A generation of stolen children

[celticdragonfly]

I saw a link today to this: http://buggydoo.blogspot.com/2005/07/i-am-very-sad-today.html
which really struck home with me. I followed her link to this:

http://www.generationrescue.org/pdf/news/rfk.pdf

Go read it. Really, read the whole thing.

It just makes me so sick and so sad. I have three children who fall into what they're describing as the "Thimerosal Generation". I've kept two of them safe. I wish I'd known more before the first one was born.

Comments

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

Well, I DO believe that stuff. The more I've read the more I believe it. And that article gives some pretty compelling reasons to believe.

And I HATE that people try to insist "nope, it's utterly absolutely NOT the cause" when they can't point to anything else that is the cause.

And I am as passionate about this as you are on many of your firmly-held opinions.

[ataniell93.livejournal.com]

Whoa. My sole intent in making that comment was to let you know that I don't think it's necessary for you to feel horrible and guilty about something that wasn't under your control at the time, because it could very easily not be the case.

Believe you me, I will never, EVER attempt to do that again.

Epidemiology is a Tricky Business

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

The problem with a direct causal link between ethylmercury poisoning (the toxin in thimerisol) and brain-damage/autism is that not everyone who is exposed to the toxin shows symptoms. A more simple poison; say, the wolfsbane in one of my herbaceous borders, would damage any kid that consumed a toxic dose. No question.

On the other hand, aspirin taken after fever or adult infection with the Measles only causes brain damage/death or testicular scarring in a tiny handful of cases. What makes some people more susceptible than other isn't known.

So, actually, ataniell is right: You couldn't possibly have known whether or not your kids would have succumbed. Even if the worst-case percentage of the Rolling Stone author is accurate, we're talking one-in-a-thousand shot. But you're right not to take the risk, even so.

N.B. Aside: This is one of the reasons I'm with commodorified on this kind of gross malpractice: I'd rather not see a useful company (Merck, etc.) which produces masses of helpful medecines and related products that have undoubtedly saved masses more lives than harmed brought to bankruptcy to pay off batches of trial lawyers with a pittance tossed to the victims to give these parasites a moral gloss. I'd like to see the officers in charge of the company at the time the decisions were made to be subject to criminal prosecution (pour encourager les autre and their assets seized to pay off the victims directly.

N.B.B. Speaking of which, how is Brendan these days?

Re: Epidemiology is a Tricky Business

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

I'm in agreement with you about criminal prosecution, that would be just fine for me.

But you don't have all the data on the issue. Yes, many people may get exposed to the toxin and get by fine. It's a combination of a predisposition for trouble and the toxin.

But the family risk factors that show you're likely to have the predisposition are KNOWN. I've found them in my studies after Brendan. It's all about the family medical history. And those telltale markers of family predisposition are ALL OVER my family, both sides. There's a couple of them that turned up after Brendan was born, but there were LOTS of them even before that.

If those doctors were expected to ask the right questions, if they'd ADMIT that medicine is not one size fits all, if they had just asked the questions about the family medical history, we would have known that Brendan was at high risk of some form of damage from those shots. We COULD have known, at least that there was a high risk. (And no, the worst-case percentage these days is 1 in 150 - of autism. There are other bad reactions, too, I don't know what the total odds of a bad reaction are.)

(I will leave aside for now the idiocy of giving all newborn infants heptatis shots indiscriminately. The year Brendan was born there were more REPORTED bad reactions to that shot (and it is hard to get a case reported) than there were new cases of that form of hepatitis in the country)

I know about the importance of the family history now, which is why I'm so careful about the others.

Brendan will be here tomorrow for a two week visit. Right now he's living with my ex and visiting here - he had behaviors during what we think was a diet lapse that were really dangerous to Maggie, so we figured this would be best for now. His last semester at school sucked, but now he is finally getting a dedicated aide, so hopefully next year will improve. Maggie is very eagerly looking forward to seeing him.

Re: Epidemiology is a Tricky Business

[joyeuse13.livejournal.com]

Please let me know what I should be looking for as far as family history markers, bc this article scared me silly. The problem is that my father's side is completely unknown--he was adopted. Worse, I know from my grandparents (his adoptive parents) that he was diagnosed as a child with--get this--a mild psychotic personality disorder.

Re: Epidemiology is a Tricky Business

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

There is a good book I can have you read on this. I was just thinking earlier today that I really need to get a new copy of it, because I loaned my old copy to another couple having a baby and then never got to see them again before leaving California. Perhaps I should just have them ship it to you, and then you send it back to me when you're done?

Re: Epidemiology is a Tricky Business

[joyeuse13.livejournal.com]

I'm to scaredy to read the other book you got me! Guess I should read that one first...

Re: Epidemiology is a Tricky Business

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear Maggie gets to see her big bro. again and I hope Brendan can stay on an even keel (for everyone's sake).

One thing: I have a bit of a prejudice against doctors ("med-sammys") and so may seem to be bending over backward to give them the benefit of the doubt. My apologies if this at all rubs you the wrong way (here or in other conversations), it's pretty much unavoidable.

I should also thank you: Since it was largely due to your posting that I made such a thoroughgoing investigation of vaccines and autism/immune disorders. I was able to devise an intelligent risk-aware vaccine protocol thanks to that research. I'm truly grateful.

Re: Epidemiology is a Tricky Business

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

I was able to devise an intelligent risk-aware vaccine protocol thanks to that research.

And you got a doctor to go along with it? Go you! I envy you.

Re: Epidemiology is a Tricky Business

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

Well yes, but thanks to your impetus, I had a nearly 7 months to search 'round, calling pediatricians until I found one willing to be flexible. Most mom's don't have that luxury: They're playing catchup!