I know no one asked me but...

This week has been wild, unsettling, full of hope and then smashing disappointment.

Our President and RFK went live to address all things autism and their perceived cause. I have let it marinate before offering my two cents that no one asked for, but that does definitely apply.

1. I love that they said as a nation we need to stop gaslighting mothers. For eons they have talked about a mother's intuition. We innately KNOW when something is going on with our babies. I have known that something was "off" with Ezra for a long time before his diagnosis; same with Eleanor. I have been gaslit as a mother on so many different topics that I can't even go into on this blog, but when you know, you know. Trust mothers. We aren't "crazy" we are fighting for our children's lives.

2. I do believe in the over medication of this nation. When herbal medicine is seen as "snake oil hippie shit" and natural remedies are seen as bullshit, we have an issue. As a nation we need to get back to simplicity and back to the earth, back to nature and how it can heal and restore (emotional, physical and spiritual). I do not believe that Tylenol is the CAUSE of autism, but I do believe that the overuse does more harm than good to the human body. I am thankful that they are studying over the counter medications in pregnancy as there is a vast overuse and after five live pregnancies, it has always felt alarming.

3. Vaccines are not one size fits all. Vaccine adjuvants are not necessary and do cause harm; especially with specific genetic mutations and with different biological make ups. I fully agree that vaccines should be minimized and spaced out. Our children as a whole are not healthier, they are some of the sickest and most obese generation (many factors, I know). For my family, we have the MTHFR mutations. 60% of the population does. Vaccines can and do harm my children. The girl's dad is force vaccinating them with a court order and so I have pleaded that we do 1 vaccine every 6 weeks, but at the last appointment they did do the MMRV (which Trump and RFK said isn't used anymore). I do think that vaccines play a role in the escalation of autism symptoms, but I cannot definitively say that they are the absolute cause. Our vaccination schedule needs a SERIOUS overhaul and I have felt that way for the last 20 years.

4. Folate. This is where my heart lies. 60% or more of the population has one or both variants of the MTHFR mutation (google it, chat GPT it, educate yourself). With this genetic variant, the body cannot process b-vitamins (research them!), cannot detox effectively (environmental, food, vaccine toxins), and are way more susceptible to various nervous system deficiencies (please, research it). I have been called "crazy" since my divorce, despite this being a tangible, well read and medically proven (via blood test) genetic mutation. It is easy to get a simple blood panel to see if this is an issue for your family. If one parent has it, the child has it, it is actually as simple as that.

5. Genetics. I simply don't know. I do think that it seems to run in families. In families where we see a lot of neurodivergence, it seems that there is a higher prevalence. I have not been evaluated, but it would make sense. My children's fathers have not been evaluated, but it makes sense. At this point I see autism almost everywhere and I don't think that it can be completely overlooked, but I would love for there to be an "autism gene" or some sort of tangible evidence other than a two hour assessment and a "yep! You got the tism!".

6. Other issues I think need explored: radiation, the increase in noise, the decrease in time outside, vitamin D deficiencies, MTHFR, 5G(?), things that set our nervous systems into overdrive.

7. "Autism doesn't need to be cured". While I fully believe that people with autism are remarkably more sensitive and brilliantly unique with sets of gifts that most neurotypical people don't necessarily posses - if I could help my son more, if I could fix this world for him, I absolutely would. If I could stop the noise, if I could help him breathe and rest and let his little nervous system calm; I would. If I could help my daughter transition easier, I absolutely would. If I could stop the chaos, I 100% would. This autism life is not glamorous, there are very high highs, absolutely. But the lows are catastrophic. The regressions, sleepless night and amounts of tears shed are devastating. In the words of Emily Dickinson "If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain". I just want to know the why. And maybe with answering the why we can answer the "how can we help?"

I love my children, I love the progress we've made and the lessons we have learned, and if I could help them more, I absolutely would.

Having noted all of these things, I can definitively say that Tylenol consumption and vaccines are not the cause of my children's autism diagnoses at the very least. I don't take Tylenol, or aspirin, or ibuprofen. I didn't vaccinate my children in early infancy, in fact it wasn't until four years ago that it was started for any of them and it is against our previous doctors (3 pediatricians) recommendations for OUR family.

I am happy that this is being looked into.

I am happy that someone is trying to find answers.

I am happy that they are talking about removing adjuvants, heavy metals and other toxins from our vaccines!!!!!

I am happy that our food supply is being looked into.

As always, it will never be a one size fits all - it NEVER is.

Being angry that you don't agree with what they are finding, isn't going to help. Shaming the administration for doing research and reporting their findings, isn't going to help. I don't feel like they are quite there, but I am thankful that someone is dedicating their time to help our children and future generations.

Sincerely, a mother with hope for her children's and grandchildren's and great grandchildren's future.