A Response to Sally Pipes

Ms. Sally Pipes recently wrote an opinion piece for the New York Daily News - Celebs, Stop Taking Poisonous Shots At Vaccines - in which she wrote me off as a vacuous Hollywood type who has no right to express or share my opinion about my family's arduous journey with autism. Somehow I lack credibility because I happen to be on TV.

Outside of the mindless, irrational Hollywood celebrity you want to depict me as, I happen to be more than just a veteran television actress. At 44 years old, I am also college-educated, married for 13 years, a mom of four, and for the last 10 years have run my own non-profit, HollyRod Foundation.

Ms. Pipes, you dismiss way too easily my experience and presumably those of hundreds of other "non-celebrity" moms I have personally met over the last decade by writing me off as a "junk science" peddler. That is very typical of the rigid "my way or the highway" mainstream medical community... they don't want to hear my story nor do they really authentically want to study it. What is the medical community afraid to hear?

Mostly I don't dignify these misrepresentations of my life experience with a response. I know that most of your kind view the issue of vaccine safety from one side only - especially those of you who proselytize from the cozy periphery on the outside the autism community. But your casual brush-off of my dreadful experience in 1999 inspired me to challenge you.

First you must acknowledge that suffering in the autism community cannot be overstated. Your show of sympathy amounted to a cold short sentence; so let me share my personal story with you. In 1999, I brought my typically developing toddler into my pediatrician's office and asked the doctor to consider postponing or perhaps breaking up the controversial MMR shot he was scheduled to have that day. Because my little guy just came off a round of antibiotics after an ear infection and I suspected his immune system was weakened, I worried that he wouldn't be able to assimilate this heavy viral load. (MMR shot contains no thimerasol or mercury but a cocktail of 3 potent live viruses). The doctor ignored my fears and belittled me for even questioning him. I felt humiliated and powerless. Despite my "inner mommy danger meter" on full tilt, I allowed my boy to be inoculated. Ms. Pipes, unless you have watched your son get this shot, have heard him cry and scream "no mommy!" (words I didn't hear again by the way until years later), held him through the night while he battled fevers for days afterwards, and then disappear into autism you could not begin to understand my position.

I don't however, as you condescendingly suggested, use my suffering and testimony as an excuse for my convictions but as evidence of harm.

Yes, yes and yes: vaccinations definitely stand out as one of the most effective medical advances in human history. And of course by using vaccines, we've been able to eradicate such diseases as smallpox, polio and measles. But the thimerasol (mercury) used for decades as a preservative in the vaccinations is POISON, pure and simple. It annihilates brain cells. That is not a "half-baked hypothesis" and it is irresponsible for you to make that suggestion. And look how long it took for the CDC to remove it! No wonder parents have a trust issue. And though the "elimination" of thimerasol did officially happen in 2002 (years after many other countries banned it and only after years of unwavering and relentless pressure by those pesky parent "activists"), I would argue you down to the ends of the earth that it was voluntarily removed as a "precaution" as you stated. Furthermore the vaccine lots were never recalled but only left to "run out," though the government knew it was wreaking havoc on our children in far too many cases. That is unconscionable.

My son and many other children had the misfortune of being inoculated before the "precautionary elimination" of mercury in the shots.

I only wish that you were right that there are only "traces" of thimerosal in these shots. But you are dangerously wrong. A March 1991 memo from a major pharmaceutical company, obtained by The Los Angeles Times, said that 6-month-old children who received their shots on schedule would get a mercury dose up to 87 times higher than guidelines for the maximum daily consumption of mercury from fish. Hardly traces.

So here is my fluffy, discounted, celebrity mom, unsupported junk science, theory: I believe firmly that my boy was born with a weakened immune system and that his body could not handle the viral load and toxins contained in the vaccinations. I have had this theory confirmed by some brave doctors not afraid to break ranks and drop the company line. Thank God for them. But there are no government studies done to check for any potential predispositions or indications that some kids cannot tolerate all of the shots. We parents are just left to fend for ourselves and advocate for our often non-verbal children.

And when there has been an actual notable case of brave parents successfully taking on the system it of course gets swept under the rug. The Poling family won a judgment recently against the government. The government didn't even attempt to disprove that five shots, containing nine vaccines administered to Hannah Poling in July 2000 literally caused her autism. It was the gauntlet of shots combined with her preexisting mitochondria that sent little Hannah into toxic overload causing her to spiral into the world of autism. The Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation said "compensation is appropriate" because the vaccines aggravated her disorder, causing her to have "features of autism spectrum disorder." But of course the government issued a contrary statement saying that this "does not mean that vaccines cause autism." The semantics are scary because the fact is clear: but not for the vaccines she received, Hannah would not have autism.

My husband Rodney and I speak often with the Polings and many other affected families on our daily Sirius/XM radio show "Meet The Peetes" on Oprah & Friends. I can tell you ours and theirs are not isolated situations.

Instead of allocating millions of dollars to fund redundant, biased and often flawed study after study in a defensive mode, why not research what we actually know to be true? Let's play offense! In light of the Poling decision shouldn't we be looking for more preexisting criteria, like Mitochondria, which might make many vaccines less safe for a subset of the population? If a child has a compromised immune system for some reason, does that make him more vulnerable to vaccine injury? Shouldn't pediatricians have a dialogue with parents about this, and perhaps even lobby the CDC to offer a less taxing alternative shot schedule for these children? Since the 1980s the number of CDC recommended shots increased from 10 to more than 30 today. Where are the studies as to whether or not all babies and toddlers could tolerate that extra load?

Moreover, we also know boys are disproportionately affected by autism than girls. Why is that? Often there are several children affected in one family. Is there a genetic component or predisposition we should be looking for? What would be the problem with having the CDC harvest and consider the anecdotal data from thousands of families? Also (and this one really irks me) why won't the CDC and AAP study the fact that so many kids with autism have serious and often chronic gastro-intestinal issues and help us explore ways to treat that? I treated my son for his GI problems and it helped him tremendously. When I publicly talked about the success I had, the AAP issued a statement to beware of "celebrity fad diets." Why is this discounted?

I believe it is every parent's right and responsibility to make vaccine and treatment decisions for themselves, especially if the government won't validate our stories or work with us to give us options.

I'd like to add that I have been turned off by the Hatfield/McCoy atmosphere as it relates to the subject of autism. We have A-list celebrity moms facing off in celebrity death matches: get shots, and you are a poisoning parent -- don't get them, and you are a parasitic parent. That is counter-productive, divisive and needs to stop. We all love and want to do the best for our children and we need to be working together on getting to the job of protecting our kids without fear-mongering. My position is that I am not and have never been interested in fanning the flames of a public health crisis. I am not anti-vaccines. I am grateful for the health benefits vaccines have brought us and have tremendous respect for the revolutionary science. I am also respectful of the real fear generated by reported recent Measles outbreaks-though from what I have gathered many of those children have actually had the MMR shot! But with the simultaneous exponential increase in the quantity of shots and the rise in autism cases, why can't we just have an open positive dialogue about what's in them and how they may fare inside our kids' bodies. As a mom of 3 boys and 1 girl, my kids are counting on me to protect them, advocate for them, never line them up like sheep and allowed to be intimidated or fearful of asking the right questions.

And we parents-even ones who are on TV- are counting on our pediatricians to do the same.

Comments

[Khrish]

Well said Holly. Thank you. I am the mother of an autistic son who just turned 38 on Wednesday and I am so glad to see you and others stand up and fight for the children. We had almost nothing for those of us with autistic adults. The doctors didn't even want to tell us that our children were autistic because then they had to tell us there was nothing to help. My son and I have been through much just to make a better world for him and. Even though my son is high functioning I worked dilligently along with the little assistance that we had just to try to find work for him. I have always been open to allowing his name to be used through all these years with hopes that we can help make things better for the children who follow. Keep on speaking out and standing up...that's what we must do.

[anonymous000012004]

Well said - Thanks Holly

[fightorleave2]

I want to know who is Sally Pipes because if she is the wife of Daniel Pipes (it's just a guess), then there would be reason to worry. Actually, we could presume that Mrs. Pipes were like her husband, who is a filled pus-bag.

[annakat]

Keep fighting the good fight, Holly!
Thank you!!

[KNadine]

Bravo Holly! While you're at it, swing by and smack Dennis Leary for his stupid and insensitive comments about Autism. My daughter is also on the Autism spectrum, not by vaccinations, but through a genetic disorder. I know I have researched different techniques, diets, therapies, etc for my child and will continue to be her warrior for the rest of my life. Although we come to the same table through different avenues, I applaude you and others who continue to challenge Doctors, Drug Companies and society to look beyond. Keep up the good work and the fight, but based on your scathing post to Sally "whoever", I don't think I need to tell you that.

[hollymarsh]

Thank you, Holly, for speaking out for all of our children.
We non-celebrity moms appreciate your intelligent voice of reason in the din of media hype that favors vaccines.
In time, common sense and science will prevail. In the meantime, keep speaking the truth!

[AustinPrimersMom]

Thanks Holly, for a well written and to the point letter to Sally. I could not have said it better, we non celebrity parents appreciate everything you and Jenny do for our children. Keep up the great work!!!

[dpowell]

Celebrity or not - Holly is a Mom Warrior and that's good enough for me!

Why is it so hard for people to think that some kids (adults too) could have reactions to vaccines? Think how many people can't take aspirin or enough a small pain medicine due to adverse reactions?
Read the disclosures on any medication - may cause Diahreah or constipation for example? Cold medications wipe out my mother, same medication keeps me awake...

Genetics - I have identical boys - one ASD and one not! I think there may be a genetic predisposition (is my typical one at the cliff?) - but there is an environmental trigger. Interestingly, no research facility is interested in studying them - guess we disprove the "purely genetics" theory!

[kpod]

It is very interesting to me that many of the posters here who say they support Holly seem not to have actually *read* what she wrote.

Holly doesn't say that vaccines are the problem - she says that the combination of thimerosol, viruses and a weakened immune system seem to be linked to autism.

Being "for" or "against" vaccines is sort of like "believing" or "not believing" in evolution. Vaccines work in preventing catastrophic outbreaks of disease. This is a good thing. And for the vast majority of kids, they cause few problems.

I'm a parent, I know that when something terrible happens to your child, you are desperate to understand WHY. And when you look backwards, it isn't hard to connect things that may not actually be related. But what we need to work toward is helping those kids who have autism. A negative focus on something that has great potential for good - vaccines - is always going to be less effective than a positive approach to therapies and medicines that can help.

[houseofglass]

Hmm, seemed like to me the "trees bow before me when I walk down the street", know-it-all, I-know-too­-much-to-l­isten -to-my-stu­pid-patien­ts, doctors are part to blame also. I hope Obama's plans cover second opinions.

[suharris]

kpod,

It's very interesting that YOU "misread" what Holly wrote. She said her boy "disappeared into autism" AFTER her pediatrician "ignored her fears" about the inoculations. After the inoculation (vaccinations) ...he got autism. How did you NOT get that? If you have ever listened prior to these Celebs talk about this subject, Holly Peete and Jenny McCarthy say they would NOT vaccinate this way again. Jenny said "Hell, no" on Larry King Show.

So, kpod, I DO hear Holly saying vaccines are the problem. They are the problem until there is prior screening to determine who has a compromised immune system prior to vaccination. Vaccines are the problem AS BEING THE TRIGGER - until proven otherwise, parents are left to play Russian Roulette with their child getting Austism or not. It is NOT about being desperate to blame a connection that hasn't been validated by Government studies. Parents have already involuntarily participated in this study. Do you think the Government would pay restitution for the rest of a child's life if they said, "Oops, our bad, we accidentally caused permanent damage to 1 in 150 children". It is more likely that the Government would cover-up a botched national inoculation schedule. The head-in-the-sand, red-herring, pollyanna approach to saying "let's just focus on the positives of therapies and medicines to help" is subordinate to preventing the disaster from ever happen to begin with.

[suharris]

kpod,

Your statement "And for the vast majority of kids, they cause few problems" is too callous. That is where the term "collateral damage" comes in. Apparently these "few problems" are individual children with entire lives. Individual children should not be health martyrs for the cause of "everyone else's" health. Fix the autism-disability causing vaccination schedule, pre-screening vaccination process (which there is none yet) and toxic ingredients. One size does not fit all in medicine, because the possible "side effect" of autism is too costly, so shouldn't parents error on the side of caution until this is figured out?

[Princesspeach]

Holly, you are THE WOMAN! Stay strong lady and don't give an inch until TPTB finally start telling the truth!

[suharris]

Holly Peete speaks my same story, except I am an invisible non-Celebrity.

My boy, of MY 12-year-old Boy/Girl twins, experienced the exact same! How can this story be playing out a from coast to coast, and yet our doctors and government do not validate us? We, non-celebrity people do not get a voice. Thank goodness Holly Peete is a celebrity, and has the power and influence to speak for those of us invisible parents. Try to get medical help, autism is not covered. In the school system, you get abused for insisting on educational protection laws, so that the government which says "no shots, no school" now will not spend any extra money on your collateral-damaged child. See one of our Youtubes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbJ2UjAvImk .

Listen to what Holly has to say, listen to the details of her reply above, Could you, would you make this up? Sally Pipes and Dennis Leary opinions are worthless and only grandstanding if they do not walk in the shoes of those who are victims of our over-vaccinated, toxic times. Look at these email replies Ms. Pipes, ask to spend one day with the invisible parents if you prefer to not to believe a celebrity mom, then make your commentary.

Thanks to Holly for being a hero of mom to speak out, even more so because she is a celebrity to lend a voice to those of us who are not heard.

[Khrish]

Let me add, also. 38 years ago when my son was born, they had no idea what caused autism. I do know that my son was moving along normally and began to slip away into a quietness. then the other symtoms appeared. This was all after his immunizations began, but I can't swear that was the cause and of course no questions. I know that he did not start out that way. I had no idea what was wrong until I happen to see one of the evening talk show where an actor, Noel Coward, I think, about his granddaughter and the symptoms that he described matched the actions of my son. I then began to ask the doctors about this autism, a word I had never heard before. So you keep fighting Holly and maybe the day will come when we can rid Autism from the lives of the children to come.

[bt3601]

I have a cousin who was born "normal" in 1989. At 6 mos he was taken for his scheduled vaccinations and slipped away from us. He stopped rolling over, never attempted to sit up or crawl. Today, he is unable to feed himself, bath himself, get dressed, etc.

For years my aunt spoke with lawyers about her theory that the vaccinations sickened her son to no avail. No one believed her claim. Unfortunately, she died before her suspicions were confirmed.

[JeffMOM]

Thank you Holly. Your story is also my families story and mimics what happened to my son Jeff.
It is also similar to the Polings and hundreds of thousands of other families.

My question (not for Holly) but for those reading:
WHAT DOES THE NUMBER NEED TO BE SO SOMEONE IN POWER LISTENS OR CARES TO TAKE ACTION?

There is no way for any of us to assume that ANY MEDICAL PROCEDURE (including vaccination) has 100% efficacy for all those who receive them. If it was 100% effective - vaccination would not have a VACCINE ADVERSE EVENT REPORTING system - also known as VAERS. There would also not be a vaccine federal court with close to 5,000 cases.

Autism is the hardest thing I have personally experienced. I can only imagine how my son Jeff feels. Compassion and community would be appreciated - not ridicule. I agree - Hatfield and McCoys need to stop - its hurtful and non productive. If you don't agree - focus else where as we have enough on our plates dealing with day to day needs. You cannot discount what a family experienced right in front of their eyes. Its inhuman to me that we are criticized for what was witnessed happening to our babies.

Thank you again Holly for writing these important words. You have many families behind you stating - ME TOO. THANK YOU HOLLY.

[jened]

wow you guys, PEACE OUT! I don't have a child with autism (so I think I'm fairly impartial) but I have worked with children with autism and you people all deserve a giant break-whether or not you believe that vaccines have caused any problems for your children and whether or not you have gone the bio-medical treatment route. (this must be a very expensive proposition for people and my heart really goes out to anyone who just can't do it but would like to). Of course there must be some genetic component in this puzzle and obviously some people are happy with the way they are (Aspergers).
But for a lot of you there is the common concern of financial support in working with your children and for that reason alone, you all need to keep that common ground in mind.
If not for brave people like Holly R.P. and Jenny M. you would all have less of a push for the cause of supporting autism period. Holly and Jenny, hold your heads high.

[ThoJ]

Supporting autism? No. Supporting the vaccine/autism notion, yes.

If Jenny could have rallied people to march on washington for real issues concerning autism, it would have been great. Instead, we got the autism community painted as a bunch of people who push the vaccine link in spite of evidence.

Real issues: fully funding IDEA, support for the Mental Health Parity Act (thank god it passed--too bad Generation Rescue, Ms. Peete and the rest weren't on board), support for adults with autism (rather than denying their existance). There is so much good work to be done, and the vaccine notion just detracts from our ability to effectively advocate.

So, Jenny and Holly are IN THE WAY of progress.

[jened]

ThoJ,
There are unfortunately FAR too many people who have noticed a demise in their child's development after the shots. Do you honestly think it makes any sense to give hep b to babies? In Canada we at least haven't got that "vaccine happy" (babies generally don't engage in sexual activity or do intravenous drugs).
As much as you might not like this, most of the research seems very biased and is generally not impressive. What would impress me is if someone compared non-vaccinated populations with vaccine populations with respect to learning problems or even SIDS.
Lastly, with respect to the cause of autism, like many other diseases, there is most likely an interaction between heredity and the environment (toxins/viral assaults etc.)
Many statisticians have stated that genetics alone could not account for the rapid rise in this difficult condition.

[samaxtics]

ThoJ,

So exactly how does spending all this time and energy ranting against the likes of Holly and Jenny and the biomed community help your child or other people with Autism? If I didn't think that vaccines had anything to do with my child's situation I wouldn't spend one minute on vaccines. I have yet to read one blog of the most vocal opponents to the vaccine-autism link where they talk about what they have done in a positive fashion to help people with autism. We get it, you don't subscribe to the link. You are still free to get as many vaccines as you like. Why hang around?

[AngelaWarner]

Perfectly said Holly!

I am still trying to swallow the "vacuous" adjective used to describe you. If you are "vacuous", what adjective should be used to describe Amanda Peet? Good Lord!!! Amanda has one child, and she and her child are lucky. But she has not battled autism for the health and well being of her child(ren) as we have.

One of the issues that you brought to light was the fact that many of the children who had the measles had been obviously vaccinated. Back in 1984 I was one of those kids. If you look at history, there was an "outbreak" that year. I was vaccinated and still got the measles. It never ceases to amaze me and tick me off, how the numbers of vaccinated during outbreaks are never mentioned. The spread of the "disease" is always the fault of the unvaccinated! I was 14 so I have no idea how many other people or kids I gave it to...

I am no longer a poisoning parent, nor am I a parasitic parent. I accept full responsibility for the healthcare decisions I make for my children. I have especially done so in the past five years when I made the educated decision to have my youngest two children at home and in water.

Parents who choose not to vaccinate are not parasites, but are willing to accept responsibility for the outcome of their children's health because of their decision.

Thank you Holly! You are a Warrior Mom!