Protecting Babies from Autism

While the birth of a baby is certainly cause for celebration, as an autism mom, I find myself unsure of how much information I should share with new parents, hoping that their child will not struggle with autism, as mine has. Do I simply pray that their child will be blessed with health and spared from autism, or do I offer wisdom gained from our experience? Will they see my suggestions as helpful hints or nosy intrusions? If I remain silent about what I would have done differently, had I known when Alex was a baby, will I regret not being more assertive later? Can I spare another child from the difficulties my child has needlessly had to face? While autism still remains a mystery in many regards, research in recent years offers parents ways that may prevent their children from acquiring this condition.

In the article “Editorial: What Can Be Done to Prevent Autism Now?” published on the Autism Research Institute website, registered nurse Maureen McDonnell offers numerous suggestions to enhance the health of babies. [To read this article, please click here.] In addition to detailing ways mothers can improve their own health before and during pregnancy, she provides specific ways to help keep newborns and infants healthy. As she notes, “We don’t have all the answers. No one does. But let us consider the research that has already been done, the stories of improvement and recovery from parents who have traveled this difficult path, and let’s apply common-sense precautionary principles as we prepare for and enter motherhood. None of them can harm you or your baby.”

On the topic of vaccines, she advises parents to ask doctors to give only one vaccine at a time from single-dose vials instead of the more common practice of administering multiple vaccines from multiple-dose vials. In addition, she recommends that children who are ill—whether coming down with something, currently sick, or getting over an illness—should not receive vaccines. Moreover, children who are currently on antibiotics or have recently finished antibiotics should not be immunized. Essentially, vaccines should never be given to children who are sick or recovering from illness.

Furthermore, some children have ongoing health conditions or have inherited genetic predispositions that put them at risk for not responding well to vaccines, especially when multiple vaccines are given at once. Children whose parents have autoimmune conditions or allergies may have inherited these traits, putting them at risk for vaccine injury. Also, children who were born prematurely or who have ear infections repeatedly may have immune issues that make them vulnerable to vaccine damage. Consequently, if parents decide to have their babies immunized, they must determine potential risk factors, such as family health history as well as the child’s health history, before allowing their children to receive vaccines.

Another way to protect children is to avoid giving the commonly used pain reliever and fever reducer acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol), especially in conjunction with vaccines. While pediatricians often recommend giving acetaminophen to reduce pain and fever associated with vaccines, ibuprofen (brand name Motrin) is less likely to cause potentially harmful side effects.

In the article “Evidence That Increased Acetaminophen Use in Genetically Vulnerable Children Appears to be a Major Cause of the Epidemics of Autism, Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity, and Asthma” published on The Great Plains Laboratory, Inc. website, Dr. William Shaw explains in great detail how acetaminophen can damage the lungs, liver, and nervous systems of some children. [To read this article, please click here.] For his research, he notes that prior to the 1980’s, children were typically given aspirin for pain and fever. However, the appearance of Reye’s syndrome and Kawasaki disease in children and the potential link with aspirin made the use of acetaminophen rise dramatically. At the same time, rates of autism, asthma, and ADHD also increased significantly. However, countries, such as Cuba, where acetaminophen is rarely given, did not see epidemic growth in the number of children with these three conditions.

Through his research, Dr. Shaw discovered that acetaminophen produces toxins that can lead to “cellular damage and death,” “causes severe immune abnormalities,” and “depresses the immune response to vaccination.” Although he notes that more research needs to be done, he advises avoiding potential risks of toxicity by not giving children acetaminophen, especially in conjunction with vaccinations.

In addition to considering the risks of vaccines and acetaminophen, parents need to realize that they are their children’s primary advocates. In dealing with medical issues, parents may need to do their own research, which has been made much easier, thanks to the abundance of credible online resources. Additionally, parents must find doctors for their children who will listen to their concerns and not dismiss them as nervous parents. Parents should not allow themselves to be bullied by doctors, especially those who threaten to kick patients out of their medical practice for not following stringent vaccination schedules and policies. Trust in a doctor is good; blind faith is not.

A few days ago, my niece gave birth to her first child, my first great nephew. As we were chatting back and forth early one morning online, I debated whether I should warn her about potential dangers of autism. However, I would rather give advice now about potentially preventing autism than advice later about dealing with autism. Moreover, I knew she would understand my motives were only to protect her and her son. I typed, “One bit of advice: give him Motrin (ibuprofen) instead of Tylenol if he ever needs it for fever, especially after shots. Doctors won’t tell you, but there is a link between autism and Tylenol. I know why.” Her immediate response was a thank you along with a heart emoji. She understood. Now I will pray that God will watch over and keep her precious son healthy as He restores health to my precious son.

“We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty wonders.” Psalm 78:4

Toxic Metals as Potential Autism Triggers

While scientists have not yet named a definitive cause of autism, a recently published article suggests toxic metals may be to blame. On the Medical XPress website, the article “Toxic metal pollution linked with development of autism spectrum disorder” summarizes a research article, “Toxic metal(loid)-based pollutants and their possible role in autism spectrum disorder,” published in the October 2018 issue of Environmental Research. [To read the summary article, please click here.]

Based on the belief that inflammation of nerve tissue in the brain causes autism, researchers from Russia, Norway, Bangladesh, Japan, France, Egypt, and Italy investigated the role of toxic metals in this inflammatory process. Under the direction of Professor Anatoly Skalny of RUDN University and Yaroslval State University in Russia, the researchers found evidence of neuroinflammation in the brains as well as toxins in the blood of children with autism.

The researchers determined that three toxic metals—aluminum, lead, and mercury—and one toxic metalloid, arsenic, might potentially cause autism. For example, aluminum impairs the function of glia, the cells that surround and support neurons, or nerve cells. In addition, arsenic interferes with neurotransmitters, the chemical substances that transfer nerve impulses to other nerves, muscles, and organs. The damage these common environmental pollutants can inflict explains neurological symptoms found in autism.

Specifically, the researchers noted three effects toxic metals can have upon the nervous system that may lead to a child developing autism. First, these toxins can trigger neuroinflammation commonly seen in autism in which tissues in the nervous system, particularly the brain, are inflamed. Also, these toxic metals can cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death. In addition, heavy metals can activate excitotoxicity, in which overstimulation of neurotransmitters can lead to damage or destruction of nerve cells.

If, indeed, children with autism are found to have heavy metal poisoning, the researchers do not recommend the typical treatment to eradicate these toxins. People with acute heavy metal toxicity, such as those with occupational exposure to these toxins, are typically treated with chelation therapy using sulfur-based compounds that bind with the heavy metals to remove them from the body. However, these oral chelators, including DMPS and DMSA, can have negative side effects. Moreover, children with autism are considered to have chronic metal toxicity and may need ongoing treatment to remove the heavy metals from their systems.

Consequently, the researchers advocate a nutritional approach that is both safe and effective. First, they recommend taking supplements of the minerals zinc and selenium, which can chelate heavy metals by binding with them and removing them from the body. Moreover, they suggest taking antioxidant supplements, such as Vitamin C and E, to protect cells from damage by these toxins.

Along with nutritional supplements, the researchers tout the value of a healthy diet to combat the effects of heavy metals. For instance, they promote eating foods that contain phytochemicals, such as flavanoids, which offer protective health benefits. These plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, beans, herbs, spices, nuts, and seeds, provide three key benefits: antioxidant action, immune system stimulation, and inflammation reduction.

In addition to including food with phytochemicals, the researchers also recommend a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods. An article on the online site Harvard Health Publishing at Harvard Medical School, “Foods that fight inflammation,” not only lists these healthy foods but also explains the benefits. [To read this article, please click here.] Included among anti-inflammatory foods are tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, olive oil, nuts, fatty fish, and fruits, such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges.

The research regarding the link between toxic metals and autism holds special interest for me because Alex was diagnosed with toxic levels of all four of the heavy metals named in the article: aluminum, lead, mercury, and arsenic. In fact, his doctor told us that he had the highest levels of arsenic she had ever seen. At that time, chelation with oral DMSA was the recommended treatment, and fortunately, Alex did quite well with this therapy. Although the careful and intermittent dosing of DMSA meant two years of chelation therapy, the sulfur-based compound removed these toxins from his system. Moreover, when we tested him ten years later to see if any of the toxins had returned, thankfully, the results indicated that he did not have any heavy metals in his system. Perhaps the nutritional supplements he takes, along with the healthy diet he eats, have protected him from heavy metals accumulating in his system again.

While this research linking heavy metal toxicity to autism is certainly a step in the right direction, scientists need to examine why children with autism cannot properly detoxify environmental pollutants. This research also highlights the need for parents to have their children with autism tested for heavy metal toxicity, which can easily and rather inexpensively be done through blood, hair, urine, or stool testing. For those who have aluminum, lead, mercury, and/or arsenic poisoning, the recommendations provided by the researchers—nutritional supplements and diet—offer simple and safe ways to eradicate toxins as well as to overcome the negative effects of the toxins upon the nervous system. Clearly, healing the nervous system in children with autism is crucial to their health, development, and well-being.

“Stretch out Your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” Acts 4:30

Peaceful Plateau

Lately, we’ve found ourselves in one of those phases for which we’ve prayed fervently: the peaceful plateau, where life is rolling along blissfully and smoothly. Times like this occasionally make me wonder whether we should try something new to push toward more progress. However, most of the time, we think of this phase of relative ease as a Jenga tower in which we don’t want to make any sudden moves that might topple a potentially precarious stack of blocks.

During these times when Alex is healthy and content, Ed and I compare notes in hushed tones, somehow fearful that saying aloud how well Alex is doing might disturb the delicate balance. We add to our superstition by adding the comment, “Knock on wood!” as we both seek a table or chair to rap our knuckles upon, hoping to ensure our good luck will continue.

Certainly, we have reason to be leery. For a year, Alex took antifungal medication to battle an unusually virulent case of thrush that invaded his mouth and throat and did not want to leave. When he finished taking Diflucan in June, we hoped and prayed that the thrush had been eradicated, but we continued to look for the symptoms: tiny blisters on the inside of his lower lip, a white coating on his tongue, and difficulty swallowing his morning pills. Thankfully, Alex has remained thrush-free for the past few months, and we have breathed a sigh of relief that he has been healthy. Knock on wood.

Although we have been working for over a year with Alex’s psychiatric nurse practitioner to reduce the medications he takes for anxiety, every time we reduce or remove a medication, we worry about how he will respond. Since August, two of his medication doses have been cut in half, and he has done remarkably well. Fortunately, with each medication reduction, we have seen Alex respond favorably, improving instead of regressing. Knock on wood.

After over a year of dealing with Alex’s food aversion that changed him from a hearty and healthy eater to a reluctant and picky eater, we enlisted the help of a speech therapist this summer. In just a few sessions, he made great gains and expanded his diet to include a wider variety, rediscovering the foods he formerly enjoyed. While we were delighted with his progress, we were a bit apprehensive when his speech therapist told us that Alex had made a breakthrough and no longer needed her help. However, he continues to look forward to mealtime and makes suggestions about what he’d like to eat. He’s even been able to eat at restaurants, despite all the sensory issues of sound, smell, and taste, while showing no anxiety about food. Knock on wood.

As part of behavioral therapy, his therapist has worked on Alex’s social and language skills by teaching him how to say hello and goodbye to people. One would think this would be a simple task, but autism makes this interaction difficult for him. To reinforce these skills, Ed and I often cue Alex to remind him to exchange these social niceties when he’s out in public. Sometimes, we directly tell him, “Say hello,” or we physically nudge him to speak to others because he doesn’t usually initiate greetings on his own. The other evening when we went grocery shopping, the gentleman who often greets us at the door was treated to an enthusiastic, “Hello!” from Alex. Ed and I exchanged surprised looks, wondering if the other had cued Alex, but he had done it on his own. To prove it wasn’t a fluke, he said, “Goodbye!” to the same gentleman as we were leaving. Maybe Alex is finally catching on to the social skills we’ve worked so hard to teach him. Knock on wood.

Since Alex’s quarterly meeting with his support team is coming up this week, I have been thinking about how to summarize the past three months, something we routinely do at every meeting. He’s healthy, sleeping and eating well, and willing to go places and interact with others. More importantly, he just seems content. We catch him skipping through the house, grinning in the back seat as he rides in the car, and generally amused as he observes life. In short, he’s happy and healthy. Knock on wood.

When we’re in the midst of difficulty, I find myself searching for God’s goodness and praying earnestly for progress. However, when things are going well, I vacillate between enjoying the comfort of ease and fretting when the next proverbial shoe might drop. However, we know that faith is greater than any silly superstition. Moreover, we know that God is in control, and we are truly thankful for His goodness in our lives. He has been with us every step of this journey and has plans for Alex’s life that are greater than we can imagine.

Alex is healthy. Praise God.

Alex is getting off medications. Praise God.

Alex is eating better. Praise God.

Alex is getting out and interacting with people. Praise God.

Alex is happy. Praise God.

Life is good. God is good. Praise God, indeed!

“Come let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:3

Book Review: Aching Joy

What do we do when life doesn’t turn out the way we expected, planned, or hoped? As Christians, how do we follow the Apostle Paul’s advice to “rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer” when our prayers seem to go unanswered? Writer, pastor, and autism dad Jason Hague skillfully addresses these questions in his recently released book, Aching Joy. [The author and Tyndall House Publishers, Inc. provided me with an advance reader copy; the book is now available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.]

After his son Jack was diagnosed with severe autism, Jason Hague thought he had two options: to live with constant sorrow or to lower his expectations of what the future may hold. With neither choice offering a satisfying life, he instead embraces the path of “aching joy,” where “treasures hidden in the darkness” can be found.

For those who are in despair and frustrated with God, the author offers reassurance: it’s okay to be angry with God. Citing Biblical examples of men of faith who felt abandoned by God—David, Job, Jeremiah, and even Jesus—the author advocates being honest with God about our feelings. In fact, he notes, “Honesty with God is the beginning of healing.” Later, he goes on to explain that as children of God, we are allowed to admit hurt, feel fear, confront God, cry, and accept a situation that is less than ideal. However, he also cautions, “But as a child of God and a follower of Jesus, you are forbidden one thing: You are not allowed to give up hope.”

In a conscious effort to seek joy, Jason Hague began focusing upon developing his relationship with his son Jack and trying to understand his behaviors, such as flapping his arms. He tells a humorous anecdote regarding Jack’s “living-room shrine to Bush’s Baked Beans,” a pyramid of various types of cans Jack had carefully constructed and selected as a reward at the grocery store. What made this unusual interest more curious, the author explains, “He never opened any of those cans. He doesn’t even like beans.” Even though his family did not know why Jack thought these cans were so fascinating, they found his interest amusing and tried to figure out their appeal.

Since progress in autism is often slow, waiting for major breakthroughs can prove frustrating and tiring. Instead, the author suggests taking a break from waiting for a miracle and seeking “smaller graces day by day.” He explains, “God works in big ways and small ways. We must learn to see and receive his subtler miracles—his daily blessings—because that is where he does most of his best work.” Moreover, the author notes that seeking these smaller graces offers rewards: “When we actively look for his [God’s] hand in our circumstances, a funny thing happens. We start to see it.”

Along with trying to understand his son’s behaviors, help him learn to communicate, and develop a relationship with him, Jason Hague candidly describes one of the most difficult aspects of parenting a child with autism—dealing with meltdowns. Explaining how something seemingly small would upset his son profoundly, even to the point of Jack punching himself and banging his head against a wall, Jason Hague earnestly shares how helpless he felt during this “sheer, panicked agony.” He notes, “If we knew what was causing the meltdowns, we could have dealt with them. But he couldn’t tell us.”

Not knowing what specifically triggered the meltdowns, Jack’s parents desperately tried to comfort their son, holding his arms for safety while reassuring him of their love and reminding him that he was not alone. From that experience, the author draws the parallel of God as the father who promises in Scriptures to be with us always to give comfort and strength. As Jason Hague wisely notes, “‘I am with you’ means we never have to walk alone. That is reason enough for joy.”

Another aspect of life with autism that can cause grief, the author explains, is the tendency to compare our lives with others. Seeing typical family photos on social media or hearing about other children’s accomplishments can cause us to feel resentment and envy. Instead, the author urges us to celebrate others’ achievements while waiting for our prayers to be answered because they are evidence of “the goodness of God in the land of the living.” Moreover, he emphasizes the value of testimonies: “The stories of hope, big or small, from our neighbors or from our own histories, are evidence of the hand of God. Without them, we might despair.”

Nonetheless, human nature tends to look for fairness in life, and we may lament that it’s not fair for our children to suffer from autism. However, Jason Hague points out that we also need to look for the gifts our children have been given, recognizing that they may have been compensated in special ways. Specifically, he describes his son’s kindness, patience, and willingness to forgive others. Additionally, the author notes, “Despite the paralyzing effects of his condition, he finds more delight in the simple things of this world than anyone I have ever met.” Indeed, Jack’s ability to find joy in small things offers a testimony that out of suffering can come unabashed delight others can share.

In Aching Joy, Jason Hague openly shares his thoughts and feelings about the frustrations and joys in raising a child with autism. After struggling with uncertainty, he offers the wisdom he has gained from his experiences so that others may know that they, too, are not alone as they wait on the Lord. Moreover, this heartfelt memoir and testimony of faith reminds readers to seek God’s comfort: “Courage and healing are in his hands, and he waits for you to call.”

“The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” Psalm 28:7