Feeding kids, families

[Guest guest]

My daughter is now 32. She had a difficult birth and brain injury.

Seizures at birth, diagnosed with cerebral palsy. We were told to give her

tender loving care and wait to see what happened. She would likely never

walk or talk. She had non stop ear infections that were treated with

antibiotics. She never went 3 days between ear infections, antibiotics, and

had hearing loss, rebuilt ear drum. We started looking into alternatives.

Terry s (a chiropractor) was the first to suggest we take her off wheat

and dairy. He also told us she had candida. Introduced us to probiotics.

This was 29 years ago, long before the explosion of developmental

disabilities.

Today, most doctors couldn't identify our daughter as a person who was

diagnosed with cerebral palsy. A neurologist might by testing reflexes. She

walks, talks, etc. Her disabilities are now only picked up by trained

professionals who are amazed at how well she has done. It took lots of work

on our part, but we are happy with what we did. She has a good, productive

life. The average person might notice her speech has a few articulation

errors. If tested, she only reads at a 7th grade level, but she is a sweet

young woman. Better adapted than many people. No worry about her ending up

in a nursing home, unable to walk or talk. Her job just gave her an employee

of the month award.

Our daughter had food intolerances, rather than true allergies. If she ate

wheat or dairy, her cheeks and ears got red. If she had more, she got

congested. If it went on, she developed an illness. She also reacted to

food colorings and other things. Changing our diet made a huge difference.

Both my mother and mother-in-law thought we were crazy. How could loving

parents deny their sweet grandchild donuts, cookies and Christmas treats?

We told them, but you all know how it is. Grandma's want to love their

grandkids in whatever way they grew up learning how to love.

Both my mom, and my husbands mom gave our daughter Christmas wheat/sugar

treats. My daughters face blew up, eye lids were swollen three days later.

I sent them pictures. Grandma's do operate out of love and both felt horrid

about what happened. That changed our family meals. Both grandma's loved

coming over, asked about how to do something special.

Remember that the greatest joy of a grandma is her grandkids. It won't be

easy to change that, but over time they always will do what is best for the

youngest. It's hardwired into being a female. No easy answers, but keep

trying.

Kathy