An Autism Mother Rages: Oprah Winfrey's Historic Autism Program

Oprah Winfrey has made history again. This time it was a show on autism. Not just another show but one that every parent who has a child with autism can use as a guide.

Hopefully some philanthropist -- perhaps Oprah, herself -- will have millions of copies made and hand them out like samples for physicians to pass on to their patients. Kind of like pharmaceuticals, although the only side effect would be outrage at what has happened to so many children harmed as a result of the current autism epidemic.

Sixteen years ago I left a neurologist's office after my son was given this baffling diagnosis of world class proportions. I left in tears but without any hope or useful advice. Boy, could I have used a copy of today's show back then. True, they didn't know in those days what they know now. But it has been a long time coming. And even today not every parent gets told the whole story.

Oprah, start making those copies. Please!

There were no scientists, social scientists or medical "experts" on Winfrey's latest and most courageous autism show on Tuesday. Just two mothers. Okay, they were not just any mothers. They were Jenny McCarthy, the actress, author and renowned beauty and Holly Robinson Peete, who had the remarkable good sense years ago to marry the football star Rodney Peete. But autism is, sadly, a great equalizer. The first thing any mother hears when presented with the diagnosis is that her child will be unable to communicate and hence live a life of isolation without choice.

But there are choices. And there are plans of action. And there are ways to celebrate so much that is wonderful about kids with autism, while helping them deal with the symptoms that are not-so-great. McCarthy and Peete made that crystal clear today. They also drove home the point that "something happened" to create this epidemic of one in 150, emphasizing that the vaccination connection must be investigated further -- and properly. Too many parents have noticed that their children regressed into autism after being vaccinated -- and we do know that toxic mercury has been used as a preservative in vaccinations for years. We also know that the number of prescribed childhood vaccinations has multiplied substantially. Meanwhile medical authorities have dismissed and shamed parents who bring this up.

McCarthy noted that she is not against vaccinations but that when it comes to medicine "one size does not fit all."

"My science is Evan," McCarthy said about her son. (He has improved significantly from bio-medical measures often pooh-poohed by the medical establishment.) "He's at home."

The two women added that although not every kid with autism will be cured, it's more than worth trying. And every kid with autism can be educated.

It was stunning to hear Holly Peete say about her son; "We were kicked out of a school because they said he was unteachable."

If her kid can get kicked out, whose kid is safe?

And so, the women urged other parents to "beat down doors," and be as vigilant as possible in demanding an appropriate education for children with autism. In other words -- mine -- give your school districts a chance but remember that every day lost is a day without education. If necessary, storm the barricades.

Peete spoke about her marriage succeeding under these most difficult of circumstances. McCarthy spoke about hers failing -- and about the way Jim Carrey has apparently become a great autism "dad," to her son, albeit not a biological one. The actress added that the best gift anyone can give a financially stressed couple, or a single parent, dealing with autism is free babysitting, preferably overnight. (Memo to autism parents: When you get that free babysitter, go to the next Jim Carrey movie.)

My only endnote is that none of this would have happened so spectacularly on television if it wasn't for a woman named Katie Wright. Months ago, on an earlier and generally far less gutsy Oprah program, Katie Wright stood up to a pediatrician in the audience and told her that when it comes to autism it was time to start listening to parents. And that started the television balls rolling.

If you don't know who Katie Wright is, please look her up. And look up all the parents who came before her, too.

Comments

[mbaty]

"A little mercury won't hurt; there's no evidence," umm...do we even need a study? It's Mercury. Is it found in food or animals? Only if we put it there. Why is there mercury in dental fillings? Why do we need to use mercury in vaccines? Mercury is toxic, period. Putting it in our babies, and then being shocked when they have neurological disorders is ignorant. We don't need any peer-reviewed studies to use common sense. Perhaps we should take it out anyway, hmm? And DEMAND safe vaccines.

[kellygrrrl]

I have semi-related question:
I am considering the HPV vaccine for my 13 y/o daughter. I know this is really new, and that alone makes me VERY nervous. I have been unable to find information about what perservative is in this vaccine. I have only gotten so far as confirming that Thimerisol is NOT in the mix.
HOWEVER, i am not familiar enough with any other poisons that might be linked to CNS disorders.
I really feel like I'd like to get this vaccine for her, but I want to know more about what's in it.
None of her pediatricians seem to have a clear answer (shocker, i know)
If anyone out there has some information or links, I'd greatly appreciate.
Thanks

[OneWoman]

As a former pharmaceutical sales rep. who knows this business (and let us not forget, this IS a multi-billion dollar business we are talking about here) I would not recommend it. At least not now.

Personally, I refuse to give my own children any vaccine that has not been on the market for at least 5 years. Period. My experience with pharma tells me that this is the requisite amount of time to detect potential complications. For example, you may recall the roto virus vaccine. This was aggressively marketed to pediatricians and was quite popular until it was discovered that it could cause intestinal blockage and death. It was subsequently pulled from the market.

As for the HPV vaccine, I do not understand the need, as condoms are a perfectly viable and non-invasive form of protection against this virus. Plus, condoms have the added benefit of protection from other viruses. Besides, the vaccine may make her immune to HVP; but it doesn't prevent her from spreading it to others, presumably males, who do not have the benefit of being vaccinated.

It is important to note that no one knows how long this vaccine will provide immunity to HPV. Viruses mutate. Will your daughter be protected for 5 years? 10? No one knows yet. It seems to me that contracting HPV would be a lousy way to discover you were no longer immune... Again, I don't see where the benefits outweigh the risks.

As you evaluate all of the data, keep one thing in mind: Pharmaceutical companies, in general, are hurting for cash. There is a general backlash against the high price of medication, and the pharmaceutical industry's glory days are officially over. Compounding the problem is the fact that very few companies have "blockbuster" drugs in their pipeline. To compensate, the focus has turned to lifestyle and "me too" drugs (e.g. everyone now has an antidepressant), and a renewed emphasis has been put on vaccines. This is the business part...

[drevan]

Take a look at nvic.org for Gardasil information.

[brohammie]

If Oprah was such a helper to those of us with autistic kids, why did she screw my son's champion, Don Imus? She couldn't have cared less when we all begged her to help us.

There's a great article in Newsweek for all with Aspies to read - You and Your Quirky Kid by Lorraine Ali

[realitytrumpsbull]

I think they should make another edit to the old DSM-IV, there, and add 'selective attention deficit disorder' there, and maybe 'cash-impaired', also...I'm sure there's some way to paint a multi-billion-dollar federal giveaway program around one or both of those...

[chinohillster]

Humans are, in the words of the Psalmist: "...fearfully and wonderfully made", and highly individual.

A friend of my ex-husband's has a severely autistic child; this family has travelled all over the United States, consulting with specialists. They've even talked to experts from abroad.

I am nowhere near an expert on this subject, but the family reported a significant improvement in their autistic son when they (a) initiated chelation therapy (b) strictly controlled his diet. From what I understand, there are disputes from within the autism community on the efficacy of these treatments.

However, when this child is able to go out in public with his family and live peacefully at home - it's very hard to argue...

[JAJ2007]

Let me start by saying I feel badly for anyone who is stuggling with autism, or with a child with autism. This is not an easy thing.

However, many scientific (peer-reviewed) studies have been done - THERE IS NO LINK BETWEEN VACCINATIONS AND AUTISM. (Sorry for shouting - but the junk science on this issue makes me crazy) (I am a scientist by the way.)

The greater incidence of autism in the past 10-15 years is linked to increased reporting of cases - for example, children with mild autism (also known as Asberger's syndrome) weren't classified as autistic until relatively recently.

Please don't let fear of autism stop you from vaccinating your children. THERE IS NO LINK! The risk of not vaccinating your children means an increased risk of death from disease - measles, mumps, etc. Not only death, but blindness, birth defects (if your unvaccinated child gets one of these diseases and exposes a pregnant woman to the disease), and many other things.

BTW - Autism exists around the world - where vaccination isn't as common as it is here.

[wry]

I vaccinate my son, but I wouldn't call research into causes of Autism "junk science" and I wouldn't shout at Mothers who say their child's Autism was directly linked to his shots.
The increase in Autism is not just increased diagnosis. Ask anyone in any school district.

[nhokkanen]

"No link"? Repeating it doesn't make it true.
Try convincing the doctor who finds vaccine-strain measles in lesions lining a child's investinal mucosa.
Try convincing the researcher who discovers that the ethylmercury compound Thimerosal kills human neuroblastoma cells at concentrations as low as 0.5 parts per billion (Parran et al., Toxicol Sci 2005; 86: 132-140).
Try convincing the chemist whose chelation protocol has helped thousands of children across the U.S. drastically reduce their body burden of mercury -- and reduce their "autistic" symptoms.
Then re-read the critiques of the CDC's skewed, self-serving epidemiology (see the critique of the Verstraeten VSD analysis in the book "Evidence Of Harm.")
Criticizing vaccines is not equivalent to condemning them. Recognizing their flaws leads to better vaccines. But improvements won't happen if minds are closed defensively.
Look at the children's lab work. Then help them get testing and treatment. No child deserves to be written off as collateral damage in the war on vaccines. Every child deserves a healthy, happy life.

[JAJ2007]

I agree - every child deserves to be happy and healthy. Thats why children should be vaccinated - to eliminate the childhood diseases that killed thousands of children in the days before vaccines.

Again... there isn't a link between vaccines and autism.

I'm not raging against seeking the REAL causes. I'm raging against people saying that vaccines are the cause. And thimerosal hasn't been shown to cause the problems... if it were the cause, we wouldn't still be seeing instances of autism 4-8 years after withdrawal (1999 according to one source on this blog and as late as 2003 according to another)

Oh - and by the way - Chelation therapy doesn't work - try the New England Journal of Medicine, the Lancet, etc.

Let's focus on finding good treatments, and REAL cures.

BTW - I have two kids, many nieces and nephews, many young cousins - all vaccinated.

[NCGigi]

Well, if there is no link, why the federal legislation to exempt vaccine makers from legal liability?

[mfb]

If you are indeed a scientist then you should fcus on evidence not polemics.

First of all, you need to recognize that using the term "junk science" is one of the most unscientific habits imaginable. Its use is an entirely political tactic that is most often deployed by industry lobbyists in an attempt to nullify opposing evidence. In science, all evidence matters, even the stuff that doesn't fit your theory. If you have a problem with a contrary body published research, show why it's invalid. But the most important scientific advances in the history of the world come from people who find a way to successfully incorporate anomalous evidence into an improved theory. If the vocabulary existed back then, is there any doubt that Galileo, Copernicus or Newton would have been called "junk scientists" by their opponents?

Second, you need to understand that your promotion of epidemic denial is unscientific speech. There is no evidence at all that increases in autism are a result of better diagnosing. The inclusion of Asperger's (at most a 15-20% factor in old surveys) has nothing whatsoever to do with the tenfold increases we have seen. Repeating unsupported argument is worse than unscientific, it delays action in the autism crisis and harm children. You need to learn not to say this.

Finally, autism in the developing world is a new phenomenon. Before you spout off about it, you should read the literature.

[Yourtalkingtoyourself]

Lack of any scientific training or expertise has never stopped an "all knowing mother" from knowing it all before. You are never going to convince someone who is "sure" of something to be objective. The show was a joke. Nothing more than a couple of vapid celebrities who spent the morning taking publicity photos and shopping and then put on their scientists coats in the evening. Ridiciulous that people have no ability to think for themselves...everyone SO desperately wants a simple answer. Well, simple minds get simple answers. Only a fool mother would leave her child unvacinated because Jenny says it might cause autism.

[meandmagoo]

Mercury has not been used as a preservative in vaccinations since the early 90's.More bullshit from people who have no idea what they're talking about.

[usna73]

Besides having no clue on the subject, you should watch your language.

Thimerosal tainted products were left on the shelves for years. No recall ever occured. These are facts. Thimerosal in trace amounts continue indefinitely. Product for export has and was used for many years until present. There are still flu vaccine with Thimerosal preservative being made.

If you would like to debate me, we can go at it anytime. Be careful with your speech. You may meet up with someone who won't tolerate you.

[webweaver]

It seems to me that the jury is still out and that people who face autistic children who developed it after vaccinations haven't been taken seriously enough to really develop a database to analyze.

I think it is likely that there is a "Autism Cocktail": a combination of chemical, genetic, enviromental, etc., elements.

But as long as vaccines are an influential for-profit endeavor, evaluating the role of vaccines in the cocktail won't happen. Which is a shame. Because somewhere in all this the vaccines are a part.

This didn't start happening until the vaccines were being shot into our babies at an ever increasing rate.

Maybe it is the thimerisol, maybe it's not? Maybe it's a combination of the MMR and Juicy Juice? Or MMR and plastics used in sippy cups or Chinese made pacifiers?

Who knows?

The problem is we don't. And whether we know where it comes from or not, these children -- whom intrepid and courageous parents are raising -- will be part of the social fabric for the next 50 years.

If well-funded research now, can stop this epidemic, it'll be cheaper in the long run, no matter the cost.

[olivine]

Way to go!

[suki21693]

Has anyone considered the possiblity that all the artificial growth hormones that are now in our foods may also have something to do with this epidemic?

I read recently that autistic kids did have higher levels of human growth hormones. Is it possible that this is related to the artificial hormones given to cows to make them produce milk more quickly, grow more muscle, etc?

It could be that the hormones work in conjunction with the vaccines to produce this effect in those who are more susceptible. Just a thought.

[Doybia]

Thimerosal was in many vaccines given to infants through 1999. At this point a few vaccines with reduced mercury began to be produced. None of the thimerosal containing vaccines were ever recalled, so a few unlucky infants were receiving doses in 2003. And then the flu vaccine, containing a full dose of thimerosal (in two shots a month apart) was added to the recommended vaccines (not required, just recommended) starting at 6 months. The adult flu vaccine, containing a dose of thimerosal suitable for a 550 pound human being was also recommended for pregnant women. I think you need to do a little more research on this topic meandmagoo.

[AdvocateForAutism]

Thimerosal is still used in flu vaccinations!!Not all states had the legislation in place to have it removed until the early 2000's. The first state did it in the 90s, but not all.

[wry]

Meandmagoo-
You're both rude and uninformed. Mercury began to be removed from vaccines around 1999. Is that "the early 90's"?

[OneWoman]

You are only partially correct. Pharma stopped manufacturing vaccines with mercury in the 90's; but they had huge reserves of the old vaccines (i.e. with mercury). This stockpile is anticipated to run out sometime in the next few years. Ergo, children continue to receive vaccines that contain mercury. And by the way, flu shots and Rhogham shots contain mercury and there is no plan to discontinue this practice.

I think, perhaps, we need to consider the possibility that some people are unable to efficiently metabolize heavy metals.

[jbgnyc]

All I can think of is the lead sentence in Dr. Spock's addressed to parents, specifically, new moms "You know more than you think you know."

While I believe vaccines are lifesaving and extremely important, somebody must start listening to what Mom's see, hear and know about their own children.

[ZsMom]

I'm not a mom of an autistic child, but a sister of one (diagnosed with Asperger's at 45 years old). Have kept my now 4 year old unvaccinated due to fear of his potential genetic vulnerability. I am so sick of having to argue with people about the lack of valid controlled studies proving vaccine safety and effectiveness or proving real harm and danger to not vaccinating. When people say better diagnosis has led to the increase in autism numbers, I am reminded to just ask, "Then where are the 1 in 150 autistic adults?"

[webweaver]

The 1 in 150 autistic individuals aren't 18 yet.

When they do reach 18, our society is going to have a new huge group of people who will need lots and lots of expensive support to survive.

They will reach maturity at the same time the Baby Boomers retire en masse.

This perfect storm may be the straw that breaks our Economic Camel's Back.

And our treasury is being plundered in Iraq with the Endless War by War Profiteers of the Worse Kind.

So, we need to decide: are we a country of nation builders or are we destroyers?

The cusp is here.

[HeatherO]

With Louder Than Words, Jenny McCarthy promised on using her "big, giant, controversial mouth to blow the lid off a lot of things related to autism to give moms hope". She absolutely delivers on her promise. Her book is an uplifting, enlightening read for anyone connected to autism, and these days, most everyone is somehow connected.
I"ve been working with DAN! Doctors for over 2 years now to recover my 6 year old ASD/ADHD son and was surprised at how much I learned for Jenny. Her courage, faith and hope are contagious. I was really eager to watch the Oprah show and see how much "causation" discussion was allowed. I thought the show was great! Jenny, Holly and Oprah did a great job of discussing the autism-vaccine link. They blew the lid right off. This discussion has been ongoing for years, but today was monumental, because it was the 1st time a discussion of this sort had such a high profile. Countless families will be lead to research biomedical help for their children with autism. Countless families will explore an alternative immunization schedule for their infants and prevent the immune and heavy metal damage.
In the autism community, we often say, as Jenny said, what it"s going to take to get the mainstream media to notice this epidemic for what it is (including vaccines, biomedical recovery), a diagnosis of 1 in 100 children? 1 in 50? 1 in 20? What is it going to take? I hope Jenny McCarthy and her big, big, giant, controversial mouth is all it going to take.

[elleng]

I'm attaching link to first google page about autism research. Good luck to us all.

http://tinyurl.com/2xl4fk

[Pat]

I am a therapist and I've personally witnessed amazing results from the first "alternative" central nervous system supplement ever issued a NPN (Natural Health Product Number) in Canada.
It worked for major depression (my own--after years of failing to find relief using conventional anti-depressants). It also worked extremely well for a relative's bipolar disorder. I hear it also shows promise for those with autism.
Go to Truehope.com and look at the research and media information. Unfortunately, conventional thinking in America is to immediately prescribe drugs for any central nervous system disorder. Other countries are more apt to try gentler treatments first.

[Thrillcat]

It WAS a great episode. I was so proud of Jenny and Holly. I like that you connected it to the previous show with Katie Wright. I didn't think of that before.

My son is getting better with Biomedical treatments and I'm glad the word is getting out.

[mfb]

Great points Barbara. I think it's terrific that Jenny and Holly spoke out. Terrific that Oprah has come back again to this issue. And a real testimony to Katie Wright for blazing the trail and pushing for what is right instead of caving into the old guard from NAAR.

I think we need to blow through the doublespeak on the epidemic and stop considering it respectable speech to deny the autism epidemic. for every day like today there are thousands of articles with the obligatory bow to "better diagnosing." It's just not true and people who say that need to recognize they are harming children.

Good for Oprah.

[talak]

Thank you for this posting. Oprah's show gets rerun at 11:00p.m. here so I'm going to watch it.

Poisons other than mercury, such as a certain type of PCB,have also been implicated in the development of autism (link below).

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070423185621.htm