I should be asleep right now.

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I should be asleep right now.

Topic Author: Penny Moss

Posted: 12:32 AM Mar 10, 2008

Replies Posted: 25 comments

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I should be asleep right now.

Instead I'm devouring everything I can find on the internet about Hannah Poling.

She's the 9-year old girl who's made headlines the past few days over a landmark ruling involving vaccines and autism.

I won't try to explain the case-- I don't want to get it wrong, and my friend Google has more than you could ever want to read about it.

But I will say I'm twisted up in 50 knots over this issue. Much more with Bennett than I was with the girls when they were babies.

Why? I guess I've read more and suspect more, but also because Bennett is a boy and autism affects boys more often than girls. That's probably a stupid reason because as little Hannah proves, certainly girls are not immune.

I just don't know. I want to trust what the experts say. I want to protect my children. But how do I best protect them? And how do I know which experts to trust? There are "experts" on all sides, and they all seem to make sense. I can't stand the thought of my children getting seriously ill or worse, from something that is easily preventable. And then again, I can't bear to think that something I choose to do to protect them, could cause them harm.

I'm just speaking in generalities here because I don't want my opinions or decisions to influence anyone -- I'm certainly no expert. Just a worried mom, like so many worried moms, wanting what's best for her children.

Penny

Posted by: Anonymous i have a 9 y/o cousin who has autism. is anyone from wsaz going to attend the walk for autism this year in gallipolis?

Posted by: Sandy I remember feeling the fear you are feeling over childhood inoculations. So I will share the perspective 20 odd years later. These decisions prepare you for the future decisions you will make for your children. You will find they aren't easier at 10, 15, or 18 years of age, only different. So i will share what I learned. I learned all I could about a situation, discussed it with my husband, prayed to God, then proceeded with what we thought was the best thing to do and then left it in God's hands. Therefore, no matter what happended I knew I had done my personal best and God was in charge. Sleep came much easier after that...........

Posted by: Carla I have 3 boys, a 10 year old, a 14 year old,and a 20 year old and they have all been vaccinaed and they all are perfectly healthy. No problems what so ever. I think all kids should get all vaccines to help protect them, it did mine. My kids don't have any health problems of any kind. And I thank God everyday for that, my kids are my life.

Posted by: Sue It is more of a danger not getting your kids vaccinated. We are now seeing a rise in formally iradicated (or nearly so) childhood diseases because of uncalled for hysteria over vaccines. In the case in question, the child had a genetic predisposition (if I read it correctly). It is extremely rare. One day your kids are going to have to cross the street. There is alot of danger in that (as we all have recently seen). You can keep them from doing that but it isn't doing them any good. Life is full of risk. Stop listening to the fear mongers. See what your own doctor says and follow that.

Posted by: Mom My daughter is four and has autism. If I could go back in time I would have waited on her shots. You are a good mother Penny, trust your gut. I'll be praying for you and your son.

Posted by: anon I understand how you are feeling because I have two children. I am a by the book parent....do everything at the rigt time...I have vaccinated both of my children as ordered and recommended. I think that you have to consider that if you choose to not vaccinate your children and they get tetanus, diptheria...etc...then you will be sorry that you did not. I think it is a shame that people are not vaccinating. Just think, if all girls would get the HPV vaccine, that horrible virus would go away permanently, like polio. I think that of course there are risks associated with vaccines, but evidently there is equal risk from drinking your water from your home. I even got the chicken pox vaccine for my kids and neither of them have had them. My friend did not get her daughters immunized from the virus and they were the sickest children I have ever seen. I even worked as a pediatric nurse and I had not seen any more miserable kids. It can go both ways, but most MDs recommend them.

Posted by: mommy i agree with u penny. u just never know anymore. there is all kinds of things that are coming up accidents or just plain out mistakes. but some of these are unbearable, and cant be taken back. i say these experts need to pay a little bit more attention. goodluck with your decisions and your family!

Posted by: Melissa I am the mother of a 28 month old autstic boy. I called the doctors where he got his shots and none of them contain mercury. It was banned in 2000 I believe.

Posted by: Kim My kids are all fully vaccinated, but if I had a baby now I'd be doing tons of research on it too. Fortunately none of my kids had any reactions to their shots, but the growing number of autistic children (especially boys) is being caused by 'something'! It's my understanding that mercury is no longer used in any of the vaccines, but there's some question about these combo-shots. I think if I had it to do over, I would insist each shot be given separately (as mentioned by some of the parents of autistic children who were interviewed on the LK show on CNN). That would of course take longer to get them fully vaccinated, but I think it would be worth it.

Posted by: Mary Hi Penny, I have a 9 year old son and a son that is now 20 months old. With my first son, I did everything by the book, especially his vaccinations. He received vaccinations with mercury and although he isn't autistic, he has learning and speech delays which has made our journey more difficult. With my baby, 20 month old, I have done things differently. I have not let them give him all his shots at once. I flat out ask the pediatrician. Does he have to have this now, or can this wait. He has let me put off some of his shots, because the schedule is just a guideline. It doesn't have to be followed exact. That way, I feel like I am giving him the needed shots, but I am giving his little body time to adjust between vaccinations.

Posted by: Stacy Anyone concerned about getting the vaccines and going to school, I did not have my son get his vaccinations until he was 9 years old, due to the autism factor. I did have to write up a statement and have it notorized and put in my sons file at school. The school didn't like it much, but it is your right if you want your child vaccinated or not. I simply chose not to till later on. I have a friend that has an autistic son, and she says that's what onset his autism. She is not the only one to say this. Many,people believe this. It is known that autisic children do have a higher mercury levels in their body as well as other things such as arsenic and lead. Not all autistic kids but the majority. If you are concerned, do some research and if you want to wait till your child is older, the school can't stop you. They try to tell you that your child can not attend without the shots, but they can. Write up a saying as to why you have fears and get it notorized. They can't make you get them.

Posted by: anonymus Do some research and read "A Shot in the Dark" for yourself.

Posted by: Amanda I know exactly how you're feeling. My husband and I have been researching and discussing whether or not our daughter should have her next set of vaccines. As a parent, you feel torn between 2 different sets of experts. I just think you have to trust your gut and go with what you think is bet. Kuddos to you for bringing this topic into the light for us locally.

Posted by: Stacy There is a book called "A shot in the Dark". People should read it. It's about this sort of thing. Then form your own opinion about the shots.

Posted by: Debbie Penny, yes it is confusing and worrisome, but Hannah also had a mitochondrial disorder. My older sister had polio in the early 60's and had the later onset of neuromuscular problems.She was lucky it only affected one of her legs. Very many were paralyzed in "iron lungs" or did not survive. If you are going to take your chances on anything, I would strongly advise you don't do it with polio. There is still no treatment and no cure for it. For those of us old enough to remember polio, it was devastating and it has not disappeared. Good luck.

Posted by: Melinda Hi Penny. I so understand your worries.I watched Larry King On CNN and he had a panel on discussing autism and the vaccines being related. Toni Braxton was on there and her son is autistic and she states it is vaccine related. She has sinc had a another child whom she has picked and chose which vaccines to get and she said that she doesn't let them give them all at once. She has spaced them out and she said that he was behind on his vaccines due to this but she stands behind the vaccine theory. My youngest daughter is a juvenile diabetic since she was 10. I think there has been a jump in this disease too. These laboratory studies should be redirected to see what is causing these diseases to skyrocket. I've always gotten my children the flu shot also and I was reading that this vaccine contains thermisol which is the mercury based ingredient they are blaming the autism on. I just really believe something needs to be investigated. I can relate to your fears.

Posted by: Pam Church I am glad that your researching this, as a mother of an autistic daughter, I have researched and researched almost all kids with autisim has a degree of mercury in their system wich thimesol is a mercury preservitive, and then you have the egg allergies that is unkown at athis age because they dont eat eggs to have a reaction,my daughter was fine until her 6month old shots, then she had a reaction to them, thus began a night mare when she just stopped doing things no crying no gooing nothing but a blank stare. not all kids has a reaction but its scary all the same , I still have sleepless nights and wonder why. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. keep researching and keep noticing that all children were fine till the shots began.

Posted by: Stacy Glad your back Penny!

Posted by: charlotte my daughter just had a baby boy a little over2 weeks ago and i have that same worrey about my baby boy i just dont no what to do

Posted by: Justin There was a recent article on digg.com about the mmr vaccine as it relates to autism. The supposed cause of the risk was the mercury in the vaccine (called thimerosal), but from what I have read the vaccine no longer has mercury, and even when it did it was about half the amount that is in a can of tuna, and of a different variety (ethel, rather than methel) which only stays in the body for days (methel stays in the body for weeks). If you are still worried, just make sure that any vaccines you give your child are thimerosal-free.

Posted by: COALGROVE PENNY I KNOW HOW YOU FILL, CANT TRUST NOBODY ANY MORE.