Topic : 12/19 Parents’ Ultimate Test: Dealing with Autism

Hi Dr. Phil,

my baby sister has an autistic 12 year female. Holli is the cutest little girl (neice an uncle could have.

But I don't care for her on a daily basis!!

My sister has tried to mentally commit suicide twice because of the hardships that God has graced her with. She's had to sell her home because of neighbor complaints to the HOA. She walks on egg shells at work because of lack of sleep. I don't condone what personal life she has, if any?!

They plan on caging her at night in the nice music room our mom has built in her backyard. She, and Holli are moving home for mental, and physical help with Holli.

The sisters have all but sheltered Holli from any male contact which I think is seriously retarding her of some social, and mental growth.

From a family of twelve Catholic family members, we probably have the most disfunctional family on this great planet!!!!

I have practically disowned my sisters for what they are doing with this child. But, who am I?

I love to see Holli with my wife. Holli really loves me (I raised her for the first two years of her life), and my wife. But we are kept away by these woman whom think their way is God's way. I think its hurting Holli, and keeping her from growing. But, who am I?

I stand back and wish the best. It's in God's hands! I can't do anything but write!

Thanks for the vent!

Dear Dr Phil,

Thank you so much for covering the possibility that vaccines may contribute to autism.

I have been a recipient of the Natural Solutions Foundation newsletter for some time, and yesterday, they broke the news that Merck Pharmaceuticals are knowingly adding MERCURY to their flu vaccines, despite knowing for more than 30 years that it contributes to all kinds of ailments, including probably... autism.

Mercury kills nerve cells. When the nerve cells in the brain die, the result is attention deficit, autism, behavioral disorders, bipolar, brain tumors and cancer, decreased intelligence, hyperactivity and memory problems. Flu doesn't cause any of these things. Before mercury was added to flu vaccines all of these conditions were very rare.

Immediately after they started adding mercury to the vaccines, the number of reports claiming children were developing asthma post vaccine increased several hundred-fold. The current odds are 13 out of every 100 children vaccinated with anything containing mercury will report asthmatic symptoms within thirty days. Once reported, these symptoms rarely remit. One out of eight children being vaccinated for flu will develop asthma, asthma-like symptoms and cystic fibrosis that remains with them for life. That's the current odds. This would make a very good court case except for one thing. Merck is immune to lawsuits for their flu vaccines thanks to the FDA.

An anonymous internet poster, claiming to be a former Merck executive, exposed Merck at the following URL: http://www.freewebs.com/merckflu. The expose can also be read at http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/index.php/?p=476.

And now, there is a major push by Merck to make vaccination of children COMPULSORY, without exemption or parental approval.

Why would ANYONE knowingly do this? The bible has the answer - "The love of money is the root of all evil". They will stop at nothing to make their immoral profits.

I hope that you might decide to delve deeper into this issue of compulsory vaccination. It needs to be STOPPED before any more damage is done.

Regards,

Steve

I was diagnosed in Feb. of 2007 with a mild form of Autism called Asperger's Syndrome.  I never let that stop me from getting a job, even a job in radio.  That's right.  I worked for several radio stations in Michigan as a broadcaster.  You may not find that strange, but I do.  Anyway, I've had this for a long time.  I don't know where, how, or when I got this.  All I know is that I've got it.  I'm currently living with my family, and going through counseling with a psychiatrist, therapist, and getting help finding work with a case manager.  Why am I going through counseling?  I had a big case of depression in Feb. of 2007, where I threatened to hang myself.  I was out of work, and in debt.  I was frightened about telling my family because I was afraid of them yelling at me.  Everytime my parents would ask me about my bank account, or my credit card, I'd get nervous or anxious.  I'm currently taking medication for this.  If Asperger's Syndrome didn't stop me from working in radio then, it'll never stop me now or in the future, and I will prove that to every single person in this world.  BTW-My parents and a couple of friend of mine are trying to get me through this. 

I appreciate the time Dr. Phil and his staff took to make an show about autism. Every time there is info about autism in the media, it is a good thing.

I would like to see more stories of families like mine. I have a son with severe autism. He is almost 7, nonverbal, not potty trained, very large, aggresive, and is very hard for me to take care of everyday. He is aggressive towards his siblings, who are older than he is, and he outweighs them so it is very easy to hit, push into a corner, smother, etc. I feel so badly when I have to hold him off his sister, who is 9, because he is trying to hurt her, unprovoked. And it breaks my heart to send my other kids out of the room, or tell them to go in their rooms and lock the door to hide from their brother. A family should not be like this. It hurts that my husband and i never get to go out together, someone has to stay home with Jacob. We haven't done vacations or family outings in years. Either my husband or I always has to miss events, both of us can never be there.

We are also stuck in middle economy. We make enough to own a small home (1100sf), but not enough to provide Jacob the things he needs. We make too much for medicaid- which would provide therapy, medications, etc. for Jacob- but not enough to pay for these expensive things ourselves. It really is the worst position to be in. If only we made a little less, Jacob could have the benefit of healthcare, several types of therapy, and respite care as well. We are living paycheck to paycheck, with no wiggle room. Jacob goes to public schol and the only therapy that he gets is the small amount they provide during the school day. The family on the show today doesn't seem to realize that they are actually very fortunate in several areas. First- they have a child who speaks and who is potty trained. If Jacob had these to skills, life would be 50% easier. Secondly, they have help. The mother said they have 2 people who come to their home to help with their son. That is a luxury. We can't even get a babysitter. Our son is too large and too difficult for other people to handle. I don't want to discount the family that was spotlighted today. They obviously have it hard. I think it would be  very painful to have your child saying such horrible things to me. But my heart aches to hear my son say anything.

Now the good stuff- Jacob has blesssed our lives in some amazing ways. I have an increased amount of patience, acceptance, kindness and compassion. Having a special needs child really does bring out the best in you. When he is happy, he's a ball of fun. He can be very affectionate and loves to hug and kiss me. And we have a very easy way of eliminating the people in our lives who aren't worth it. No one sticks around to be friends with the parents and siblings of special needs kids unless they are superb people. Jacob repels the losers, and really draws in the winners. We have met some great parents of other kids with autism, ome wonderful teachers and therapists, and we are so happy to have certain people in our lives. My older kids are super accepting and kind as well. they have no fear of befriending kids with special needs, and they are also both very bright. I'm blessed to have them.

My biggest dream right now is to have something special for my other two kids. They sacrifice so much. They deal with abuse, never have my husband or I to themselves, and have a lot of their possesions ruined by their 'little' brother. At this point, they are evern sharing a room. And an 11 year old boy and a 9 year old girl sharing a small bedroom room is not easy. But it's the only way it can work in this tiny house. It's not the best location, we have been burglarized and have some interesting characters lurk around in the park behind our home. As we look for a new house to replace this one, our needs are very specific: it can't be on a busy road because Jaocb escapes, and does not understand danger. It has to have a kitchen that we can close up- Jacob has some food obsessions. It must be near a school that Jacob  can go to. Currently he rides the bus for 2 hours a day. That is not acceptable to me. The home needs to give my other kids some freedoms- a big backyard to play in, their own rooms- this would be a dream. At this point that is all it is, a dream.

I had started writing about my son then something happen before I could post it now I have to start over, but my hands hurt so i'll shorten it down now. I'm a mother of an autistic son who is 17 yrs old and I never had the problem where my son would get that out of hand thank god ,but yes my son is sometimes hard to handle. he like to run, he like to pull hair and he like to scream and make noise nonstop sometimes and yes it get to me, but i have to understand this is him this is who he is.Sometimes I can't stop him because he just laugh at me so i laugh with him because it get where it becomes funny cause he makes it funny. my son was diagnose at age 5yrs.old with autism and at the age of lil over 8yrs old he was diagnose with seizures all i could think about was whats next. a week before i had my son the doctor told me that i was measuring to small and if i was sure of my info of getting pregnant and I said yes so he want to do a second opponent on my due date after he got another doctor to do a second opponent they told me they wanted me to go to the hospital so I can have my baby but not til in the morning but god said different than the doctors I had him that same night. the next day different doctors were coming in and out telling me my baby was gonna be this and that than one by one they were coming in telling me my baby had a heart murmur,a heart disease of AS, ring chromosome 22, left ear hearing lost , I mean they just kept coming and Hitting me with things I haven't heard of before than to find out that he was autistic  WHATS THAT I ASK. Learning what autism is I just thought HE was the way he was because of  all he had agaisnt him already.