HANDLE, Cranio, Enhansa

If anyone asked me what my three biggest "wow"s would be with Michael, these would have to be them. We have done so many things with him that have been miraculous (Tomatis, diet, etc.), but these are current and making a huge impact on him now.

We had Michael's HANDLE followup this afternoon. It is so remarkable for me to think back where he was last year when we started, and compare that child to the Michael we have now. Today he was interacting, asking questions, being polite, so many wonderful things. Last year he was shy, acting out, impatient. He still has a long way to go, but I am just so thrilled with his progress.

I think the biggest things he has gained from HANDLE have to be better vision, self-confidence and body awareness. He has always struggled with getting his eyes to work together, making distance reading and close work like writing extremely difficult for him. Now, when his schoolwork comes home I can actually read it! And, no more throwing pencils to get out of writing! Also, he really seems to have a much better idea of where his body is in space, letting him freely jump, run, and just be kid. I love it!

I think the CST works so well with HANDLE. As his therapist has been working on his frontal lobe and the two hemispheres of his brain working together, we are seeing huge gains in self control, expression, curiosity, and pretend play. I'm not 100% sure what to attribute to HANDLE and what to CST, but together, they make a whole new kid.

Underlying all these gains has to be the enhansa. Now that Michael is free of the chronic candida infection, his tummy problems are gone and so is his OCD and most of his aggression. I can see every day that as his body heals, his brain does too. It is hard to understand how yeast can do so much damage, but boy do I believe it! Plus, the anti-oxidants have to really help in reducing inflammation and just making him healthier.

So, after much introspection on the way home, I have to rave about my favorite three 'wow's -- at least for today!

It's never, ever too late!

It's been a rough week here because Steve has been out of town for the last several days. Michael and I have really missed him. So, when I saw a topic of 'hopeism' on Age of Autism, I knew I had to read it right away. I was smiling and crying at the same time, and counting all our blessings.

Sometimes I get so caught up in all the things that Michael can't do, I forget about all the wonderful things he CAN do, and does. Every day we get to see more of his personality, and it's awesome to see another parent getting to see parts of her daughter she thought she'd lost so many years ago.

So, go read, watch the video, and have a tissue ready!

What I find most ironic is the article above it, about Enhansa. I truly believe Michael has made such fantastic leaps this year because of Enhansa. So, having these two articles back to back is just perfect!

Another Great Day!

Michael has really come to love two activities this summer - summer camp, and therapeutic riding. This afternoon, he put the two activities together in a brand new way.

When he gets home from camp on Tuesday afternoons, there is just a little bit of time to change and get out the door for riding. On the way out this afternoon, he asked if he could bring this week's camp schedule in the car with him. When he got to the riding barn, he brought the schedule in with him so he could show it to the program director. He's never done any kind of show and tell before. It was 100% his idea, just wanting to share the joy of one activity with someone he loves from a totally different activity. It took me a long time to pick my jaw up off the floor.

I'm not quite sure what's going on, but the changes we are seeing this summer are huge. Better eye contact, using people's names, making connections between people, places and activities.. I just can't wait to see what he comes up with next!

I'm In Love with Enhansa!

I never thought I’d be in love with a bright orange capsule – but I am, and it’s the real thing! We have had Michael on Enhansa for well over a month now, and have seen incredible results. But, let me start with a little background information.

Michael has been battling systemic yeast his whole life. We’ve tried Yeast Aid, Diflucan, Ketokenazole, you name it. Each would help for a little while, and then the yeast would come back in force. I had researched the anti-candida diets, but just couldn’t do it. Michael is so skinny to start with; I just couldn’t take away any more carbs.

This calendar year we started off with the Diflucan and then switched to the Ketokenazole. Toward the end of the second prescription, the yeast was under control but I was terrified of what would happen when we stopped taking the medicine. Plus, I was afraid of what damage taking such strong antifungals could cause long term.

I had heard really good things about Enhansa, and was perfectly primed to try it. So, when we started, the yeast was mostly under control, but still there. We started Michael with one 75mg capsule in the morning for a week. We added one capsule a week until we are now at 2 in the morning and 2 at night, for a total dose of 600mg a day.

It’s like we have a whole new child. He was doing great when we started, but his social interaction is really taking off, and his OCD is much better. Right now he and Steve are playing Mario Kart on the wii. They are talking back and forth about the game, strategies for doing better, and unlocking levels. It’s so nice to hear a back and forth conversation that is related to what they are doing together! Add in that he’s sharing and taking turns, and I’m completely over the moon.

Spring is staring and Michael has been asking to go to the park. Last year, he would go on a lot of the equipment, but shied away from a lot of the more challenging tasks. This year, he is doing absolutely everything. He’s still a little intimidated by walking over a mesh bridge that is at least 20 feet off the ground, but he does it. He’s still a little more cautious that most of the other kids, but he’s catching up fast. It’s so wonderful to see.

Even better, he’s starting to interact with some of the younger kids. He generally feels comfortable with children about 2 years younger than him – they tend to be quieter and move a little slower. He’s played on the teeter-totter a few times, and shared some of the equipment that requires sharing. It’s so awesome to watch.

The very best result by far though is that Michael is a much happier child. He smiles more, and laughs a genuine laugh. I was so used to the hyper yeast laugh (other parents of yeasty kids know what I’m talking about) that it was a surprise to hear a genuine, happy laugh. I think he’s feeling better overall, and is less bothered by what’s left of the OCD.

I’m tempted to bump him up one more capsule to 750mg a day, but we haven’t decided yet. For now, we’re holding steady at 600 and seeing a happy, connected child. What more could I ask ?

I do have one footnote to add. Through all of this we’ve been seeing an absolute angel of a CranioSacral therapist. She has worked wonders with Michael both before and during our Enhansa experience. So, I can’t say for sure what is due entirely to the Enhansa, and what to the CranioSacral. I tend the think the two work synergistically, so it’s not a very big footnote.

Really Nice Weekend

Michael and I are finally starting to feel better. Of course, that means that Steve is starting to get sick. It will be nice when all of us are healthy at the same time!

Michael's been extra sweet and cuddly today. Steve thinks it's because I've spent so much time sleeping this past week that he hasn't gotten as much fun time with mommy. And, I enjoyed the extra cuddles, so that's definitely a good thing.

I've been working on teaching him spanish, and also got him the Hooken On Spanish computer program. It was really cool today - when the lesson he was working on showed the narrator painting with the various colors, he wanted to paint too. It's the first time in ages that he's wanted to paint. Now, he only put a dab of each color on the paper and wanted to say the spanish word for the color, but it's progress. And, we both had fun for a while.

Other that that, it's been a pretty uneventful weekend. Michael and I did go to the apothocary yesterday to pick some stuff up. He had great behavior for the whole trip, but then had a meltdown when it was time to come back in the house. I guess he was tired of being cooped up all week, too! I definitely want to take him with us on errands more often, just so he gets used to being out of the house and not on the way to school or therapy. It would be nice for him to get used to small outings being successful!

Why Questions and a Free Chess Game!

Michael has finally started asking "WHY" questions! I know that this can be the beginning of a lot of very difficult/annoying questions, but I am so excited!! It took him forever to start asking any questions, and now we've gotten 3 why questions!

Why can't I?
Why do you like reading?
Why are opposites bad? (They're not until you get them as an answer whenever he's in a bad mood)

I can't tell you how many nights I've worried about when he would start to ask these questions, and now he finally is. I am so excited!!!!!!

And, if your kid is into Chess, today's game giveaway is GrandMaster Chess. I'm not much of a chess player, but I know a lot of our kids are. And, free is good, right?

Great weekend!

This has been a really great weekend. Michael had been fairly fussy most of the month, so we hadn’t been able to invite his grandmother over to visit. She is a little fragile and can get hurt very easily by just a little fussing. But, yesterday, he was excited to invite her over, and they played for quite a while. It was so much fun to see them playing together again! Plus, since my MIL hadn't seen him in a while, she was impressed with all the new skills and behavior he had learned since their last visit. Very cool!

When it was dinner time, Michael sat at the table with the rest of us and ate nicely. I don’t try to force him to stay at the table all that often since it’s very hard for him. But, when we have company, I generally push a little harder. Last night, he didn’t fuss and run away all the time. It was very nice!
Another cool thing is that he’s been able to fall asleep in his room lately. It’s so nice to have the bed kid free! He still sneaks in during the early morning, but we can live with that – for now.

And, the last, best thing - he is eating so much better. Today we bought a fresh pineapple. He watched me clean it and then ate some. He was hesitant at first but eventually ate several pieces. I am a happy Mommy! Now, if I can just get him to gain a little weight!

What a wonderful few days!!!

I know it’s been a while since my last post, and I really resolve to write more often. The last few days have just been so amazing I wanted to sit back and just enjoy it. I’ll try to go in order.

Saturday morning Michael was playing with his Thomas recycling center. It has spaces for glass, plastic and can cargo. Also, we have been recycling at home as long as Michael can remember. With this background, my brother-in-law decided to show Michael a short video on how paper is made. Michael was so fascinated, he asked Dan to show him videos on glass and cans as well. It’s the first time he has used google to look something up, and paid attention!

Then, Saturday afternoon, Steve took Michael to the pool. Michael finally made the connection between the flag on our license plate and the flag flying on the pole. He spent the rest of the day talking about the US Flag and the Maryland flag. We looked them up on google images and printed him off 4x6 flags that he could carry around. I am planning to make a little photo album of state flags and throw in capitals too. Who knows, maybe he’ll learn some geography.

Michael has always ‘known’ that his grandparents live in Pennsylvania, and that his other Uncles are in Florida and Massachusetts. After the flag discussion, Michael wanted to talk about other states and look them up on the map. He looked all over the map, found states he knew, and asked lots of questions. I thought I was going to burst!

That was pretty much the weekend. Today, we took Michael for a follow-up appointment with Dr. Megson. It was a wonderful appointment, and she had a ton of great things for us to try. We always follow the low and slow rule, but it’s still a lot of stuff for the next few months. One of the things I’m most excited about is trying OSR. I’ve heard so much about it, but didn’t know if she would be willing to try it. Lucky for us, she had participated in a Defeat Autism Now! Think Tank over the weekend and was really excited by it, too. So, as soon as it comes in, we’ll be trying it.

The very best thing was last. After Michael’s appointment, he was in the waiting area while I checked out – playing with another boy!!! Appropriately!! They were playing in a little ball pit together, throwing and rolling balls, jumping, and laughing together. They even had a few short conversations about what they were doing. I was so happy, I didn’t want to leave. But, then the other boy left and it was time to go. I think I floated out of the building.

Team Mom and Dad

When your child is first diagnosed with autism, you start assembling your team – doctor, neurologist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, special education teacher – the list seems to go on forever. But one team that often gets overlooked is the Team of Mom and Dad. I know that autism can drive a huge wedge between parents, especially if they disagree about treatment options, school choices, etc. Then, when you throw in the financial burden of just living with an autistic child, many marriages disintegrate.

I hear so many stories of fathers who can’t cope and abandon their wives to ‘deal’ with their child. So many moms are isolated and alone, trying to navigate the system by themselves. Today, I want to thank all the Dads that stick around, actively participate in their child’s education, treatment plan, and life. I can’t express how grateful that I have a husband who supports Michael in everything – he is involved in every aspect of daily life, treatment decisions, and messy cleanups. Truth be told, he handles more of the messes than I do.

I can’t imagine going through this journey alone, or with someone who disagrees about the fundamentals of treatment. I would go nuts if I couldn’t bounce ideas off Steve, see if he is seeing the same things I am, etc. Between the two of us, we have a good handle on Michael’s progress, moods, future direction. There is so much more I want to say, but mostly, just Thank you, Steve, and Happy Anniversary!

Best Christmas EVER!!!!!!!!!

As you know from my pre-Christmas posts, I was dreading the holidays this year. Michael has been so unpredictable lately; I was just convinced it would be terrible. Boy was I wrong! This has to be the very best Christmas ever.

We went to PA to visit my side of the family – my parents, brother, and aunt. Michael was genuinely happy to see everyone, and had absolutely wonderful behavior the whole time we were there. A couple grumps when he was hungry, but not one meltdown. I was so proud of him!

When it was time to open presents, I expected him to run and hide. Last year, he didn't want anything to do with unwrapping, and got very upset when anyone suggested opening his packages. We ended up unwrapping his presents when he was asleep and doling them out over a few weeks. This year, he helped pass out presents, and was excited when one had his name on it. He opened all his presents happily, and was really excited over several toys. It was wonderful to see him so gracious and fully engaged in the whole process.

We had a mini Christmas with Steve's family today, and it went equally well. He was really excited to hear that his 'other favorite family members' were coming over. He was bouncing all over the place while we opened presents, but he did manage to open his with the same amount of grace and fun as he did at my parents. The best part was he invited everyone into the family room, which is 'his' room. And, he asked if they could come back tomorrow. It's the most social I've ever seen him.

Oh! And an even better part. We gave his cousins little jelly belly ice cream cones. They looked and sounded just like maracas. Michael wanted to go downstairs and bring up his percussion box. He handed out different percussion instruments for everyone to play. He was actually happy to be sharing his 'toys'!!! And he didn't care that other people were playing with them and making noise. Then, he switched the instruments around and did it again. It was absolutely amazing.

One last thing – we've been working on cleaning up before bedtime forever. Tonight, he cleaned up all his toys when I reminded him. Then, completely on his own, he went and put his kitchen stool away and turned out the lights in the dining room. I was completely floored. I don't know what has gotten into him, but I couldn't be more thrilled.

Needless to say, I am crying with happiness as I type this. I'd write more, but I am having trouble seeing the screen.

Great Day!

Today was a really, really good day. Michael tried really hard to amuse himself until 7:30, letting me sleep in a bit. The morning was pretty standard, with very little fussing. Once Steve had done the things he needed to do in the morning, he, Michael and Dan went out to the park to play and throw airplanes. It was cold, but Michael had a lot of fun, and great behavior!

While they were gone, I started cleaning the kitchen. It was a big job! When they got home, Michael played with Uncle Dan while Steve and I finished working in the kitchen. Of course, as soon as we finished, Michael wanted to make Christmas cookies. They turned out really well, and we all had a great time making them. I'll attach the recipe as a separate post.

I really like using the Tom Sawyer Gluten Free flour. It has a nice mix of flours, and doesn't leave an aftertaste. When we got to the cookie eating part of the evening, I tried really hard to tell the difference between these cookies and those made with wheat flour. I couldn't. I'm really sold of this flour!

So, I'm probably jinxing myself, but it really was a wonderful day!

Great Day!!

Michael had a really great day today. I gave him a toy that he's had for a few years, but never played with. It is a nesting woodland animals set, similar to the classic Matryoshka dolls.

He spent much of the day taking them apart and putting them back together and trying to figure out how to line the top and bottom up correctly. It was so nice to have him play appropriately with a toy for so long.

What was even better is that he wanted to interact with us and the toy. He'd bring the animals over, sit in my lap, and ask me to help when the pieces were stuck, and just generally talk about the animals when he wanted to make conversation.

Additionally, he helped a lot with making his cookies and cleaning up. Definitely a great day!

Asperger's Programs in Public Schools

The county I live in is supposed to be have one of the best Public School systems in the country. However, when it comes to providing a consistent, appropriate education for children with high functioning autism / Asperger's syndrome, they are failing miserably. There was a Special Education Advisory Committee meeting last night where the main topic was whether or not an Asperger's program was needed at the high school level. I don't understand how there can be any question.

I was blown away when the Director of Special Education Services said that there wasn't enough demand for the program. We all know that autism rates are going through the roof all over the country. Our county is no different. What is different is that even though there are very successful Asperger's programs available for both Elementary and Middle Schools, very few people know they exist, and the IEP meetings seem designed to keep kids out of these programs.

I was also shocked with the complacency regarding student failure. I don't understand why a student has to fail multiple times in their current placement before anyone would consider finding one that work better.

The easy explanation is that every child on the autism spectrum is different, with widely different challenges and support needs. While this is true, I believe that an educational team (teachers, paraeducators, and therapists) that is trained in working with children with autism has the highest chance of success. Trained professionals working with children who all have a similar disability can make a huge impact. This is clearly demonstrated in the few programs designed for children on the high end of the spectrum. Those parents who have children in an existing Asperger's program were generally happy with the education their children are getting, and were worried what would happen to their children when they reached high school. To simply give up on providing a consistent educational experience because it is difficult is beyond irresponsible.

When Michael was evaluated for his official disability code, the school psychologist told us she was on the fence between a diagnosis of High Functioning Autism and Asperger's Syndrome. She told us that there wasn't much difference between the two diagnoses, and that it wouldn't affect his coding/educational opportunities. Apparently, she was wrong. Because she decided to go with the autism diagnosis, the school wouldn't even discuss the possibility of Michael going into the Asperger's program. So, he's stuck in a learning center that is designed for students with many different diagnoses, where most students are not able to keep up with the standard curriculum.

Even though Michael is extremely bright, he is essentially failing this year. When he finished Kindergarten, he was reading at a level 11. At the end of the first quarter this year, he is reading at a level 10. Going backwards is not a good thing. Additionally, his report card states that he has 'minimal understanding' for every topic under Writing and Language. He has gone from 'complete understanding' in 75% of the Math categories in Kindergarten to 50% of the first grade. Again, going backwards.

When we discussed his lack of progress at the parent-teacher conference, his teacher indicated that Michael's behavior is getting in the way of obtaining information from him. He has trouble getting the words to answer questions and is easily overwhelmed, especially in writing assignments. Even though she has tried to implement strategies and accommodations from his IEP, results have been sporadic at best. She was going to ask for an autism consult to see if an autism expert could help. We haven't heard anything back yet.

I am very frustrated because I know that Michael can produce the information needed to pass his evaluations. When I sit with him to do his homework, he can do it. If I know that the main focus of the assignment is reading comprehension, I offer to scribe for him. Last night, he read a poem followed by three questions. When I asked him to tell me the answers, rather than to try to write them, I got the correct answers almost immediately. Yes, he has huge focus issues, but he can do the work; he does understand what he reads.

I don't want to be overly harsh to his teacher and the paraeducator. They are doing the best they can with the resources available. They are both extremely caring professionals who obvious like Michael and want him to succeed. The problem is that he has complex needs, and is not in an appropriate setting to address those needs.

So, where do we go from here? I honestly don't know what the options are, and what steps are in his best interests. We will probably look into getting private testing done to see what his best educational diagnosis is, but that is expensive and money is extremely tight at the moment. Anyone have good advice? If so, please leave a comment!

Minor Social Awareness

As Michael and Steve were driving away from the school yesterday, several people were standing outside the door to a nearby house. Michael said "They are visiting them." Steve thought it was really great that Michael was noticing what was going on and telling him about it, and getting the pronouns correct. But what I really liked was that he was talking about a social event. He could have talked about where the people were, or how many, but he chose to say they were visiting. I know it seems so small, but it is an awareness of social intent he's never shown before.

The other wonderful thing from yesterday was absolute bliss. Michael woke up before we did, and amused himself. He read some books, played in the hallway, even came in our room to use the bathroom. Never once did he try to wake me up. When my alarm went off, he started cleaning up the toys he had dragged into the hallway and then came over to talk to me. I was truly amazed. I don't know if it will ever be repeated, but it was definitely a good morning!

A Prayer to Share

I didn't intend to write an entry today since we're packing up to go to Pittsburgh. But, as I was packing a prayer that my Aunt (also Michael'd GodMother) gave me, I really wanted to share it with you. I've changed the references to Michael, but you can easily change them to the name of your child. It just seems like such a powerful, and appropriate prayer for our children.

A Student's Prayer
by St. Thomas Aquinas

Creator of all things,
True Source of light and wisdom,
Origin of all being,
graciously let a ray of Your light penetrate
the darkness of Michael's understanding.

Take from him the double darkness
in which he has been born,
an obscurity of sin and ignorance.

Give him a keen understanding,
a retentive memory, and
the ability to grasp things
correctly and fundamentally.

Grant him the talent
of being exact in his explanations
and the ability to express himself
with thoroughness and charm.

Point out the beginning,
direct the progress,
and help in the completion.

I ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Serenity Prayer, Healing, and Hope

Lord, Grant me the wisdom to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

I cannot change the past. There is absolutely nothing I can do about the fact that Michael was hurt by the vaccines we allowed. I thought I had done all the research, and that I was making the best decision for my child. I still have a lot of guilt that I should have known better. But, that is the past, and I cannot change it. Feeling guilty just diminishes the energy I have for the things I can change.

There are so many things I CAN change: I can help Michael heal; I can help other parents; I can help other children.

There are three things to consider when trying to help your child: Is he getting everything he needs? Do we need to remove things that are hurting him? What damage needs to be repaired?

The getting everything question can be a little complicated. Our children have notoriously fickle appetites, so we can't rely on them to get their nutrition from the food they eat. We have been working with an excellent nutritionist, Kelly Dorfman, for several years now, and she has made a world of difference. Michael gets a ton of supplements every day, literally from A to zinc. Life got a lot easier when he started swallowing capsules. But, even as a toddler, he has always been good about taking his supplements. Somehow, he has always known that the supplements make him feel better.

Removing things that harm is even more difficult. After blood tests, we found out that Michael is IgE allergic to peanut, wheat, and egg. He cannot tolerate eating anything with dairy or soy. So, five foods had to be removed from his diet. We had to go over every food and every supplement, and make sure they didn't contain anything he couldn't have. We missed a few the first go round, but I think we're OK now. It was a major lifestyle change to cook almost everything from scratch, to forget about eating out, and to read every label carefully. But, the results have been well worth it. Now, if Michael gets something he shouldn't, it's fairly obvious, and we can fix the problem.

And, we've gotten a bonus. Now that Michael is no longer eating any of the five foods he can't have, he is much more willing to try new foods. This last week alone he has eaten chocolate DariFree, apples, and steak. He has tried these foods before, but never eaten enough of them for me to consider it an addition to his 'list' of acceptable foods. I'd always heard that children eat more when on the right diet, but never truly believed it. I'm a believer now!

Removing harmful things also means making sure that he's not being exposed to everyday chemicals that can further weaken his system. I was never a 'green' person until I realized the effect the environment has on Michael. We have replaced all our Teflon cookware with stainless steel; I clean with as few chemicals a possible; we limit pesticides to the minimal necessary outside the house (we live at the edge of a huge forest, so some are necessary to keep the critters outside). Every small step is something else to help keep Michael's immune system from further harm.

When it comes to repairing the damage, I'd really suggest working with a DAN! doctor. The biggest gains we've seen this summer came from four prescriptions: methyl B12 nasal spray, lithium cream to help with aggression, flagyl to kill bad gut bacteria, and diflucan to kill candida in the gut. With these four changes (sequentially implemented), we have a whole new child. He's happier, better able to express himself, and much less anxious about life. I can't wait to go back to Dr. Megson to see where we go next!

Helping other parents can be challenging. Every parent I meet wants their child to be as healthy and happy as possible. But, we all hear conflicting information. If the pediatrician you trust and respect tells you there is nothing you can do to heal your child, it's comfortable to believe them. If you see a celebrity on TV claiming their child no longer has autism, you want the same thing for your child. My best advice to other parents is to do the research and talk with other parents.

Many parents see where Michael is today and say "Oh, he's starting out so much better than my child." What they don't realize is where Michael started. When he was first diagnosed, Kennedy Krieger told us he wasn't high functioning and gave us little hope for his future. He had lost almost all the words he had learned, and had almost no understanding of anything that was said to him. He was content to sit by himself and stim all day long. Now, he still has a long way to go, but he has solid functional language, enjoys the company of people he loves, and is doing well academically.

Steve and I talked way at the beginning of our biomed journey and set one rule: we will do everything we can to help heal Michael, but only using methods that are safe. The books I list in my favorite books section detail steps you can take to begin the process. The websites and DAN! conference are another wonderful resource. But, before you begin, set your own rules, and find professionals to help you.

Finally, helping other children. Nothing is sadder than hearing about a parent who desperately wants to heal their child, believes in biomedical interventions, but can't afford to implement them. Please see my post yesterday about Lend 4 Health. When you read the stories of the children there, you can't help but want to make a loan. It's a small thing you can do to affect another child.

Now, about the wisdom to know the difference. I'm still working on that one. I'm an idealist who wants to help my own child and every child I meet. I know some parents are receptive to the concept of biomed, others aren't. When I find someone who isn't receptive, I can't judge them just as I hope they don't judge me. I just hope that as they see Michael's amazing progress, they will reconsider.

Welcome to my life!

I've been reading and enjoying a number of blogs for a while now, and figured it was time to set one up. Please bear with me as I'm pretty new to all of this. I have a pretty full life so I'm not sure how often I'll be posting, but I figure this will be a great learning experience.

Autism
I have a six year old son with high functioning autism. My world revolves around him and his recovery. Due to multiple food allergies and sensitivites, he is gluten/casein/soy/egg/peanut free. We struggle every day, and have small victories every day. Life is never boring!

Healing
We follow the DAN! protocol and have seen tremendous progress with it. When we first started, my son was barely 2 years old, and considered to be 'moderately' autistic. We went to Kennedy Kreiger for the diagnosis and they were a complete waste of time and money. Basically, they told us "I'm sorry, your son has autism. Good Luck, Good Bye." From the time we walked out of their office, we have been researching every treatement out there, and trying the ones we think are reasonable. We are lucky enough to work with two wonderful professionals who guide us through the treatment maze.

Hope
I went to an early intervention conference a few years ago now. The one thing I remember was the response of one parent who was told she was 'in denial' about her son's prognosis. Her response: "No, I'm in Hope". We have embraced that concept and made it our family mantra. We will do everything we can to heal our son, and hope and pray every day. It's working, and life is good (most days).

My Other Life
My day job is to develop applications using Lotus Notes/Domino. I love what I do, and my job keeps me grounded in the 'real world'. Plus, the company I work for has a fantastic work/life balance program. I'm very lucky!