daughters progress

[Guest guest]

Dear Mr. Schafer:

Our daughter , age 7, currently participates in The

Edelson Center's multifaceted therapy program for children with Autism

Spectrum Disorders. We began the program in April of 2002 and are

convinced that had we not found this Center, she would not be doing as

well as she is today-Socially, physically and emotionally.

When was two she was diagnosed with PDD/NOS. We spent five

years on the path that most parents are directed ie: speech Therapy,

OT, social skills groups, semi-regulated diet, etc. Our Pediatrician,

as almost all parents I have talked have found, not only missed the

early signs of a problem but made matters worse by continually

prescribing antibiotics for ear infections, sinus infections, etc.,

without ever suggesting tests to see what the root causes might be.

" It seems you're doing all the right things, I would just continue

with them " was his response to our updates of her therapies. Never any

insight, never any direction or suggestions. When we had done what we

could with the traditional American Medical response to Autism we

started to look hard outside the box which I believe is where the only

answers are found for parents trying to help their kids with this

illness.

In March 2002 we spent a week at The Edelson Center where she was

given a battery of tests to check her liver function, gastointestinal

tract, mineral levels, metal levels, immune system, etc. The test

results showed a highly over reactive immune system, very high toxin

levels, high metal levels, a liver that does not detoxify well, an

array of food and other allergies and various digestive problems.

We came back in April to start a five week detox program which

involved 4 rounds of a half hour sauna each day followed by massage to

move the toxins out of her body, numerous daily oral supplements, IVIG

and EDTA treatments, and restricted diet. Since completeing the daily

program at the Center in May 2002, we have continued with 2 daily

rounds of sauna in our home and the oral supplements. The oral

supplements include: Acetyl Cysteine, Carnitine, Vitamins E, and B6,

Magnesium Sulfate, Glutamine powder, Pancreatic Enzyme Powder,

Glutathione, Green Tea Extract, Lipoic, Serenade, Traqnsfer Factor,

Glycine, Lycine, Zinc Piccolineate, COQ10 and others.

We have seen the following changes since May 2002: Increased

appropriate verbal responses, increased pro-active language (asking

for what she needs without screaming or getting upset first), Improved

ability to carry on a conversation, completely normal eye contact,

improved motor abilities (both small and large), significant decrease

in tantrums and " spacing out " , significant decrease in self

stimulating behaviors (swaying, hand flapping, running in circles) to

the point where they are almost non-existent, Very significant

improvement in ability to handle transitions, much more " Present " and

aware of the world around her (she notices everything and asks

questions about things in a natural conversational manner), increased

willingness to try new foods and general improvement in appetite. She

continues to be a happy, engaged and interested little girl and seems

to improve weekly.

I would also add that while the cost of the Center's program was

significant, our insurance covered almost 90% of the expenses. The

Center prepared all of the forms and had everything ready for us to

send so we didn't have a mountain of paper work to think about while

we were working the program at the Center.

Before coming to the Edelson Center, we had tried dozens of other

types of therapies some with minimal effect but most with no effect

and all were located far and wide. For the first time we have a

program that works and staff who are tracking her progress and

directing her therapies all in one location. We go to the Center twice

yearly for check-ups and stay in contact through phone consultations.

My only regret is that we did not earn about the Edelson Center

earlier than we did. It would have saved us money, time and enormous

frustration. We all come to realize at some point, that we are on our

own in this and have a frantic sense that the clock is ticking. What

we are never told is that the effects of Autism can be minimalized and

sometimes reversed. That parents are not made aware of this program

and do not have it offered as