Beth,

Jake’s ongoing issues are so much for you all to handle. I think you all do a great job. Jake, too.

I see what you’re saying about that the fact that is is high-functioning is sometimes more of an issue. I would never know that Jake has Autism Spectrum Disorder if I just came across him at the playground. I would just think that he has a lot of energy!

I think these people are finally onto something.

I have always wondered what Jacob’s Autism Spectrum Disorder (to learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorders, visit http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer) was a result of--they already say a combined influence of genetic and environmental factors, and I would lump vaccines into that group.

Jake had jaundice as a newborn, and it always puzzled me, looking back on it, why they would give an infant with an inability to process and eliminate his own blood cell waste through an immature liver vaccines that contain potentially toxic materials that need to be filtered out of the body. If his liver can’t filter out blood waste products (leading to jaundice), what defense did he have against thimerosal?

When Carys was born, 6 years later, they didn’t give the Hepatitis B shot at birth, and no one could, or would, tell me why. I was seriously considering turning it down anyway, because I knew she had a high risk of jaundice going in (I have an O blood type) and I had my suspicions, right or wrong. So when they said they didn’t give it, I was relived I didn’t have to make a scene to avoid her getting the shot...and wondered if I was really onto something.

Now, however, they are back to giving the blasted shot at birth, heaven knows why. What’s the rush?

I don’t think every child reacts to the vaccines in the same way, but if genes and environment align--I would bet that the vaccines could have an effect. Since the risks outweigh the benefits, I wouldn’t want to skip any vaccines (God forbid these diseases we can prevent, like polio and measles, make a comeback, and kids die from chicken pox and the flu at startling rates!), but I would think a modified schedule wouldn’t hurt. Give a baby’s body time to adjust, let it start working before you shock it with chemicals.

As for Jake, who knows what conspired in his little body to make him what he is today? People say we should be grateful he is verbal, mobile, can toilet himself. On the flip side of that--I think people would be more understanding of his condition if he was more severly affected. I am not ungrateful for who he is; I am ungrateful for the people who don’t understand the spectrum of the disorder. He is high-functioning; some kids can’t feed themselves or talk. We fight for every service he gets because people don’t think he is Autistic, or they don’t think he has a problem--he is a “bad” kid. Until they get a handle on what causes this disorder and can offer real-time help to families, it is my bet everyone will be touched in some way. With 1 out of 150 kids being affected by Autism Spectrum disorders--it’s sure to touch your life somehow. Devoting more time and effort to the why is crucial.