotics in his system and was put again on another one. At this point Connor was going to and ENT with an appt for ear tubes. He is currently on his second set and doing much better with infections. Will his weak immune system and the antibiotics acting as "glue" to thermosal or aluminum (aluminum has replaced thermosal in all vaccines and is metal....hmmmm).

It seemed to happen gradual for us. First we thought Connor couldn't hear us because we would call him name and he wouldn't answer. We had to have him on a leash everywhere we went for his own safety because he wouldn't understand danger. Then he lost eye contact. Then he no longer said mama and dada. No more fishie, no more tic toc, no more bye, bye, no more "no". We had no idea what he wanted, what was wrong. At 18 months he had a normal visit at the pediatrician for a check up and our his doctor recommended the early intervention team come to our home for evauation. It took my husband and I two months before we decided to do this. First we started with Speech Therapy, then our Speech Therapist recommended PT, Then OT, then a Teacher. This all took a very long time to get these services because it just isn't available in Therapists schedules. I was very persistent with my phone calls to get the services that everyone said would be easier once we had a diagnosis. Now we had one 299.0 Autism Spectrum Disorder and nothing was easier. How could nobody have time in their schedule when my son needs this to get better. Very frustrating. Connor is going to be 4 in July and we've come along way, but it wasn't easy getting here. I researched and read and then researched and read more. I went nuts finding out everything I could. I read Jenny MCcarthy's book Louder Than Words and then immediately got Connor an appt. with a DAN doctor and we went Gluten/Casein free. Within 1 week we had a different child from just the diet. I though it would be really hard, but Connor has adjusted just fine. We do cook seperate for him because it's very expensive. We knew the diet was a sure thing and although Connor is a very picky eater we found enough for him to be satisfied. We did research and found out that many "normal" groceries are gluten free. I was very anxious for our first visit to our DAN doctor who was 3 hours away. There we found out that Connor has levels of lead, tested positive for the gluten-gene, had tons of yeast in his gut and was full of "crap". They took some hair samples that day and we went back 1 month later. At that visit we found out that Connor had arsenic in his system also, but on a good note all of the supplements and the B12 injections were giving us amazing results. Connor was playing with the dog, playing with his brother and loved to cuddle with mom and dad again. He looked at us again and when we called him he actually came. He began to play with his toys appropriately and used his silverware evertime. So many good things! We have had a little set back because we had to pay for all of these DAN visits up front and then get reimbursed from our insurance company.

Well, the insurance only covered $125.00 of our very large credit card debt. Not to mention gas and hotel, and how much all of the supplements cost. It's nuts. This is actually working for our child, how can we not get any help. We know for Connor's sake we must keep with this, but we have to change our lifestyle dramatically. So I've told you how great Connor has been doing since he was first diagnosed, but we have a long road ahead of us. It seems two steps forward and 3 behind. Connor all of a sudden doesn't want to wear clothes and is hitting in the face. I just keep reading and try to reach him on his level. Connor weighs 55 lbs and is still wearing diapers. Connor bites his brother and laughs when he cries. It's a up hill down hill road for us parents with children on the spectrum. We have to try to keep our families together, fight for the services our child with Autism deserves, give up what materialistic things you had, and still deal with public giving us dirty looks. Connor hums very loud at times. Our church members were offended and I couldn't face the looks any longer. We've had to leave parties and events that have left our older son in tears. It's hard, but I believe Connor was given to us for a reason and when he kisses us and hugs my husband and I or cuddles with his brother on the couch and kisses him on the check, we all smile.

Thanks for listening.

Michelle