Hear The Silence

[Guest guest]

Hi

Well Louis' film was on TV on Monday and the fallout over here is

only just starting to abate.

The programme was widely discussed - not least after a group of

Doctors wrote asking that Channel 5 be prevented fron showing it in

case it affected the MMR uptake. There have been many phone ins and ,

of those I heard, most people felt that to stop a programme going

ahead because you didn't agree with the content was not something we

like doing in the UK . And that to say that parents will make an

immunisation decision based purely on a drama is pretty bloody

offensive to parents ( have you noticed that those kind of people

always say that " others " may be so affected. In other words " I am

intelligent and rational but every one else is stupid and pliable " ).

Anyway - all the Sunday TV guides had it as " pick of the day " , some

had it as " best of the week " !

There were articles published saying that it was irresponsible but,

whatever they felt about the content everyone said it was a fine

peice of drama and very well directed and acted ( !!).

I should also add that several reviwers said it was honest, important

and HAD to be shown.

I will dig out a selection of links to the subsequent articles and

reviews and post them in case anyone is interested. There are quite a

few though as EVERY national newspaper has done follow ups and

discussion peices.

Personally I am very pleased by the " playground test " . Picking Louis

up from school the next day many mums came up to me and said how

sad/wonderful/touching/tragic etc it was. They ALL said that they

will never make assumptions about another child acting up in a

supermarket as they can see what it is like on the other side ( yeah

I know but they meant it at the time !). I had phone calls from my

family saying they had never before understood how hard it had been .

It was as if many of the people who have lived on top of our lives

had actually only seen and understood it through the TV - what a sign

of the times but whatever works !

Louis was fabulous and beautiful and so proud. His school held an

assembly the next day talking about autism and what it means to live

life slightly out of step with the world. I am told he was articulate

and brave - whether you believe our story or not you have to admire a

kid who stands up and makes a very persuasive arguemnt that there is

a link between MMR , vaccination and autism when the " against "

arguement is being made by the science teacher ! LOL ( he won by the

way , but as the girl who sits next to him also has an MMR damaged

brother he had a bit of help!)

I hope you guys get a chance to see it. t son is fantastic

and so much of the main character is bits of Charlie ( although it is

not of course directly his story). There is a bit where the child

lead is hiding inside her t-shirt, something I told her Charlie used

to do when his senses were overwhelmed and she included it is one of

the scenes - so many bits reminding me of my boy.

Charlie is so briefly in it but his appearance at the end is so sweet

and reminds me why, if it drives others mad, we must insist that the

research continues until someone can explain what is happening to our

children.

I have mailed the producer, , to ask about a USA transmisiion

but to say he is busy is an understatement. I will nag him in the New

year when things have calmed down....

Take care all

Regards

Deborah