Re: Kendra's reporter files his last autism report in the series

[Guest guest]

,

Doesn't he seem to still be a bit naieve on the whole subject for

the age of his son. It looked like he confused the MMR/Thimerisol

issue too. I don't know what to make of him. He seems to have good

intentions.

Kendra

>

> I'd give Mr. Buckley an A on this.

>

>

>

>

>

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyindependent/news/s_514886.html

>

>

>

>

> Series on autism began at home

> By Buckley

> VALLEY INDEPENDENT

> Thursday, June 28, 2007

>

>

> Some news stories can be written right away; others take days or

even

> weeks.

> For me, the four-part series on autism that concludes in today's

> paper has been 16 years in the making.

>

> Like the families profiled this week in the series, I too am the

> parent of an autistic child.

>

> Timmy, who turned 16 last month, defines and defies the condition

of

> autism that is both his diagnosis and his life.

>

>

> He speaks few words, mostly through repetition or out of need. He

> uses American Sign Language to express other concerns or needs.

> He was totally anti-social and never made eye contact. But he was

> affectionate, loving to hug those he was comfortable with.

(Autistic

> children typically hate touch of any kind.)

>

> Like the children you have read about in the series this week, he

has

> come far, although within the limitations of his condition. He

still

> confuses the words " I " and " you. " The hand flapping is still

present.

>

> Timmy's diagnosis was initially Pervasive Developmental Disorders,

or

> in the medical terminology, PDD-NOS (not otherwise specific.) In

> short, he was not developing at a normal rate, but doctors weren't

> sure why. He had autistic tendencies, they would conclude, and

after

> we had taken him to enough experts, they would acknowledge.

>

> I went in search of more information on autism to learn what my

son

> was dealing with. I found a single paragraph in one book at the

> Monessen Public Library and District Center. Searches in other

> Pittsburgh-based facilities produced little more.

>

> I ultimately found some limited information through a search of

the

> Library of Congress.

>

> When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged

that

> now 1 in 150 children has been diagnosed with autism, it raised an

> important issue: Has the number of autistic children in our

society

> grown or is the medical community becoming more aware?

>

> The medical professionals have attempted to deflect concerns over

the

> MMR shot. To do so, they claim that it is merely coincidental

because

> the shots were given at about the same time when the signs of

autism

> occur in a child's development.

>

> But autistic children develop in a stair-like scale - they make

> progress for awhile and then level off. The steps do go forward,

not

> backward.

>

> But parents who believe in the connection with MMR have noticed a

> regression in their child's development. Timmy for example was

> developing normally before he received the shots. He was speaking

> words, was walking early. Then suddenly he regressed after the

> immunization.

>

> Many parents of autistic children - my wife Ruth and I included -

> believe the MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) shot triggered

autism.

> The theory is that thimerosal, a preservative in the vaccinations

> that contains mercury, triggered autism among children who

received

> the shots in the 1980s and 1990s.

>

> Purely unscientific observations I have seen suggests the link is

> real.

>

> When Timmy was ultimately diagnosed, the curious would ask about

him.

> When we explained that he was autistic, most would ask what that

was.

>

> Today, people generally smile and nod. It seems virtually everyone

> knows of someone who is autistic. ( " My nephew has a son who's

> autistic " or " My neighbor's has a grandson who is autistic " are

> common refrains.)

>

> My wife was invited to attend a special luncheon held by National

> Association for Autism Research in Pittsburgh to kick off Walk Far

> for NAAR. About nine other parents of autistic children sat around

> the same table and naturally they began to discuss their

children's

> condition. One by one, they expressed the same belief that the MMR

> shot caused their children to become autistic.

>

> For parents of autistic children, your greatest source of help

comes

> from other parents of autistic children.

>

> As the U.S. Court of Federal Claims conducts hearings over whether

> the vaccines caused autism, parents must provide the best life

> possible for their children.

>

> We are determined that Timmy leads as normal a life as possible.

He

> enjoys the outdoors and is a regular at St. 's Church,

where

> he has received the sacraments.

>

> But I have come to learn there are many things my son will never

be

> able to do. He will forever be dependent upon others for care and

> safety. He likely will never marry or hold a job.

>

> Still, he has learned to understand the most important lesson.

>

> As he lies down to sleep, I whisper to him, asking " Do you want to

> know a secret? " He knows the secret and slowly deliberately

attempts

> to speak the words.

>

> " I É love É you. "

>

>

> Buckley is a staff writer with The Valley Independent.

>

>

> Buckley can be reached at cbuckley@... or (724) 684-

> 2642.

>

[Guest guest]

It's rare to see someone clearly state how the harm caused by the

MMR, a vaccine without thimerosal, is related to thimerosal.

The " other side " uses this to their advantage by making us appear

confused or divided.

Some of this is the media's inability to report - mistating

that " thimerosal was removed from the MMR " or that " childhood

vaccines are now mercury-free. " Of course it's not in the CDC's

interest to correct them.

I can relate to him - definitions have changed a lot. His son sounds

pretty severe - yet he was given a PDD diagnosis. I bet today he'd

hear autism from the beginning. Those of us with almost-adult

children started in a place where there was little shared info. I

didn't have internet access until my daughter was almost 5. It was

very isolating.

R

> >

> > I'd give Mr. Buckley an A on this.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyindependent/news/s_514886.html

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Series on autism began at home

> > By Buckley

> > VALLEY INDEPENDENT

> > Thursday, June 28, 2007

> >

> >

> > Some news stories can be written right away; others take days or

> even

> > weeks.

> > For me, the four-part series on autism that concludes in today's

> > paper has been 16 years in the making.

> >

> > Like the families profiled this week in the series, I too am the

> > parent of an autistic child.

> >

> > Timmy, who turned 16 last month, defines and defies the condition

> of

> > autism that is both his diagnosis and his life.

> >

> >

> > He speaks few words, mostly through repetition or out of need. He

> > uses American Sign Language to express other concerns or needs.

> > He was totally anti-social and never made eye contact. But he was

> > affectionate, loving to hug those he was comfortable with.

> (Autistic

> > children typically hate touch of any kind.)

> >

> > Like the children you have read about in the series this week, he

> has

> > come far, although within the limitations of his condition. He

> still

> > confuses the words " I " and " you. " The hand flapping is still

> present.

> >

> > Timmy's diagnosis was initially Pervasive Developmental

Disorders,

> or

> > in the medical terminology, PDD-NOS (not otherwise specific.) In

> > short, he was not developing at a normal rate, but doctors

weren't

> > sure why. He had autistic tendencies, they would conclude, and

> after

> > we had taken him to enough experts, they would acknowledge.

> >

> > I went in search of more information on autism to learn what my

> son

> > was dealing with. I found a single paragraph in one book at the

> > Monessen Public Library and District Center. Searches in other

> > Pittsburgh-based facilities produced little more.

> >

> > I ultimately found some limited information through a search of

> the

> > Library of Congress.

> >

> > When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged

> that

> > now 1 in 150 children has been diagnosed with autism, it raised

an

> > important issue: Has the number of autistic children in our

> society

> > grown or is the medical community becoming more aware?

> >

> > The medical professionals have attempted to deflect concerns over

> the

> > MMR shot. To do so, they claim that it is merely coincidental

> because

> > the shots were given at about the same time when the signs of

> autism

> > occur in a child's development.

> >

> > But autistic children develop in a stair-like scale - they make

> > progress for awhile and then level off. The steps do go forward,

> not

> > backward.

> >

> > But parents who believe in the connection with MMR have noticed a

> > regression in their child's development. Timmy for example was

> > developing normally before he received the shots. He was speaking

> > words, was walking early. Then suddenly he regressed after the

> > immunization.

> >

> > Many parents of autistic children - my wife Ruth and I included -

> > believe the MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) shot triggered

> autism.

> > The theory is that thimerosal, a preservative in the vaccinations

> > that contains mercury, triggered autism among children who

> received

> > the shots in the 1980s and 1990s.

> >

> > Purely unscientific observations I have seen suggests the link is

> > real.

> >

> > When Timmy was ultimately diagnosed, the curious would ask about

> him.

> > When we explained that he was autistic, most would ask what that

> was.

> >

> > Today, people generally smile and nod. It seems virtually

everyone

> > knows of someone who is autistic. ( " My nephew has a son who's

> > autistic " or " My neighbor's has a grandson who is autistic " are

> > common refrains.)

> >

> > My wife was invited to attend a special luncheon held by National

> > Association for Autism Research in Pittsburgh to kick off Walk

Far

> > for NAAR. About nine other parents of autistic children sat

around

> > the same table and naturally they began to discuss their

> children's

> > condition. One by one, they expressed the same belief that the

MMR

> > shot caused their children to become autistic.

> >

> > For parents of autistic children, your greatest source of help

> comes

> > from other parents of autistic children.

> >

> > As the U.S. Court of Federal Claims conducts hearings over

whether

> > the vaccines caused autism, parents must provide the best life

> > possible for their children.

> >

> > We are determined that Timmy leads as normal a life as possible.

> He

> > enjoys the outdoors and is a regular at St. 's Church,

> where

> > he has received the sacraments.

> >

> > But I have come to learn there are many things my son will never

> be

> > able to do. He will forever be dependent upon others for care and

> > safety. He likely will never marry or hold a job.

> >

> > Still, he has learned to understand the most important lesson.

> >

> > As he lies down to sleep, I whisper to him, asking " Do you want

to

> > know a secret? " He knows the secret and slowly deliberately

> attempts

> > to speak the words.

> >

> > " I É love É you. "

> >

> >

> > Buckley is a staff writer with The Valley Independent.

> >

> >

> > Buckley can be reached at cbuckley@ or (724) 684-

> > 2642.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

HI Kendra,

I'm not sure either. But, this was a much better article than the

Minshew " We are doing a wonderful job of diagnosing these kids "

article. Another person who writes a lot on the subject was in

contact with him and feels he firmly believes his son developed

autism from his vaccines. He may need more education. I sent him an e-

mail. I hope more people will contact him with positive feedback and

request he continue to investigate and write on this topic. He

mentions " unscientific " while refering to autism-vaccines. We need to

try and change that and get him up to speed on things.

> >

> > I'd give Mr. Buckley an A on this.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyindependent/news/s_514886.html

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Series on autism began at home

> > By Buckley

> > VALLEY INDEPENDENT

> > Thursday, June 28, 2007

> >

> >

> > Some news stories can be written right away; others take days or

> even

> > weeks.

> > For me, the four-part series on autism that concludes in today's

> > paper has been 16 years in the making.

> >

> > Like the families profiled this week in the series, I too am the

> > parent of an autistic child.

> >

> > Timmy, who turned 16 last month, defines and defies the condition

> of

> > autism that is both his diagnosis and his life.

> >

> >

> > He speaks few words, mostly through repetition or out of need. He

> > uses American Sign Language to express other concerns or needs.

> > He was totally anti-social and never made eye contact. But he was

> > affectionate, loving to hug those he was comfortable with.

> (Autistic

> > children typically hate touch of any kind.)

> >

> > Like the children you have read about in the series this week, he

> has

> > come far, although within the limitations of his condition. He

> still

> > confuses the words " I " and " you. " The hand flapping is still

> present.

> >

> > Timmy's diagnosis was initially Pervasive Developmental

Disorders,

> or

> > in the medical terminology, PDD-NOS (not otherwise specific.) In

> > short, he was not developing at a normal rate, but doctors

weren't

> > sure why. He had autistic tendencies, they would conclude, and

> after

> > we had taken him to enough experts, they would acknowledge.

> >

> > I went in search of more information on autism to learn what my

> son

> > was dealing with. I found a single paragraph in one book at the

> > Monessen Public Library and District Center. Searches in other

> > Pittsburgh-based facilities produced little more.

> >

> > I ultimately found some limited information through a search of

> the

> > Library of Congress.

> >

> > When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged

> that

> > now 1 in 150 children has been diagnosed with autism, it raised

an

> > important issue: Has the number of autistic children in our

> society

> > grown or is the medical community becoming more aware?

> >

> > The medical professionals have attempted to deflect concerns over

> the

> > MMR shot. To do so, they claim that it is merely coincidental

> because

> > the shots were given at about the same time when the signs of

> autism

> > occur in a child's development.

> >

> > But autistic children develop in a stair-like scale - they make

> > progress for awhile and then level off. The steps do go forward,

> not

> > backward.

> >

> > But parents who believe in the connection with MMR have noticed a

> > regression in their child's development. Timmy for example was

> > developing normally before he received the shots. He was speaking

> > words, was walking early. Then suddenly he regressed after the

> > immunization.

> >

> > Many parents of autistic children - my wife Ruth and I included -

> > believe the MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) shot triggered

> autism.

> > The theory is that thimerosal, a preservative in the vaccinations

> > that contains mercury, triggered autism among children who

> received

> > the shots in the 1980s and 1990s.

> >

> > Purely unscientific observations I have seen suggests the link is

> > real.

> >

> > When Timmy was ultimately diagnosed, the curious would ask about

> him.

> > When we explained that he was autistic, most would ask what that

> was.

> >

> > Today, people generally smile and nod. It seems virtually

everyone

> > knows of someone who is autistic. ( " My nephew has a son who's

> > autistic " or " My neighbor's has a grandson who is autistic " are

> > common refrains.)

> >

> > My wife was invited to attend a special luncheon held by National

> > Association for Autism Research in Pittsburgh to kick off Walk

Far

> > for NAAR. About nine other parents of autistic children sat

around

> > the same table and naturally they began to discuss their

> children's

> > condition. One by one, they expressed the same belief that the

MMR

> > shot caused their children to become autistic.

> >

> > For parents of autistic children, your greatest source of help

> comes

> > from other parents of autistic children.

> >

> > As the U.S. Court of Federal Claims conducts hearings over

whether

> > the vaccines caused autism, parents must provide the best life

> > possible for their children.

> >

> > We are determined that Timmy leads as normal a life as possible.

> He

> > enjoys the outdoors and is a regular at St. 's Church,

> where

> > he has received the sacraments.

> >

> > But I have come to learn there are many things my son will never

> be

> > able to do. He will forever be dependent upon others for care and

> > safety. He likely will never marry or hold a job.

> >

> > Still, he has learned to understand the most important lesson.

> >

> > As he lies down to sleep, I whisper to him, asking " Do you want

to

> > know a secret? " He knows the secret and slowly deliberately

> attempts

> > to speak the words.

> >

> > " I É love É you. "

> >

> >

> > Buckley is a staff writer with The Valley Independent.

> >

> >

> > Buckley can be reached at cbuckley@ or (724) 684-

> > 2642.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

, I'm new to this group so I apologize if I do this wrong but I

have a question. You stated below that the media mistates

that " thimerisal was removed from the MMR " . Am I to believe that

they didn't remove it? Can you please explain what you mean here.

> > >

> > > I'd give Mr. Buckley an A on this.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyindependent/news/s_514886.html

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Series on autism began at home

> > > By Buckley

> > > VALLEY INDEPENDENT

> > > Thursday, June 28, 2007

> > >

> > >

> > > Some news stories can be written right away; others take days

or

> > even

> > > weeks.

> > > For me, the four-part series on autism that concludes in

today's

> > > paper has been 16 years in the making.

> > >

> > > Like the families profiled this week in the series, I too am

the

> > > parent of an autistic child.

> > >

> > > Timmy, who turned 16 last month, defines and defies the

condition

> > of

> > > autism that is both his diagnosis and his life.

> > >

> > >

> > > He speaks few words, mostly through repetition or out of need.

He

> > > uses American Sign Language to express other concerns or needs.

> > > He was totally anti-social and never made eye contact. But he

was

> > > affectionate, loving to hug those he was comfortable with.

> > (Autistic

> > > children typically hate touch of any kind.)

> > >

> > > Like the children you have read about in the series this week,

he

> > has

> > > come far, although within the limitations of his condition. He

> > still

> > > confuses the words " I " and " you. " The hand flapping is still

> > present.

> > >

> > > Timmy's diagnosis was initially Pervasive Developmental

> Disorders,

> > or

> > > in the medical terminology, PDD-NOS (not otherwise specific.)

In

> > > short, he was not developing at a normal rate, but doctors

> weren't

> > > sure why. He had autistic tendencies, they would conclude, and

> > after

> > > we had taken him to enough experts, they would acknowledge.

> > >

> > > I went in search of more information on autism to learn what my

> > son

> > > was dealing with. I found a single paragraph in one book at the

> > > Monessen Public Library and District Center. Searches in other

> > > Pittsburgh-based facilities produced little more.

> > >

> > > I ultimately found some limited information through a search of

> > the

> > > Library of Congress.

> > >

> > > When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

acknowledged

> > that

> > > now 1 in 150 children has been diagnosed with autism, it raised

> an

> > > important issue: Has the number of autistic children in our

> > society

> > > grown or is the medical community becoming more aware?

> > >

> > > The medical professionals have attempted to deflect concerns

over

> > the

> > > MMR shot. To do so, they claim that it is merely coincidental

> > because

> > > the shots were given at about the same time when the signs of

> > autism

> > > occur in a child's development.

> > >

> > > But autistic children develop in a stair-like scale - they make

> > > progress for awhile and then level off. The steps do go

forward,

> > not

> > > backward.

> > >

> > > But parents who believe in the connection with MMR have noticed

a

> > > regression in their child's development. Timmy for example was

> > > developing normally before he received the shots. He was

speaking

> > > words, was walking early. Then suddenly he regressed after the

> > > immunization.

> > >

> > > Many parents of autistic children - my wife Ruth and I

included -

> > > believe the MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) shot triggered

> > autism.

> > > The theory is that thimerosal, a preservative in the

vaccinations

> > > that contains mercury, triggered autism among children who

> > received

> > > the shots in the 1980s and 1990s.

> > >

> > > Purely unscientific observations I have seen suggests the link

is

> > > real.

> > >

> > > When Timmy was ultimately diagnosed, the curious would ask

about

> > him.

> > > When we explained that he was autistic, most would ask what

that

> > was.

> > >

> > > Today, people generally smile and nod. It seems virtually

> everyone

> > > knows of someone who is autistic. ( " My nephew has a son who's

> > > autistic " or " My neighbor's has a grandson who is autistic " are

> > > common refrains.)

> > >

> > > My wife was invited to attend a special luncheon held by

National

> > > Association for Autism Research in Pittsburgh to kick off Walk

> Far

> > > for NAAR. About nine other parents of autistic children sat

> around

> > > the same table and naturally they began to discuss their

> > children's

> > > condition. One by one, they expressed the same belief that the

> MMR

> > > shot caused their children to become autistic.

> > >

> > > For parents of autistic children, your greatest source of help

> > comes

> > > from other parents of autistic children.

> > >

> > > As the U.S. Court of Federal Claims conducts hearings over

> whether

> > > the vaccines caused autism, parents must provide the best life

> > > possible for their children.

> > >

> > > We are determined that Timmy leads as normal a life as

possible.

> > He

> > > enjoys the outdoors and is a regular at St. 's Church,

> > where

> > > he has received the sacraments.

> > >

> > > But I have come to learn there are many things my son will

never

> > be

> > > able to do. He will forever be dependent upon others for care

and

> > > safety. He likely will never marry or hold a job.

> > >

> > > Still, he has learned to understand the most important lesson.

> > >

> > > As he lies down to sleep, I whisper to him, asking " Do you want

> to

> > > know a secret? " He knows the secret and slowly deliberately

> > attempts

> > > to speak the words.

> > >

> > > " I É love É you. "

> > >

> > >

> > > Buckley is a staff writer with The Valley Independent.

> > >

> > >

> > > Buckley can be reached at cbuckley@ or (724) 684-

> > > 2642.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

The MMR never had thimerosal - it's a live virus vaccine.

IMHO, it's the thimerosal in the couple of dozen shots given BEFORE

that causes the MMR to trigger autism (if it wasn't already triggered

by thimerosal alone).

> > > >

> > > > I'd give Mr. Buckley an A on this.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyindependent/news/s_514886.html

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Series on autism began at home

> > > > By Buckley

> > > > VALLEY INDEPENDENT

> > > > Thursday, June 28, 2007

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Some news stories can be written right away; others take days

> or

> > > even

> > > > weeks.

> > > > For me, the four-part series on autism that concludes in

> today's

> > > > paper has been 16 years in the making.

> > > >

> > > > Like the families profiled this week in the series, I too am

> the

> > > > parent of an autistic child.

> > > >

> > > > Timmy, who turned 16 last month, defines and defies the

> condition

> > > of

> > > > autism that is both his diagnosis and his life.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > He speaks few words, mostly through repetition or out of

need.

> He

> > > > uses American Sign Language to express other concerns or

needs.

> > > > He was totally anti-social and never made eye contact. But he

> was

> > > > affectionate, loving to hug those he was comfortable with.

> > > (Autistic

> > > > children typically hate touch of any kind.)

> > > >

> > > > Like the children you have read about in the series this

week,

> he

> > > has

> > > > come far, although within the limitations of his condition.

He

> > > still

> > > > confuses the words " I " and " you. " The hand flapping is still

> > > present.

> > > >

> > > > Timmy's diagnosis was initially Pervasive Developmental

> > Disorders,

> > > or

> > > > in the medical terminology, PDD-NOS (not otherwise specific.)

> In

> > > > short, he was not developing at a normal rate, but doctors

> > weren't

> > > > sure why. He had autistic tendencies, they would conclude,

and

> > > after

> > > > we had taken him to enough experts, they would acknowledge.

> > > >

> > > > I went in search of more information on autism to learn what

my

> > > son

> > > > was dealing with. I found a single paragraph in one book at

the

> > > > Monessen Public Library and District Center. Searches in

other

> > > > Pittsburgh-based facilities produced little more.

> > > >

> > > > I ultimately found some limited information through a search

of

> > > the

> > > > Library of Congress.

> > > >

> > > > When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

> acknowledged

> > > that

> > > > now 1 in 150 children has been diagnosed with autism, it

raised

> > an

> > > > important issue: Has the number of autistic children in our

> > > society

> > > > grown or is the medical community becoming more aware?

> > > >

> > > > The medical professionals have attempted to deflect concerns

> over

> > > the

> > > > MMR shot. To do so, they claim that it is merely coincidental

> > > because

> > > > the shots were given at about the same time when the signs of

> > > autism

> > > > occur in a child's development.

> > > >

> > > > But autistic children develop in a stair-like scale - they

make

> > > > progress for awhile and then level off. The steps do go

> forward,

> > > not

> > > > backward.

> > > >

> > > > But parents who believe in the connection with MMR have

noticed

> a

> > > > regression in their child's development. Timmy for example

was

> > > > developing normally before he received the shots. He was

> speaking

> > > > words, was walking early. Then suddenly he regressed after

the

> > > > immunization.

> > > >

> > > > Many parents of autistic children - my wife Ruth and I

> included -

> > > > believe the MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) shot triggered

> > > autism.

> > > > The theory is that thimerosal, a preservative in the

> vaccinations

> > > > that contains mercury, triggered autism among children who

> > > received

> > > > the shots in the 1980s and 1990s.

> > > >

> > > > Purely unscientific observations I have seen suggests the

link

> is

> > > > real.

> > > >

> > > > When Timmy was ultimately diagnosed, the curious would ask

> about

> > > him.

> > > > When we explained that he was autistic, most would ask what

> that

> > > was.

> > > >

> > > > Today, people generally smile and nod. It seems virtually

> > everyone

> > > > knows of someone who is autistic. ( " My nephew has a son who's

> > > > autistic " or " My neighbor's has a grandson who is autistic "

are

> > > > common refrains.)

> > > >

> > > > My wife was invited to attend a special luncheon held by

> National

> > > > Association for Autism Research in Pittsburgh to kick off

Walk

> > Far

> > > > for NAAR. About nine other parents of autistic children sat

> > around

> > > > the same table and naturally they began to discuss their

> > > children's

> > > > condition. One by one, they expressed the same belief that

the

> > MMR

> > > > shot caused their children to become autistic.

> > > >

> > > > For parents of autistic children, your greatest source of

help

> > > comes

> > > > from other parents of autistic children.

> > > >

> > > > As the U.S. Court of Federal Claims conducts hearings over

> > whether

> > > > the vaccines caused autism, parents must provide the best

life

> > > > possible for their children.

> > > >

> > > > We are determined that Timmy leads as normal a life as

> possible.

> > > He

> > > > enjoys the outdoors and is a regular at St. 's Church,

> > > where

> > > > he has received the sacraments.

> > > >

> > > > But I have come to learn there are many things my son will

> never

> > > be

> > > > able to do. He will forever be dependent upon others for care

> and

> > > > safety. He likely will never marry or hold a job.

> > > >

> > > > Still, he has learned to understand the most important

lesson.

> > > >

> > > > As he lies down to sleep, I whisper to him, asking " Do you

want

> > to

> > > > know a secret? " He knows the secret and slowly deliberately

> > > attempts

> > > > to speak the words.

> > > >

> > > > " I É love É you. "

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Buckley is a staff writer with The Valley Independent.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Buckley can be reached at cbuckley@ or (724) 684-

> > > > 2642.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>