SacMomsClub.com

So, I'm sure that a lot of you watched Oprah's Autism Show on Tuesday. I'm certain that every parent with a child on the spectrum got many phone calls from friends/family/co-workers reminding them to watch the show.    :)    I'm just going to brain-dump my thoughts on the show:

First of all: the promo. I really didn't like the fact that the promo was about McCarthy and Peete's "battle to save their sons". And I didn't like the clip of McCarthy saying that she "died inside" when her son was diagnosed. I think these statements are really inflammatory and waaaaaay too negative. Especially considering that I felt the show was actually fairly positive (In particular, when compared to the Oprah show featuring the "Autism Speaks" parents - yikes!). The promo, to me, is why people get so freaked out when they hear the word autism. I know it's done for ratings, but it still irked me.

Jenny McCarthy: I loved her candor. I think she spoke very openly about her son and what has worked for him. I'm all for a hopeful, positive portrayal of a child diagnosed with autism. However, I'm afraid that people who tuned in will now think that the GFCF diet is a cure for autism, or limiting/restricting artificial foods/flavors will bring their child "back". I definitely think that these help, but I don't think there's a magical cure for autism. Nor do I think that most children will "recover" from autism. I think they'll get better, but they won't be cured. I'm not hoping for a cure for Bee, or a magical pill that's going to take the autism away, but I hope that he will reach his full potential - as I wish for Lee - whatever that may be.

Holly Robinson Peete: She was great. I wish she had more than 15 minutes at the end of the show. She was sympathetic, rational, and the kind of parent mentor I wish I had when I was first beginning the journey. I hope that I am as good a mother to Bee as she is to her son.

Vaccinations: I agree with everything that McCarthy said. We need a new immunization schedule. We need an official study to officially determine whether or not there is a link between autism and immunizations. Period. Bee was fully immunized, and while he didn't regress at any point, he stopped/slowed his progression at about 18 months. Lee was immunized until he was 6 months old - he developed excema after his 1st shots (at 2 months old). We stopped immunizing him at 6 months, and within 2 months, the excema was completely gone. I will not immunize him again anytime soon.

I really wouldn't want Bee to "recover". I wish he wouldn't scream at the top of his lungs at times, or obsessively flush toilets. And I wish he could talk more, only to know what he was thinking (that brain is going a mile a minute!). But to take his "quirks" away would change the child I love. I don't think he's trapped in his body - he's right there. I can see him. To take the autism away would take away the kid who knew the alphabet before the age of 2 and could count to 100 before he was 3. It would take away the fearless child who wants to jump from the railing on to his trampoline. It would take away the kid who asked for tickles over and over until my fingers cramped up. Those aren't traits of autism, those are what make Bee, Bee. That's the Bee I know and love. And I honestly wouldn't change that. Ever.