AutismLink Radio -- Dr. Andy Shih of NAAR

July 23, 2005

Upton Sinclair, " It is difficult to get a man to understand something

when his salary depends upon his not understanding it. "

IMO - Dr. Andy Shih would never have a position with NAAR, or

continued employment, if he were honest about mercury toxicity and

mercury's effect on children. Ditto with regards to the staff of the

CDC, NIH, & IOM.

> > > > > > Tune in to AutismLink Radio's newest podcast at

> > > > > > http://www.autismlink.com/radio for our interview

with

> > Dr. Andy

> > > > > Shih,

> > > > > > Director of Research and Programs at the National

> > Alliance for

> > > > > Autism

> > > > > > Research (NAAR).

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Dr. Shih discusses what NAAR is currently

researching,

> > > criteria for

> > > > > > funding, biomedical research currently being

funded,

> > > thimerosal and

> > > > > > mercury, what went wrong on the Montel

show,

> > and more!

> > > > >

=======================================================

> > > > >

July 23, 2005

This is what drives me nuts. Nobody said it was " genetics only. " I

didn't, and neither did Dr. Shih. He said it was a combination of

factors, most likely. That's what I believe as well. But there is

DEFINITELY a genetics component. I have about six friends with more

than one on the spectrum. That, to me, demonstrates a most definite

genetic component.

If you choose not to give money to NAAR, that's your choice. That's

part of the reason why we did the interview -- to clarify their

stance. As I said, you either agree with it, or not. You either give

your money, or not.

f

> Just because a family has more than one child on the spectrum doesn't

> mean it must be genetics only. It still could be the vaccines combined

> with genetics.

>

> Genetics may play a role in that some children are " genetically " unable

> to handle heavy metals like mercury. In the same way as some children

> are " genetically " pre-disposed to allergies, asthma etc.

>

> I think it's foolish to waste money trying to figure out what gene is

> causing the problem, when the simple solution is to just get rid of the

> mercury! Let's try that and in 3-4 years or so we should see if it made

> a difference or not. I believe the the health organizations are afraid

> to do that, because they are worried that we just may be right.

>

> I didn't do the walk for the first time this year. And I don't plan to

> walk in 2006. I would rather my money go towards organizations who are

> doing something to help my child now. Or who are more open than NAAR

> about studying this issue.

July 23, 2005

He's right. Mercury doesn't CAUSE autism. But it's definitely one of

the factors that cause autism.

Mercury, in and of itself, does not cause autism. But perhaps these

children are predisposed somehow immunologically, and the mercury did

more damage to our kids than other kids. If mercury CAUSED autism,

everyone who had a shot with mercury in it would be autistic. That's

not the case.

Some kids, IMHO, are predisposed genetically and immunologically and

that, combined with mercury, made for a deadly mix.

That's just my .02, I'm not a physician. But logically, the

statement, " Mercury does not cause autism " is true.

> I caught the last half of the Montel show. I actually thought that

Dr. Shih

> was absolutely adamant, and repeated several times, that studies

don't back

> VACCINES causing autism. Lyn Redwood looked exasperated, again

stating that it

> was the mercury/thimerosol factor, not the vaccine per se, and that

she was

> for safe vaccines. Dr. Shih just resolutely ignored this

distinction, repeating

> almost robotically, that there were no studies showing VACCINES caused

> autism.

>

> Montel asked Dr. Shih, given the choice between a thimerosol-free

> vaccinination, and one with thimerosol, in light of the explosion of

autism and emerging

> evidence of toxic harm, would he still feel comfortable with

recommending

> shots with thimerosol to parents. He said he would.

>

> It was like arguing with the Flat Earth Society, who insist those

satellite

> pictures mean nothing.

>

July 23, 2005

Well to be honest, I'm not 100% sure, but I understand some of their

dollars come from the CDC. Okay, so that's a conflict of interest. I

agree with you there. That's why we SPECIFICALLY asked the question

about conflict of interest.

I certainly hope you're not referring to AutismLink as a do-nothing

because we do a ton.

-- In , " Kerbob " <robertbloch@c...> wrote:

> Hopefully a lot of these do-nothing charities will get some

exposure. Do you know where the dollars come from?

>

> Do tell.

>

> >As for my motives, you can think whatever you want. I know that I'm

> >fair, and so do many others, and that's what matters.

>

> > W.

>

July 23, 2005

Do you fully support the drive to remove mercury from vaccines and other medical

procedures? I've really never heard of your group.

[ ] Re: AutismLink Radio -- Dr. Andy Shih of NAAR

Well to be honest, I'm not 100% sure, but I understand some of their

dollars come from the CDC. Okay, so that's a conflict of interest. I

agree with you there. That's why we SPECIFICALLY asked the question

about conflict of interest.

I certainly hope you're not referring to AutismLink as a do-nothing

because we do a ton.

-- In , " Kerbob " <robertbloch@c...> wrote:

> Hopefully a lot of these do-nothing charities will get some

exposure. Do you know where the dollars come from?

>

> Do tell.

>

> >As for my motives, you can think whatever you want. I know that I'm

> >fair, and so do many others, and that's what matters.

>

> > W.

>

July 23, 2005

Absolutely. In fact, we are working in PA to make that a reality.

Legislation was introduced by Rep. Habay to remove thimerosal...

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2003/0/HB2863P4408.HTM

.....and we were a part of that. Of course, it's been referred to the

insurance committee, and we all know where that will go. We also put

pressure on Rick Santorum, with the help of SafeMinds, to back off of

SB3.

Yes.... we're definitely anti-mercury. It's just not logical to put

mercury into our children.

Look, we were just trying to let both sides present their story. We

did that, and we tried to be impartial. The fact that you guys are

yelling at me now tells me we did our job because you have absolutely

no idea that we are anti-mercury. haha. Maybe we were a little *TOO*

impartial. :-)

W.

> > Hopefully a lot of these do-nothing charities will get some

> exposure. Do you know where the dollars come from?

> >

> > Do tell.

> >

> > >As for my motives, you can think whatever you want. I know

that I'm

> > >fair, and so do many others, and that's what matters.

> >

> > > W.

> >

July 23, 2005

Not thimerosal. The issue is MERCURY needs to be addressed.

[ ] Re: AutismLink Radio -- Dr. Andy Shih of NAAR

Absolutely. In fact, we are working in PA to make that a reality.

Legislation was introduced by Rep. Habay to remove thimerosal...

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2003/0/HB2863P4408.HTM

....and we were a part of that. Of course, it's been referred to the

insurance committee, and we all know where that will go. We also put

pressure on Rick Santorum, with the help of SafeMinds, to back off of

SB3.

Yes.... we're definitely anti-mercury. It's just not logical to put

mercury into our children.

Look, we were just trying to let both sides present their story. We

did that, and we tried to be impartial. The fact that you guys are

yelling at me now tells me we did our job because you have absolutely

no idea that we are anti-mercury. haha. Maybe we were a little *TOO*

impartial. :-)

W.

> > Hopefully a lot of these do-nothing charities will get some

> exposure. Do you know where the dollars come from?

> >

> > Do tell.

> >

> > >As for my motives, you can think whatever you want. I know

that I'm

> > >fair, and so do many others, and that's what matters.

> >

> > > W.

> >

July 23, 2005

amen.

gacreeker wrote:

> Vaccine injured children would be better served if time, effort, and

> financial resources were directed supporting ethical biomedical

> treatments and not squandered by countless committees.

July 23, 2005

The legislation specifically says " mercury free vaccinations. "

:-)

> > > Hopefully a lot of these do-nothing charities will get some

> > exposure. Do you know where the dollars come from?

> > >

> > > Do tell.

> > >

> > > >As for my motives, you can think whatever you want. I know

> that I'm

> > > >fair, and so do many others, and that's what matters.

> > >

> > > > W.

> > >

July 23, 2005

I for one would like to hear from a toxicologist on exactly what mercury

poisoning is and how it compares to autism. An in depth discussion of

the theory raised in Bernard, et. al. Autism: A Novel Form of Mercury

Poisoning.

It has been out for 5 years and it seems that the toxicological

community should have debated this and picked it apart to see if the

paper is a good one and the theory holds water.

All the government spokes persons saying mercury is safe are always

vaccine researchers or specialists in infectious diseases. They never

put up a toxicologist to say what the mercury that " was " in vaccines.

Wrote a blog entry about it: http://tinyurl.com/cuev5

autismlink wrote:

>

> P.S. -- Anybody have any ideas for our next radio show? We asked

> Kennedy, but he's too busy. Any suggestions are appreciated.

> Doesn't have to be regarding the mercury issue.

July 23, 2005

> So....thimerosol then more likely than not causes autism, in those

> genetically susceptible, isn't that what your are saying? And it

looks from the

> numbers--1 in 166 kids--that's a pretty sizable population.

Yes, that would be accurate -- that's what I'm saying. For those who

are predisposed genetically, mercury acts as some type of catalyst

and/or .....okay, cause.

I'm not arguing with you here -- you're preaching to the choir. I

agree with you. When I was pregnant with , I came home at

lunch every day and ate a huge salad with a can of tuna. I thought I

was doing this great healthy thing. Turns out that I could have

actually poisoned my child in utero.

People -- I'm with you on the mercury issue. I just don't think that

Dr. Shih is some nasty evil man. I really don't.

July 23, 2005

Great idea -- we'll try to find a toxicologist who is familiar with

mercury poisoning and that paper in particular.

If you have anyone in mind, email me privately and we'll be more than

happy to get the person on the show. We're open to pretty much anything.

Cong. Weldon's office agreed to be on as well as Senator Santorum.

We'll see what happens.

W.

>

> >

> > P.S. -- Anybody have any ideas for our next radio show? We asked

> > Kennedy, but he's too busy. Any suggestions are appreciated.

> > Doesn't have to be regarding the mercury issue.

July 23, 2005

Check the archives of this list.

Re: [ ] Re: AutismLink Radio -- Dr. Andy Shih of NAAR

I for one would like to hear from a toxicologist on exactly what mercury

poisoning is and how it compares to autism. An in depth discussion of

the theory raised in Bernard, et. al. Autism: A Novel Form of Mercury

Poisoning.

It has been out for 5 years and it seems that the toxicological

community should have debated this and picked it apart to see if the

paper is a good one and the theory holds water.

All the government spokes persons saying mercury is safe are always

vaccine researchers or specialists in infectious diseases. They never

put up a toxicologist to say what the mercury that " was " in vaccines.

Wrote a blog entry about it: http://tinyurl.com/cuev5

autismlink wrote:

>

> P.S. -- Anybody have any ideas for our next radio show? We asked

> Kennedy, but he's too busy. Any suggestions are appreciated.

> Doesn't have to be regarding the mercury issue.

=======================================================

July 23, 2005

I have only been on the list for two weeks and have not gone back and

done that yet. I'll do that. Thanks.

Kerbob wrote:

> Check the archives of this list.

> Re: [ ] Re: AutismLink Radio -- Dr. Andy Shih of

> NAAR

>

> I for one would like to hear from a toxicologist on exactly what mercury

> poisoning is and how it compares to autism. An in depth discussion of

> the theory raised in Bernard, et. al. Autism: A Novel Form of Mercury

> Poisoning.

>

> It has been out for 5 years and it seems that the toxicological

> community should have debated this and picked it apart to see if the

> paper is a good one and the theory holds water.

>

> All the government spokes persons saying mercury is safe are always

> vaccine researchers or specialists in infectious diseases. They never

> put up a toxicologist to say what the mercury that " was " in vaccines.

>

> Wrote a blog entry about it: http://tinyurl.com/cuev5

>

> autismlink wrote:

>

> >

> > P.S. -- Anybody have any ideas for our next radio show? We asked

> > Kennedy, but he's too busy. Any suggestions are appreciated.

> > Doesn't have to be regarding the mercury issue.

>

> =======================================================

>

July 23, 2005

That's fine with me -- I support any family with a child with autism.

It's just too damned hard.

I just want to make it clear that I BELIEVE THAT AUTISM HAS A DIRECT

CORRELATION TO MERCURY. :-) Can't be more clear than that.

My family has just started down the biomed road -- started Coromega

and some other supplements and glutathione and we're looking into

going GF/CF and my husband is very interested in chelation. (He is

less conservative than I because he is a native German.) ly

chelation scares the hell out of me, mostly because I need to read up

on it and don't know much about it other than it can be dangerous.

Dan Burton is a good idea -- but I can't wait to get Mr. Santorum on.

I have a few questions for him. My guess is that he'll be a no show.

I'll keep you posted.

W.

> > I caught the last half of the Montel show. I actually thought that

> Dr. Shih

> > was absolutely adamant, and repeated several times, that studies

> don't back

> > VACCINES causing autism. Lyn Redwood looked exasperated, again

> stating that it

> > was the mercury/thimerosol factor, not the vaccine per se, and that

> she was

> > for safe vaccines. Dr. Shih just resolutely ignored this

> distinction, repeating

> > almost robotically, that there were no studies showing VACCINES

caused

> > autism.

> >

> > Montel asked Dr. Shih, given the choice between a thimerosol-free

> > vaccinination, and one with thimerosol, in light of the explosion of

> autism and emerging

> > evidence of toxic harm, would he still feel comfortable with

> recommending

> > shots with thimerosol to parents. He said he would.

> >

> > It was like arguing with the Flat Earth Society, who insist those

> satellite

> > pictures mean nothing.

> >

July 23, 2005

Good luck with starting out, you're in the right place. It's unfortunate

that it's taken such a tragedy to pull so many wonderful people together.

These parents are amazing. Thank god for the internet!

_____

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of autismlink

Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 6:45 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: AutismLink Radio -- Dr. Andy Shih of NAAR

That's fine with me -- I support any family with a child with autism.

It's just too damned hard.

I just want to make it clear that I BELIEVE THAT AUTISM HAS A DIRECT

CORRELATION TO MERCURY. :-) Can't be more clear than that.

My family has just started down the biomed road -- started Coromega

and some other supplements and glutathione and we're looking into

going GF/CF and my husband is very interested in chelation. (He is

less conservative than I because he is a native German.) ly

chelation scares the hell out of me, mostly because I need to read up

on it and don't know much about it other than it can be dangerous.

Dan Burton is a good idea -- but I can't wait to get Mr. Santorum on.

I have a few questions for him. My guess is that he'll be a no show.

I'll keep you posted.

W.

> > I caught the last half of the Montel show. I actually thought that

> Dr. Shih

> > was absolutely adamant, and repeated several times, that studies

> don't back

> > VACCINES causing autism. Lyn Redwood looked exasperated, again

> stating that it

> > was the mercury/thimerosol factor, not the vaccine per se, and that

> she was

> > for safe vaccines. Dr. Shih just resolutely ignored this

> distinction, repeating

> > almost robotically, that there were no studies showing VACCINES

caused

> > autism.

> >

> > Montel asked Dr. Shih, given the choice between a thimerosol-free

> > vaccinination, and one with thimerosol, in light of the explosion of

> autism and emerging

> > evidence of toxic harm, would he still feel comfortable with

> recommending

> > shots with thimerosol to parents. He said he would.

> >

> > It was like arguing with the Flat Earth Society, who insist those

> satellite

> > pictures mean nothing.

> >

July 23, 2005

Since he won't be requesting a thimerosal-free vaccine for his child, most

likely his point of view will change eventually

[ ] Re: AutismLink Radio -- Dr. Andy Shih of NAAR

What went wrong with the Montel Show? Sounded fine to me.

NAAR's position is indefensible. How can anyone defend injecting a

known potent neurotoxin into children? When I called them 3 years ago

questioning their lack of funding of research regarding thimerosal

and

autism, I was told that no one has ever submitted to NAAR a proposal

for such a study which meets their quality standards. I have a gut

feeling that as long as they accept money from the CDC to run their

organization, no one will ever meet their quality standards.

Charlie

> Tune in to AutismLink Radio's newest podcast at

> http://www.autismlink.com/radio for our interview with Dr. Andy

Shih,

> Director of Research and Programs at the National Alliance for

Autism

> Research (NAAR).

>

> Dr. Shih discusses what NAAR is currently researching, criteria for

> funding, biomedical research currently being funded, thimerosal and

> mercury, what went wrong on the Montel show, and more!

=======================================================

July 24, 2005

>

> P.S. -- Anybody have any ideas for our next radio show? We asked

> Kennedy, but he's too busy. Any suggestions are appreciated.

> Doesn't have to be regarding the mercury issue.

Could you get an adult with autism or Asperger's who is speaking about adults

with

autism? Someone like Shore or someone who has Asperger's who isn't

officially

speaking about autims like Dan Akroyd or Spielberg? Temple Grandem is

good.

How about teh young woman from that movie, Autism is a World? She was

interesting.

Maybe you could find a person with autism who can speak about toxicology, too.

That

would be good.

July 24, 2005

What bothered me is that with everyone's hard work, hard lives, slaving away at

family and awareness of autism and mercury/thimerosal, he said he would have no

problem giving his 2 month old thimerosal vaccines. I just don't get it. He

could have at least said he was glad it was being removed. But I guess I, like

many others, didn't get it until it happened to my child.

By the way, I think autismlink is great, have sent it to everyone I know (who

has children with asd)

[ ] Re: AutismLink Radio -- Dr. Andy Shih of NAAR

Just playing devil's advocate here, because in reality, I do think

that the mercury issue is very plausible (probable)...

Why would you fault the man for doing what he thinks is best. He

said, in the podcast, for you to do what you think is best, as he did.

So why would you fault that?

I think people are kind of hard on NAAR sometimes. They believe what

they believe, I guess. I didn't get the feeling in interviewing Dr.

Shih that they were absolutely 100% against the mercury issue.

And, by the way, before everyone starts going off on AutismLink -- we

are completely unbiased in our interviews. Our personal feelings have

absolutely no bearing on the questions we ask or the guests we have on

the show. In reality, both Jillian Duhl and I believe the mercury theory.

Waeltermann

Director, AutismLink

...who incidentally hasn't vaccinated either of her kids since the

diagnosis.

> > Tune in to AutismLink Radio's newest podcast at

> > http://www.autismlink.com/radio for our interview with Dr. Andy

> Shih,

> > Director of Research and Programs at the National Alliance for

> Autism

> > Research (NAAR).

> >

> > Dr. Shih discusses what NAAR is currently researching, criteria for

> > funding, biomedical research currently being funded, thimerosal and

> > mercury, what went wrong on the Montel show, and more!

>

> =======================================================

>

July 24, 2005

We have an adult with autism on our board of directors (Sondra

) who also has 4 kids on the spectrum. (She has also written

two books.) She's a truly amazing person. Want to know what your

kids are thinking? Just ask her -- she can communicate it well.

We did ask her to be on the show, but she's a little wigged out by it.

don't want to push her into something she doesn't want to do, but

I'll ask again.

>

> >

> > P.S. -- Anybody have any ideas for our next radio show? We asked

> > Kennedy, but he's too busy. Any suggestions are appreciated.

> > Doesn't have to be regarding the mercury issue.

>

> Could you get an adult with autism or Asperger's who is speaking

about adults with

> autism? Someone like Shore or someone who has Asperger's

who isn't officially

> speaking about autims like Dan Akroyd or Spielberg? Temple

Grandem is good.

> How about teh young woman from that movie, Autism is a World? She

was interesting.

> Maybe you could find a person with autism who can speak about

toxicology, too. That

> would be good.

July 24, 2005

The young woman from Autism is a world can't talk, but can type on her

computer, like my son, Craig, does.

Barb

[ ] Re: AutismLink Radio -- Dr. Andy Shih of NAAR

>

>>

>> P.S. -- Anybody have any ideas for our next radio show? We asked

>> Kennedy, but he's too busy. Any suggestions are appreciated.

>> Doesn't have to be regarding the mercury issue.

>

> Could you get an adult with autism or Asperger's who is speaking about

> adults with

> autism? Someone like Shore or someone who has Asperger's who

> isn't officially

> speaking about autims like Dan Akroyd or Spielberg? Temple Grandem

> is good.

> How about teh young woman from that movie, Autism is a World? She was

> interesting.

> Maybe you could find a person with autism who can speak about toxicology,

> too. That

> would be good.

>

> =======================================================

>

July 24, 2005

Or read my son's book " Embracing the Sky, " available on amazon.com.

[ ] Re: AutismLink Radio -- Dr. Andy Shih of NAAR

> We have an adult with autism on our board of directors (Sondra

> ) who also has 4 kids on the spectrum. (She has also written

> two books.) She's a truly amazing person. Want to know what your

> kids are thinking? Just ask her -- she can communicate it well.

>

> We did ask her to be on the show, but she's a little wigged out by it.

> don't want to push her into something she doesn't want to do, but

> I'll ask again.

>

>>

>> >

>> > P.S. -- Anybody have any ideas for our next radio show? We asked

>> > Kennedy, but he's too busy. Any suggestions are appreciated.

>> > Doesn't have to be regarding the mercury issue.

>>

>> Could you get an adult with autism or Asperger's who is speaking

> about adults with

>> autism? Someone like Shore or someone who has Asperger's

> who isn't officially

>> speaking about autims like Dan Akroyd or Spielberg? Temple

> Grandem is good.

>> How about teh young woman from that movie, Autism is a World? She

> was interesting.

>> Maybe you could find a person with autism who can speak about

> toxicology, too. That

>> would be good.

>

> =======================================================

>

July 24, 2005

Thanks for the tip -- I will put a link to this book on autismlink.

cindy

> >>

> >> >

> >> > P.S. -- Anybody have any ideas for our next radio show? We asked

> >> > Kennedy, but he's too busy. Any suggestions are

appreciated.

> >> > Doesn't have to be regarding the mercury issue.

> >>

> >> Could you get an adult with autism or Asperger's who is speaking

> > about adults with

> >> autism? Someone like Shore or someone who has Asperger's

> > who isn't officially

> >> speaking about autims like Dan Akroyd or Spielberg? Temple

> > Grandem is good.

> >> How about teh young woman from that movie, Autism is a World? She

> > was interesting.

> >> Maybe you could find a person with autism who can speak about

> > toxicology, too. That

> >> would be good.

> >

> > =======================================================

> >

July 24, 2005

You do an amazing job. Without the updates from autismlink, I may never have

acquired the knowledge I have (which is still nowhere near most of my

listmates) As the Dr on good morning America stated he has " faith " in the

medical establishment, like many of us once did, and so many others still do. I

once believed so strongly that I lugged two toddlers for a series of two flu

shots in two months. One unfortunately was so young, and had two months earlier

received his mmr and I didn't realize he had a very weakened immune system and

has never been the same, the other has never had an issue (other than tubes for

ear infections). To be honest I struggle daily with the issue. I take

prescriptions every night for asthma and allergies and would be riddled with

sinus infections and asthma attacks if I didn't. I truly believe I would not be

alive without modern medicine, that being said, I would rather not be alive and

have my son not have been vaccine injured.

Thanks for your hard work.

[ ] Re: AutismLink Radio -- Dr. Andy Shih of NAAR

Thanks for the compliment , we do work hard.

I've been involved with Walk FAR for NAAR in Pittsburgh since the

get-go...six years now. This year we raised over $12K. I wanted to

hear the answers from Dr. Shih because I know that many parents are

disheartened with NAAR's policies. In some cases, I agree, some I

don't. I mean, clearly there's a genetic component to autism, I have

two kids on the spectrum and my husband is definitely somewhere on the

spectrum (I diagnosed him myself..LOL). I guess they have chosen to

put the bulk of their dollars into genetic research in lieu of other

areas because maybe at the moment, to them, it seems like that's the

most plausible thing.

It has taken me a long time to come around to believing the whole

mercury thing. Bells went off at the homeland security act

(something's not right here...hrm...), and then the more I looked into

it the more it seemed so very plausible and true. And all of these

parents CANNOT be wrong. I believe the parents -- we know our kids.

So, in the end, I'm not defending anyone. Just as I wasn't defending

Kirby when we interviewed him. (I got ALOT of flack from some

people over that one too...) It's very simple, you either like what

they said or you didn't. You either give your money, or you don't.

W.

> What bothered me is that with everyone's hard work, hard lives,

slaving away at family and awareness of autism and mercury/thimerosal,

he said he would have no problem giving his 2 month old thimerosal

vaccines. I just don't get it. He could have at least said he was glad

it was being removed. But I guess I, like many others, didn't get it

until it happened to my child.

>

> By the way, I think autismlink is great, have sent it to everyone I

know (who has children with asd)

>

=======================================================

July 24, 2005

dito thank you for the hard work, absolutely loved the interview with

Kirby.

Re: [ ] Re: AutismLink Radio -- Dr. Andy Shih of

NAAR

You do an amazing job. Without the updates from autismlink, I may never

have acquired the knowledge I have (which is still nowhere near most of my

listmates) As the Dr on good morning America stated he has " faith " in

the medical establishment, like many of us once did, and so many others

still do. I once believed so strongly that I lugged two toddlers for a

series of two flu shots in two months. One unfortunately was so young, and

had two months earlier received his mmr and I didn't realize he had a very

weakened immune system and has never been the same, the other has never had

an issue (other than tubes for ear infections). To be honest I struggle

daily with the issue. I take prescriptions every night for asthma and

allergies and would be riddled with sinus infections and asthma attacks if I

didn't. I truly believe I would not be alive without modern medicine, that

being said, I would rather not be alive and have my son not have been

vaccine injured.