Dr. Goldberg/in Charlotte Paper

[Guest guest]

This is a post from a memner of a different list.

There is a pretty good story in the Charlotte newspaper that is about a

little girl with vaccine induced autism. They call her autism " Neuro-Immune

Dysfuncion Syndrome " . I thought this was interesting with the talk on the

list about using a different label for this type of induced autism.

The only thing that I didn't like about the story is that when it was

continued on the next page of the paper, the headline was " Parents Teach 3

Year Old to Overcome Rare Condition " . I want to write an editorial to the

paper to let them know that this is not a " rare condition " . Could some of

you guys send me some of the recent statistics on the overall increase in

autism, and also if there are any statistics on how many of the cases are

suspected to be vaccine induced?

Bringing Back

Parents teach toddler to overcome autism symptoms

CHERRYVILLE -- Rob Gentile drops his head as he remembers when migraines

made his 2-year-old daughter bang her head on the floor as hard as she

could, again and again.

He remembers how his beautiful daughter, , forgot how to walk, crawl

and even how to focus her eyes.

" It's hard to go there emotionally, " he said.

Rob and Gentile have given up successful careers to coax their only

child back to the laughing, talking toddler she was before being struck by

something called neuro-immune dysfunction syndrome.

In little 's case, that's a complicated name for an acquired form of

autism that causes children who developed normally for the first 12 to 18

months to regress and withdraw - their potential hidden in a cloud of

debilitating symptoms.

But she developed normally at first, learning to say a few words and hold a

book by her first birthday. She wasn't walking yet, but doctors told her

parents not to worry.

By the time was 2, she was walking, talking, laughing, playing and

doing all the things toddlers do. But her last vaccination for measles,

mumps and rubella marked the beginning of a rapid downward spiral in 's

health and mental abilities. Some doctors believe that the vaccination can

lead to autism in children with weakened immune systems.

's doctors and parents don't know whether that's what caused her

problems, but they do know that little by little, she withdrew from the

world until her parents didn't recognize her.

" The kid was like a zombie, " Rob, 40, said. " Her eyes used to be dilated

constantly like a wild animal's. "

The Gentiles, who lived in Nashville, Tenn., were frantic. The search for

answers consumed their lives. They quit their jobs: Rob had been a sales

manager for a national steel company; was a pharmacist.

They sold their home and moved to Cherryville to be near 's family.

In one year, they spent more than $30,000 taking to pediatricians and

specialists across the country.

The doctors told them had gluten and lactose allergies and

hypoglycemia, among other things. A decreased blood flow to her brain caused

repetitive behaviors and problems with communication and motor skill, the

doctors said.

In December 1998, Rob and visited the Institute for the Achievement

of Human Potential in Philadelphia, where they learned how to reprogram

's brain with repetitive, rehabilitative exercises.

The couple spent hundreds of hours showing how to crawl again. They

took turns tying their arms and legs to 's with sheets and making her

crawl with them like a little puppet.

They darkened 's room and shined a small flashlight in her dilated

eyes, one at a time, until they started to focus again.

Rob transformed the back bedroom into a rehabilitation room for and

helped her regain her sense of touch.

" I'd take a soft piece of velvet and rub it all over her body and say, `This

is soft, ,' " he said. " Very slowly, she started to awaken. "

It was a string of chili-pepper lights pulled across the floor that

eventually coaxed into crawling on her own. She wanted to touch those

lights.

In December, Dr. Goldberg, a California specialist and president of

the Medical Advisory Board, met . Her parents had made real

progress, but still couldn't talk.

Goldberg said an MRI showed had no brain damage, which means her

condition can be treated. He prescribed medications including an anti-fungal

medication to kill the yeast growing in 's belly. The yeast feeds a

virus believed to have caused many of 's autism-like symptoms, he said.

" She has become more alert, more aware of things, " Goldberg said. " If I can

help lift this fog or cloud she's functioning under, then the therapists who

are working with her have a better chance of helping her. "

On Monday ran up and down a hallway in her home. She delighted in the

feel of plastic flowers and a palm tree made with fuzzy green felt. She

rubbed her fingers over beads glued to the wall in the shape of animals.

She giggled when her mother tickled her belly. She gave her father a rare

kiss.

has started trying to talk again, too. Her speech is garbled, but her

parents understand it. And each time they hear her try, they gain more hope.

" She's more into stuff, " said Gentile, who has gone back to work

part-time to help support the family. " She tries to get into the trash. She

tries to use her hands. "

But she still needs help.

On May 28, the family will travel to California, one of only two places in

the country where can spend time in a hyperbaric chamber that uses

pressure to increase the flow of oxygen to her organs. The treatments, which

are considered experimental and aren't covered by insurance, cost $200 each.

Doctors have told the Gentiles will need 35 to 38 treatments.

Gaston County commissioner Greg is sponsoring a benefit from 6 to 10

p.m. Saturday in Cherryville's Main Street mini-park to raise money for the

therapy.

" It's been worth everything that we've done just to help her feel better and

be happier, " Gentile said. " You can tell when your daughter's in

pain and she's not in as much pain now. "

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