A Tribute to Liz Birt - from Dr. Ed Yazbak

[Guest guest]

A Tribute to Liz Birt

From Dr. Ed Yazbak:

Liz, the Wind beneath our Wings

Bette Midler must have been thinking of Liz when she sang:

" You were content to let me shine, that's your way,

you always walked a step behind...

So I was the one with all the glory,

while you were the one with all the strength.

Did you ever know that you're my hero,

and ev'rything I would like to be?

I can fly higher than an eagle,

'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

Thank you, thank you, thank God for you,

the wind beneath my wings. "

Liz was, first and foremost, a mother. an exceptional mother who adored her

beautiful children , and .

Liz was a fighter and a pacifist. She was strong and sweet, tough and

tender. In her kind Midwestern way she was one heck of a leader with

incredible clarity about what needed to be done. She galvanized groups and

motivated teams to act. She hugged and supported her friends and those in

need but was never afraid to stand up to those who hurt our children. She

promised to put bad people in jail and yet always said, " Love you, Ciao " to

her friends.

Everyone in the autism community asked Liz for help at one time or another

and she always graciously obliged. It is simply impossible to enumerate her

accomplishments.

No one can ever replace her.

I remember asking Liz to review the very first article on autism I ever

wrote, as I was concerned about saying the wrong thing or hurting someone's

feelings. Her return e-mail was short and to the point, " Way too nice!

Don't you ever forget that those people are evil. "

Liz has been a dear friend of our family since we embarked on this journey.

She single-handedly collected the education data for the North Chicago

suburbs for me in 1999. She stayed with my daughter Kathleen in London when

was being seen at the Royal Free; despite the severity of the

situation, they managed to laugh together about running " a Colonoscopy Bed

and Breakfast " . I mentioned her difficult Thanksgiving events in a recent

article, as still suffers to this day.

Four weeks ago, she called on a Thursday to check if we were home on the

weekend: " I just want to come and see you guys. I have so much to tell

you. " Unfortunately, we were committed to visit friends out of state and

were not able to receive her.

Oh, what a shame! If we could just turn back the clock!

It is fitting that her family and friends in Illinois will be celebrating

her life in St. Francis Xavier's Church on January 14. Like him, Liz was a

Saint with a mission. Like him, she died too young and like him she

accomplished a lot in just a few years. We owe it to her to keep fighting;

she has provided us with the vision, and we must continue on the journey.

She is with us, and will remain the " Wind beneath our Wings. "

Thank you, God, for giving us the gift of Liz.

Go sweet and gracious friend and enjoy the rest you so much deserve.

Love you, Ciao!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Liz Birt, beloved and highly accomplished and valued member of the autism

advocacy community, fighter for and friend of the children and families,

passed from our midst on Wednesday, December 28th following a car accident.

Liz was mom to , , and . is Liz's son on the

autism spectrum. had regressive autism with onset following MMR and

HiB vaccines. Among many manifestations of 's condition, he has

gastrointestinal disease and documented vaccine strain measles virus in his

intestine and cerebral spinal fluid. Liz founded Medical Interventions for

Autism, was co-founder and board member of SafeMinds, a founding board

member of the National Autism Association, founder and board member of

A-CHAMP, helped with the development of Extreme Sports Camp in Aspen,

Colorado and with the setting up of Thoughtful House Center for Children in

Austin, Texas. Liz was a health care and tax attorney. She worked on the

autism hearings with Congressman Burton, and

The Ann Birt Memorial Fund for Truth and Love has been set up to

fund on-going research for the cause and cure of autism and to help the

many families who have unmet financial needs for care and treatment of

their affected children. Contributions can be sent to Thoughtful House in

care of the Ann Birt Memorial Fund for Truth and Love.

If you would like to share your thoughts or memories of Liz, please visit:

http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/liz/liz.htm.

There will be a receiving of friends on Wednesday evening, January 4, 2006

from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Newcomers, Steine and McClure Funeral Home located

at 3235 Gilham Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri (at the corner Linwood and

Gilham). Liz's funeral will be held Thursday morning, January 5, 2006 at

11:30 a.m. at St. s Catholic Church, 6415 Holmes in Kansas City (at

the corner of Meyer Blvd. and Holmes).

--------------------------------------------------------

Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm