Jenny McCarthy and Holly Robinson Peete discuss their battles with autism on Oprah
Actresses Jenny McCarthy, 34, and Holly Robinson Peete, 43, appeared on Oprah earlier today to discuss their sons -- Evan Joseph, 5, and Rodney, Jr., who will be 10 next month -- autism diagnoses. Holly previously discussed her family's experience in People in May, while Jenny confirmed rumors on The View the same month.
Click below to read Jenny and Holly's experiences with autism, as told to Oprah. If anyone knows where we can find video of the show for those that missed it, please leave a comment or send an email.
Jenny's Story:
As an
infant, Evan was full of life, making eye contact and smiling, but soon
things started to change.
It started with hand flapping. You only look for the good signs. God was giving me many hints about my son,
and I didn't quite see them. So I know that he had to wake
me up with two really big ones.
Jenny says the first of those "big hints" came on a typical morning
when Evan was 2 1/2 years old. When Evan, who usually got up at 7 am,
wasn't stirring by 7:45 am, Jenny knew something was wrong. She ran to
the nursery.
I open the door and run to his crib and I find him in his
crib, convulsing, struggling to breathe, his eyeballs rolled to the
back of his head. I picked him up and I started screaming
at the top of my lungs...the paramedics came, and it took about 20
minutes for the seizure to stop.
When they arrived at the hospital, Jenny says doctors told her that her
son had a febrile seizure, caused by a fever.
I said to the doctor,
'Well, you know, he doesn't really have a fever, so how does that play
in this scenario?' [The doctor said], 'Well, he could
have been getting one.' That was the response I got...I went home with
my baby going, 'You know what? Something's wrong and I don't know what
it is, but I feel it.'
About three weeks after the initial seizure, Evan had a second episode.
Jenny says she had driven him three hours to see his grandparents when
she noticed a "kind of stoned look on his face" as she handed him to
his grandmother.
I walk into the bedroom to give Evan his bottle, and
he's lying flat on the bed with his eyes rolled in the back of his
head. I called 911 because I knew it was happening again.
Her instinct was to put cold rags on him -- a common treatment for febrile
seizures. But Jenny says this one was different.
He wasn't convulsing,
nor was he trying to get any breath -- [there was] just foam coming out of
his mouth. I put my hand on him, and I kept saying, 'Just
stay with me,' because I felt like he was going. And after a few
moments, I felt his heart stop.'
When paramedics arrived they began CPR on Evan.
At that very moment
that I watched my baby trying to get his heart started, I remember
thinking, 'Why?' And then I heard this voice [inside me]
that said, 'Everything is going to be okay.' I don't know how in the
midst of hell that I was in that this voice [said], 'Everything's going
to be okay,' and it's like...peace came over my body.
The paramedics revived Evan, but with no available helicopter, he had
to be driven three hours back to Los Angeles for treatment.
In that
time, he had another seizure. By the time we got to the Los Angeles
hospital, he had seven more seizures within a seven-hour period.
Two days later, a doctor diagnosed Evan with epilepsy.
[The
doctor said], 'There's got to be someone with seizures on your side of
the family.' I said, 'No, actually I know every branch. I know what's
going on. There's nothing. No one [with] epilepsy.' And they
discharged us.
Jenny says every instinct she had was telling her that her son was not epileptic -- so she went for a second opinion. After spending 20 minutes with Evan, a neurologist gave Jenny what she
describes as a devastating diagnosis -- Evan had autism.
And boy, my
mommy instinct said, 'This man is right.'
Jenny says hearing the words made her feel "like death."
[The doctor]
said, 'Hey, don't forget. This is the same little boy you came in this
room with. He's not any different. He's the same boy. And,
true, he was correct. He was the same boy. But I did happen to say,
'Well, I believe my son is trapped inside. I'm not settling for this.'
In hindsight, Jenny realizes she missed signs of Evan's autism -- such as
his obsession with moving objects. Others had noticed something
different about Evan, too.
My mother-in-law said, 'He doesn't really
show affection,' and I threw her out of the house. I went
to a play gym, and the woman [there] said, 'Does your son have a brain
problem?' … [I said], 'How dare you say something about my child? I
love him. He's perfect. You can't say that about a child.' I just had no idea.
As with most autistic children, Jenny says she noticed that Evan's
personality seemed to be locked inside him -- and she was determined to
get him out. She began scouring the Internet, where she read recovery
stories and discovered treatment options.
One treatment Jenny
decided to try was a change in eating habits. She immediately started
eliminating gluten and casein, found in wheat and dairy products, from
Evan's diet.
In two weeks to three weeks -- and this isn't for everyone,
to get a reaction like this -- Evan doubled his language. [There was] eye contact, smiling, more affection.
To help Evan learn to play with toys as other children do, Jenny tried
another approach -- video modeling and play therapy. Because Evan didn't
know how to play catch, Jenny showed him a video of her catching a
ball. From that day on, Jenny says he was into the game. She used play
therapy to help him learn in other ways.
A lot of kids on the [autism]
spectrum, including Evan, would take [a toy] car and just line them up
or turn them upside down and just [spin the wheels]. So
play therapy literally is teaching him that the car can go on an
adventure.
With the help of these treatments, Jenny says Evan, now 5, is making
great strides.
I consider him in recovery. There's still things we
need to work on -- seizures, stuff with abstract understanding, but for
the most part he's a typical child in normal school.
While
these therapies worked for Evan, Jenny emphasizes that it might not
work for every child with autism.
I'm just a mom telling a story of
other moms. We want to share it and say our kids do get better. [It's like] chemotherapy. It doesn't work for every cancer
victim, but you know what? You're going to give it a try.
In recent years, the number of children diagnosed with autism has risen
from 1 in every 500 children to 1 in 150 -- and science has not discovered
a reason why. Jenny says she believes that childhood vaccinations may
play a part.
What number will it take for people just to start
listening to what the mothers of children who have seen autism have
been saying for years, which is, 'We vaccinated our baby and something happened.'
Jenny says even before Evan received his vaccines, she tried to talk to
her pediatrician about it.
Right before his MMR shot, I said to the
doctor, 'I have a very bad feeling about this shot. This is the autism
shot, isn't it?' And he said, 'No, that is ridiculous. It is a mother's
desperate attempt to blame something,' and he swore at me, and then the
nurse gave [Evan] the shot. And I remember going, 'Oh, God,
I hope he's right.' And soon thereafter -- boom -- the soul's gone from his
eyes.
Despite her belief, Jenny says she is not against vaccines.
I am all
for them, but there needs to be a safer vaccine schedule. There needs
to be something done. The fact that the [Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention] acts as if these vaccines are one size fits all is just
crazy to me. People need to start listening to what the
moms have been saying.
Soon after Evan's diagnosis, Jenny says the stress of raising a child
with autism began to take a toll on her marriage. An autism advocacy
organization reports that the divorce rate within the autism community
is staggering. According to its research, 80% of all marriages
end.
I believe it, because I lived it. I felt very alone in my marriage.
Jenny says her husband, John Asher, dealt with his pain by staying away, even when
Evan was in the hospital.
He never sat down and said, 'What did you
find out on Google?' There was never that connection of
wanting to know and being there.
When Jenny's marriage ended, she says she felt sad -- and scared.
After
the divorce, even though it felt good and the right thing to do, I
felt, as I'm sure many mothers with children who have autism feel, 'Who
in the heck is going to love me with my child who has autism?' I don't care how big your boobs are or blonde your hair
is -- you're going to feel that way.
Jenny says she began to pray every day that she'd find a man with a big enough heart to love her and
Evan.
We come as a pair. I kept that hope, that vision of
a man coming into my life that would love us both equally.
In the midst of the seizures, doctor visits and divorce, Jenny met the man she was looking for, actor Jim Carrey.
The pair hit it off right away, but Jenny says she waited a few months
to tell him about Evan's diagnosis.
I did not tell him initially, you
know, 'Hi, how are you? I have a child with autism. Do you want to date
me?' It's something you're personally kind of afraid to
share.
In the beginning, Jenny says she was just looking for someone to hold
her and notice her pretty new blouse. "I just needed that so badly,"
she says.
At one point in their relationship, Jenny says she had to say goodbye
to Jim because Evan's condition was getting worse. Suddenly, she says
her priorities went from kissing Jim on the sofa to focusing solely on
her child's health.
When Evan began to recover, Jenny's "girl instincts" took over. She
says she sent Jim a text message that said, "Is there still room on
your sofa or has the seat been filled?" Jim replied, "Your seat will
always be here." From that day on, Jenny says Jim has been a big part of her and Evan's
life.
He has been so wonderful in Evan's life. Let me tell
you, ladies, Jim Carrey knows a lot about autism. He has been through
it all with me...He did fall in love with Evan, and he's so good with
him. [He's] opened his heart and the relationship is great.
Jenny calls fellow actress Holly Robinson Peete her "angel." In their first phone
conversation, Holly says they talked for about nine hours. "[Holly]
gave me that hope that no doctor did," Jenny says.
Holly's Story:
Holly and her husband, retired NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, received
their son R.J.'s diagnosis in 1999 but waited until the summer of 2007
to go public with their experiences. Holly says they waited to talk
about autism until they felt more informed.
I didn't feel like I knew
enough about the disorder at that point.
Back in 1999, Holly says there were very few resources for parents of
autistic children. Even doctors were less informed than they are today.
I had a developmental pediatrician tell me, 'Your son will never do
this, he will never say he loves you, he will never do that. It was a very interesting ride.
Previously, 1 in 500 children was diagnosed with this neurological
disorder. Today, Holly says 1 in every 94 boys is affected. For unknown
reasons, autism disproportionately affects boys.
Over the years, Holly says she's realized autism is like a wall around
your child.
You have to be like a superhero...and kick
that wall down and make cracks in that wall to bring your child
through. You have a very short window of time, and you have
to get busy -- the more cracks you make, the more you have an
opportunity to bring them into our world.
Like Jenny, Holly
has tried to reverse the effects of her son's autism with dietary
programs and behavior therapies. When Holly got R.J. tested and found
out he was allergic to gluten, she put him on a wheat-free diet.
[Gluten] makes him crazy. And he can't focus. So we took
the wheat out, and that made a huge difference.
Holly says she and Rodney have also tried every type of therapy -- from
speech therapy to floor time to applied behavioral analysis.
He's
responded to some things well and others not so well. We've
tried to focus [on the most successful] and pick and choose.
They have also tried to focus on maintaining a healthy, happy
relationship. Holly says autism impacted her marriage, but she and
Rodney learned to rely on each other when times were tough.
I just am
so lucky to have him. I know how hard it is for the men and their
boys. We women, you know, we fight and we do what we have
to do. I'm just glad he stuck around to be my partner in this thing,
because I couldn't have done it without him.
R.J., who turns 10 years old in October, has made a lot of
progress over the years thanks to Holly and Rodney's persistence and
patience. He has even learned to play the piano.
He has perfect
pitch.
Although some family members were critical of Holly and Rodney's
decision to go public with their son's disorder, Holly is happy with
the outcome.
My son is amazing. He's come a long way, and he is very
conscious of the fact that he's helping other people by the family
sharing his story.
By talking openly about autism, Holly hopes people will begin to change
their perception of the children who live with it every day.
We need
to value these children that are here. We need to stop thinking about
them as children who are retarded. We need to stop thinking
about them as children who don't have the capacity to learn.
Holly says R.J. was kicked out of one school because the educators
deemed him "unteachable." Now, he's working with a partner in a new
school and making strides.
We have to figure out how their brains
work. There are a lot of people who are on the spectrum
who are brilliant.
Many parents of children with autism may not have the same success as
Jenny and Holly, but these Hollywood moms want them to come away with
one thing -- hope.
I want to say [to parents], you're not alone. There's
a lot of hope. It's a new day in the world of autism, and
we're fighting.
Holly says the CDC's statement about
vaccinations has given her hope that parents and medical professionals
can lay down their arms and open the lines of communication.
I would
just say to the pediatricians, listen to [mothers] sometimes and give
us a little bit more respect. Our gut is really dead on.
Jenny urges moms in her situation not to feel guilty about their child's diagnosis and to trust their instincts.
You can also watch a video of Rodney Peete talking about his son here.
Article/photo/video source: Oprah
Jenny's new book, Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism is available now.
i really enjoyed watching these two women on oprah. They really have a passion for educating people about autism and letting other mothers of children with autism know they are not alone. I love that!
I must say that being 27 I grew up watching Jenny on Singled Out on MTV. I always thought she was just some goofy blond because that's all I ever saw of her. (have you seen Dirty Love?) LOL
Watching this interview made me RESPECT her soo much. She is a smart and dedicated woman and she is sooo intelligent. She is an awesome crusader and I wish her all the best in her fight to save her son.
BTW i love Holly and her family-Rodney is an awesome model for what a man should be for his family!
When I read both Holly's and Jenny's stories it really touched me because they have such hectic lives which involves Hollywood but theu are both really involved mothers who obviously love their children through and through. I am a mother of an almost 4-year-old daughter and I couldn't imagine her being any different than how she is. During her first year Allana was sick a lot with ear infections and pneumonia which was difficult in and of itself because I had her up at the emergency room so often. Its very scary when your child, your world is rocked by sickness. Its very scary and I appreciate the fact that Jenny and Holly shared their personal stories with everyone.
Cheyane
Reading the article I am crying. These women, and not just them but other mothers who have children with autisim are strong. and they have to be in order to stand up and fight for what is right for their children.
Jenny is right when it comes to meds one size does NOT fit all and shots should be given to a child based on weight hight and developmental milestones. But the insurance companies and doctors are worried that parnets wont come back for the shot or extra apointments. for one, it costs the insurance company extra money to come back in and in some instances it costs the parent money. I am in no way saying that the shot causes or does not cause autisim. Just that one size does not fit all. and that it is worth looking into.I wish them the best of luck.
I'm watching this Oprah right now on DVR... very touching!
As the mother of a 27-year-old son with autism, I can certainly relate to the stories of Jenny & Holly. If I had one message for them and other mothers of children with autism, it would be, "Don't give up hope! Everything you do for your child will have an impact later in their lives." When my son was diagnosed almost 25 years ago, the ratio was 1 in 2500 births! Autism awareness has certainly come a long way - not always for the right reasons. I am proud to say that my son lives independently, has had the same job for five years, has a girlfriend, and a very busy social life! We should all be so luck to lead the charmed life he leads! Keep the faith!
I gotta admit, i'm crying as well after reading that story of both women & their children. They're both very strong women, hell any women who has an autistic child is a strong woman in my book. Not to get sidetracked, but Hats off to Jim Carrey what a great man to open himself to Jenny and Evan. Best wishes to them all.
This isn't an attack on Jenny or her beliefs, but I believe this needs to be said. About her comment that childhood vaccinations may have played a part -- thimerosal, the mercury-based preservative that is the supposed "culprit" for autism -- was removed from all childhood vaccines (except influenza) in 1999. Those vaccines didn't expire until 2002, so it's possible -- though quite unlikely -- that some of his vaccines contained thimerosal. Still, if he was breasted, he probably ingested far more mercury from her breastmilk, even if she didn't eat many "high-risk" fish. Even if he somehow ended up with all his vaccines at the tail end of their expiration -- even if they all contained thimerosal -- the vaccine-autism link has been disproved in dozens of studies.
The "higher" rates of autism is more likely to do higher rates of diagnosis; that is to say, there aren't actually more kids developing autism, but an increased awareness of the disease has resulted in more kids and parents getting the proper diagnosis, and kids closer to the "normal" end of the spectrum -- kids that wouldn't have been diagnosed ten years ago -- being diagnosed with form like Asperberger's.
I loved the Oprah episode so much I ran out an bought Jenny's book last night. As the mother of one child with autism and another with "autistic tendencies", I was THRILLED to finally be able to read about this incredibly hard journey from a MOTHER'S perspective. I actually sat and read the entire 200 pg book before heading to bed. It was an easy, quick read and so enlightening. If you have or know a child with autism, this book will certainly help to understand what too many families are being forced to endure.
I am so happy they both are open to talking about their experiences. We definitely need more role models for parent with children with Autism. Being a parent myself with a child who has Autism it's the hardest, most intense, draining, experience of my life. But also the most rewarding and fulfilling. Each day is a wonder to behold. Each accomplished is magnified a 100 times over. So many times I just want to crawl in a ball and put the covers over your head because it's soooo hard but I look into my son's brown eyes and thank God for him everyday. Being his mother and his advocate is an immense pleasure and one I cherish deeply.
These two devoted mothers ought to be the patron saints for families with children with autism. I know 5 boys with autism, and was a nanny for one of them. The impact on the families is huge. I began to genuinely love Jennie and Holly as I watched them, so articularly advocating for all children with autism. Thank you, Jennie, Holly, and of course, OPRAH...if she gets behind the research and support for families who live wiith autism, there will be progress in finding treatment and cause.
Women are steel magnolias. I saw the program yesterday and I encourage everyone to find a way to watch it. I believe it is that important. If Jenny and Holly could only know how many people were filled w/ hope....
I am so sorry i missed the show. I love how they are both so open about it and don't hide them away like some people do. I forgot Jenny's book came out yesterday i will have to pick that up. I love her books they are alway so so open and honest and funny and i'm sure this one will be the same even though it is about something serious.
Does anyone know of any place online to watch the interview??
As the mother of a 4-year-old girl with autism, I was really glad to see Jenny & Holly on Oprah, raising awareness and sharing hope about autism. I am surprised that they did not mention the research that points to genetics being a factor in autism, though. But there was only so much time, eh?
I really don't see why anyone would want to treat a child with autism any differently than any other child. I understand that it can be a VERY scary and trying situation to live with, but at the end of the day they are just children that need love, even if they can't express it back.
I remember watching Holly become engaged on "Hanging with Mr. Cooper" and also grew up with Jenny on "Singled Out", so these women are a very big part of my childhood! It's amazing that they are moms now, and it's even MORE amazing that they are moms who have a message to share.
The only thing that worried me about this article is the talk about the vaccine... I don't have any children of my own just yet, but I fear that when I do have them I'm not going to know what to do about the vaccine! Do parents actually have an opinion in the matter or is this one of those mandatory shots?
I didn't get to watch Oprah (sadly) so I'm not sure if there was more information on that part...
Any advice?
Well I don't have any children yet but after doing some research I have decided not to vaccinate. Why take a chance.
I think Jenny and Holly are doing a great disservice to parents of autistic children. MOST autistic children improve but do not RECOVER!
Those that do "recover" are those autistics that are very very mild, if autistic at all!
Although their advice is good, their results are not atypical and give false hope to already harried people.
MY OPINION ONLY!
pressi, with all due respect... please reread the selected sections above or BETTER YET please find a way to see the interview in its entirety. She was very cautious to say that what worked for Evan, is like choosing chemo, it clearly does not work for all. Jenny said SPECIFICALLY that this was HER journey w/ Evan's special needs. Holly and Jenny both said some things worked, some didn't.
Also, I think it was very important what Holly said about that narrow window of opportunity. But certainly you are right, so MANY dear children can't find their way "out". But if this just helps one....
Please do vaccinate! The diseases, if contracted, can be deadly for young children. There are healthy schedules that are available that give vaccines in parts (only measles on one visit, etc.), though it means you will be taking your child in for shots way more often. Another option is testing for titres, which is a blood screen to see if immunity is reached after one shot in the series. Then you may immunize against what your child is not immune to.
As an educator of children with Autism I had concerns with shots, so with my own children we decided to wait until after their third birthday with the suspect vaccinations, when the risk of Autism is significantly less. We do not use daycare though, so our doctor was satisfied with the postponement. And don't be pressured by your doctor! You have the final choice, and may need to find another doctor if he or she is not making you comfortable.
On another subject, I am proud of Jenny and Holly for making known the real life situations parents face and the stresses it brings to the family. They also brought up the many therapies available, whether nutritional, behavioral or physical. Hopefully their dedication will continue to bring positives to their family and others. My prayers are with them and those touched by Aspergers/Autism/PDDNOS!
I just wanted to add in regards to vaccination - it's so important. I think society has forgotten the impact that diseases like measles can have - fortunately it's not part of our generation anymore as it has been in the past. I know and I became personally aware when my sister who wasn't able to have her shot because she had an illness at the time contracted measles. It was a severe bout which weakened her heart muscles and she died. I wouldn't won't anyone to endure as a family what we had to.
Anna said:
"This isn't an attack on Jenny or her beliefs, but I believe this needs to be said. About her comment that childhood vaccinations may have played a part -- thimerosal, the mercury-based preservative that is the supposed "culprit" for autism -- was removed from all childhood vaccines (except influenza) in 1999."
It may not be the thimerosol AT ALL!
If what people have been talking about is that Autism is caused as an immune response of some sort, is true, then it is not the thimerosol but the overload on the immune system by the bundled MMR vaccine (which all three USED to be given as individual vaccines)
In the past it was never about the thimerosol but about the sudden bundling "all in one" of 3 vaccines that I believe was the real culprit...
And Campbell I did watch the entire episode of Oprah yesterday. The only time Jenny ever mentioned the "One Size Fits All" thing is in talking about the Vaccines. Unless I missed a part when I was getting a snack, I never heard one time where she stated that HER results were not typical at all. in fact at one time in the interview she kind of made it seem as if some kids dont overcome autism cause their parents cant accept the diagnosis and are too tired ...
Sarah's note: When she was talking about Evan's diet, she was very clear that it was just what worked for them. Not sure about the vaccine stuff.
Don't you need vaccinations to start school? Or is that something that's state by state?
Kris,
My mother chose to never vaccinate me or any of my four siblings, who are all healthy and have never had any health complications. When it came to the school, my mother would just write a note saying that she did not vaccinate her children because of personal beliefs. The schools never argued and it was never an issue.
There are ways to get out of the vaccine requirements for school.
I thought the interview was wonderful! Both women were very honest and open about their situations.
Vaccination to me is one of those parenting choices that each family needs to make for themselves. I only hope that before making the choice to vaccinate or not, the family takes the time to educate themselves.
Check out this site, written by parents of autistic kids to see what they are saying:
www.rescuepost.com
Atlanta, We Have a Problem (and her name is Jenny McCarthy)
By J.B. Handley
Help Wanted: Director of Media Relations for the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control. Must be able to spin cow pies into gold and make pigs fly. Need you today!
In the always hot autism-vaccine debate, the CDC has taken their share of hits in recent years: David Kirby’s release of Evidence of Harm, Dan Olmsted’s consistently logical reporting for UPI (and now the Rescue Post), screaming parents in front of CDC headquarters, and a full page ad we ran in USA Today in 2006 blaming the CDC for causing the autism epidemic.
But, CDC has never met the category 5 shit-storm that blew into town yesterday after two angry moms, Jenny McCarthy and Holly Robinson Peete, appeared on Oprah (the last truly national TV show in our new media world, with an estimated 10 million daily viewers).
The fun is just beginning. According to TACA's website, where Ms. McCarthy now serves as national spokesperson, she is scheduled to appear in the next 10 days on Larry King Live, 20/20, Good Morning America, and The View. Kim Stagliano has listed Jenny's media schedule in a post earlier this week, scroll down to see it.
To add insult to injury, Ms. McCarthy’s book, Louder Than Words, is climbing the charts. At Amazon.com, she’s up to #8, and over at Barnes & Noble, she’s already #2! If you liked the Oprah interview, you’ll love the book, because Ms. McCarthy leaves nothing unsaid.
What’s extraordinary about Ms. McCarthy’s media blitz isn’t just that she’s a celebrity talking about autism on our terms, it’s that she’s talking about biomedical recovery for her son. While Don and Deirdre Imus did us all a huge favor with their advocacy, they never addressed our community’s true trump card: recovered children.
Not only is Jenny doing that, she’s doing that while being a former Playmate of the Year, a popular comedic actress, dating Jim Carrey, and presiding over a collection of national bestsellers about being a Mom.
If you missed it, here’s a little excerpt from Oprah’s show that they put up on Oprah.com last night:
In recent years, the number of children diagnosed with autism has risen from 1 in every 500 children to 1 in 150—and science has not discovered a reason why. Jenny says she believes that childhood vaccinations may play a part. "What number will it take for people just to start listening to what the mothers of children who have seen autism have been saying for years, which is, 'We vaccinated our baby and something happened."
Jenny says even before Evan received his vaccines, she tried to talk to her pediatrician about it. "Right before his MMR shot, I said to the doctor, 'I have a very bad feeling about this shot. This is the autism shot, isn't it?' And he said, 'No, that is ridiculous. It is a mother's desperate attempt to blame something,' and he swore at me, and then the nurse gave [Evan] the shot," she says. "And I remember going, 'Oh, God, I hope he's right.' And soon thereafter—boom—the soul's gone from his eyes."
Despite her belief, Jenny says she is not against vaccines. "I am all for them, but there needs to be a safer vaccine schedule. There needs to be something done. The fact that the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] acts as if these vaccines are one size fits all is just crazy to me," she says. "People need to start listening to what the moms have been saying."
Oprah actually read a statement from the CDC. It was painful to listen to, and I’m sure the nation’s bullshit meter went on high alert given how qualified it was. Interestingly, the statement focused exclusively on Thimerosal in vaccines, even though Ms. McCarthy blamed the MMR for her son’s regression, a Thimerosal-free vaccine.
This is the only play left in the CDC’s playbook, as I mentioned in a post back in August, The Thimerosal Shield, where I noted, “they [CDC] know that Thimerosal is only one of the possible ways that the vaccine schedule could be the primary trigger behind the autism epidemic, but the spin seems to be, ‘It’s not Thimerosal so we should no longer consider vaccines’ despite the fact that neither point is true.”
I’m popping the popcorn, snuggling the chair up to the TV, and looking forward to the next few weeks. The Category 5 shit-storm is just getting started, and we’re all going to enjoy watching Ms. McCarthy yell “Louder Than Words.”
J.B.Handley is co-founder of Generation Rescue.
I thought Jenny McCarthy believed her son's autism was actually some kind of special spiritual thing...or is that someone else? I want to say it was something like a "blue moon child", but I know that's wrong. Something having to do with new age beliefs, though. Does she not believe that anymore?
Sarah's note: Not sure. She has since taken down the site she was previously promoting. Sounds like she found other things that work for Evan, although she may still believe the crystal child stuff.
wow, this was a really touching story. I was always intrigued by these stories of kids with autism as they prove to have amazing strengths as well. I remember seeing a video of one of the most biggest math geniuses who happened to be autistic as well. I'm glad to hear how much of a good mommy Jenny and Holly are. Great read!
Jenny McCarthy thought Evan was an Indigo Child, or all Autistics were Indigo Children or something like that.
And again, its not the Thimerosol its the fact that they bundle three vaccines into one. They used to give them separately but not anymore.
What would it hurt to unbundle them and try em separately again?
The vast majority of focus on the vaccine-autism link has been on thimerosal. Concerns about MMR are incredibly new -- only since thimerosal was taken out of the vaccines -- and there has been absolutely no proof that there could be any kind of a link. As I said, the majority of public health officials and epidemiologists believe that the rise in autism is more likely due to a rise in diagnosis than an increase in the prevalence of the disease itself.
Vaccinations are incredibly important; population-wide vaccination programs are probably the single greatest public health advance in the last century. It may seem like your children's chances of getting measles or diptheria are small, but the disease spreads exponentially with each parent who chooses not to vaccinate their child. And it's not just your child -- no vaccine provides a 100 percent guard against the disease, so when you choose not to vaccinate, you're putting everyone else's children at risk too.
Jenny's right that vaccines are hugely important. At the moment though, there can't be a "safer" vaccine since vaccines have continually been proven to be very safe, and the risks are outweighed a hundred fold by the cost of not vaccinating. Maybe science is missing something, but until there is a large, well managed study that finds vaccines unsafe, they aren't going to change.
Anna- Jenny did not breastfeed Evan (she said this in Belly Laughs or was it Baby Laughts). Why do you think that breastfed children ingest a lot of mercury, I am curious? Also, the thimersol in vaccinations was much more potent b/c it is injected directly into a child's bloodstream- and is too much for a small child's body weight to handle.
Even so, the fact that thimersol has been eliminated is only one part of the puzzle. Vaccinations are still not safe for many children- their bodies cannot fight off so many diseases at a time and the combination of vaccines in a child can lead to harmful results. Please educate yourself before you make such sweeping generalizations.
It is your right as a parent to research vaccinations and to refuse those that make you uncomfortable. All 50 states offer exemptions for public schools. Know your rights! I'm so glad Jenny and Holly did this show!
I thought both halle and jenny were great yesterday.
Anna? no its only been in regards to the ONE vaccine, the MMR vaccine cause its typically given at 18 months. Thats usually when most mothers of autistics notice the change.
The Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccines were separate vaccines when I was a child, then they BUNDLED them into one shot for CONVENIENCE! And then the problems began. If it was the thimerosol, then they wouldnt be concerned ONLY with the MMR vaccine but all vaccines.
As a side note, some of the Drs Ive spoken to are now asking about SCHIZOPHRENIA in the family history...Ive been thinking that for awhile because the same drugs that they use for Schizophrenics work for Autistics (Risperdal, Seroquel and Abilify) and I cant tell you how many mothers I have talked to whose "former" husbands had major markers for schizophrenia and/or major anger issues.
I am the mother of a 4yr old boy with autism and I felt that these 2 moms gave us the voice we desperately needed.
It was the best Oprah show I've seen (for me) and I was totally satisfied with what they said.
My child's autism is NOT a result of vaccines, rather a birth injury. I totally respect the parents who believe their children were affected by vaccines.
That said, I have vax'd my other 2 children with no issues.
My son was dx'd at 2y6m of age and at that point we started the gluten/casein free diet along with supplements (Jenny could have been speaking for me regarding googling, the internet etc...)
Within 2 weeks of being on the diet - he said "Mommy" for the first time.
He is now nearly 5 and mainstreamed into kindergarten. He's doing tremendously well - but like Jenny's son still has issues (language, sensory, fine motor)
I love that she said he wasn't recovered, but he is recovering.
I just hope that people/professionals will take parents more seriously and not think that we are "grasping at straws" as far as diet and whatnot.
Great interview. I do not vaccinate my kids, never have. Don't forget that there are many other questionable ingredients in vaccines such as aluminum and formaldehyde. School exemptions are very easy to get.
I personally strongly believe in vaccinations, but I can understand peoples concerns. My fiance is a physician, and his step sister (who was vaccinated) decided not to vaccinate her children. She called us one day recently in a panic because one of her friends had exposed her children to the measles, and previously they had been exposed to pertussis. Both of which are covered in vaccinations.
I just hope people are weighing both sides of the issue, I don't believe autism is caused by vaccines themselves, but even if you do, think of how many lives they have saved since their creation.
I have to add something:
I REALLY applaud Jenny for the things she DID get right...
The vaccine thing
Telling people to offer to babysit
To trust your instincts as Mothers...
Urgh. I shouldn't comment - too mad - but the insensitivity of the medical community - as highlighted by many on here who are 'experts' on all vaccines "do" - just astounds me. You know what? I'd happily take whooping cough over never being able to hear my son's thoughts or him ever being able to adequately express them. Reminds me of the lovely pediatrician we had for our daughter. When my husband pushed to have her vaccines broken up, he was made to feel like he was risking our daughter's health, safety, blah blah blah as he assured us there was of course, no link whatsoever. Mind you, this pediatrician's actual knowledge of autism was laughable.... Anyway, in the end, my husband said: why take that chance when if YOU'RE wrong, we can't get our daughter back? We've already 'lost' our son, we're not risking her too until more is known.
We got a new pediatrician.:) At least the new one respects the parents.
But isn't it curious how we all have to sign waivers now before vaccines are administered - just to make sure 'just in case' it is the vaccines?
Hypocrisy can be astounding.
P.S. Been through the casein/gluten free diet. Didn't work for us. My son dropped from 38 pounds to 29 within 6 week's time - refusing to eat any of the choices that diet left him with.
Oh, and by the way, while he's presently, essentially, non verbal - we can't help but remember the little boy who used to answer all of Dora's questions in full sentences just weeks before his 18 Month MMR shot. He's never said a single sentence since. Or been able to do another leg lift in imitation of Steve from Blue's Clue's.
But gosh darn, at least he doesn't have Measles.
To those curious - google the symptoms of mercury poisoning and then google the symptoms of autism. Let me know if you notice any difference.
Texas and Indiana have the highest autism rates in the U.S. Texas and Indiana also have the highest mercury emissions from their plants.
But yeah, chalk it up to better diagnosis and genetics.
Sleep well.
Autism is a genetic disorder!! Please stop blaming vaccines, everybody gets vaccinated, so how come most people do not have autism?
Read about fragile X syndrom, the most common cause of autism, in most cases, the mother affects her sons!
Hey Hanna, are all kids allergic to peanuts?
Seriously, how long you got to explain the mercury link?
You won't find it in typical medical textbooks. Nothing in it for the pharmaceutical companies.
And I should hope you realize that not all people with Fragile X have autism, nor do all people with Autism have Fragile X.
Hanna- ITA! I have an Autism spectrum disorder myself, and I definently believe that it's a genetic thing. I am not saying that environment has absolutly no influence on it at all, but I believe that, for the most part, it is a genetic disorder.
That said, I also agree with Mom of a 6 year with Autism. Fragile X is definently a different disorder than Autism, and it definently does not cause Autism. Some people may have both, but one does not cause the other.
Wow! This topic is so interesting to me. My son was born with Prune Belly Sydrome, diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma (an extremely rare form of childhood cancer) at 10 months, and then Autism at 18 months. Let me tell you all, I've done my research and have concluded that every disease carries a genetic predispositon but it is the environmental factors that "seal the deal". I'm convinced that vaccinations, chemotherapy, and long term antibiotic use is why my son (www.carepages.com, page name is lukegutierrez) has Autism.
I missed this episode on Oprah, so I was really happy to read it posted here. It's refreshing to read such an important topic being posted on here.
Being the mom of a 2-1/2 year old son with Down Syndrome, I have so much sympathy and understanding for what mom's go through with their autistic children. I have been blessed with a healthy, bright, thriving boy who has avoided many stereoptypical problems associated with Down Syndrome, and by all means don't have the challenges many parents face with their children who are autistic. However I now understand things on a much different level.
I would hate to know that the readers here get side tracked, focusing on only vaccines, and miss the bigger picture. Any parent, celebrity or not, who devotes their time to advocating for their child, is a true hero. It isn't until you find that you need to speak up for your child because no one else will, that you realize nothing else is as important as that. I applaud all parents who do this, to which there are Hundreds of Thousands!
After studying vaccines, reports, research, periodicals, medical journals and stories for over 10 years, I have concluded a few things. Vaccines are very important in any society, if they are used appropriately and sparingly. Vaccines also help spare many people from contracting otherwise deadly diseases.
However, Vaccines, with out a doubt, are destroying our children's immune systems, one shot at a time. Unfortunately, our children are sicker than ever before with more immune system disorders, neurological disorders, allergies, autism, etc. What most parents don't understand or question is that babies are born with perfect, pure immune systems that are able to fight off many things. The first thing they want to do in the hospital is dose up your perfect baby with foreign viruses!!! This makes NO sense! A babies immune system isn't even properly formed until the age of 2! 2/3 of the immune system is located in the digestive tract. This is why nursing is so important to their immune system formation.
Vaccines should not even be started until the age of 2 and then they should be started 1 at a time. Most people also don't understand how many vaccines are tested and it's not until X amount of children react, die or become injured, that they re-formulate the vaccine or take it off the market. Most people don't know that there is a fund of millions of dollars set aside by the government solely for Vaccine Injuired Children!
Parents need to research exactly how vaccines work inside the body, what they do to our immune system and what ingredients are actually in vaccines. Too much focus was on Mercury in vaccines, but what parents need to undertsand is there are hundreds of ingredients which make up vaccines. Remember, drug companies hit the lottery when they can come up with a vaccine! No, you don't have to vaccinate to enter your child into school, every state has exemption policies. Vaccines=Big Money!!!
I have 2 children, for the record, who have never been vaccinated. My 8-1/2 year old is the only child in her class each year in school every day because she doesn't get sick! She's never even had antibiotics. My son, is also never sick, and by the nature of having Down Syndrome, he's defied all of the odds! I am personally not against vaccines either. However, based on what I know, I would not vaccinate until I felt it is 100% necessary. My children are both in private schools and have regular pediatricians who fully support my decision not to vaccinate and have never questioned it or given me a hard time.
There is so much information on vaccines, I really think that the only way to really learn about what they do, is to read about them. A great website with tons of information is called, NVIC.org
Many people think your child will "catch" one of these diseases or illnesses if you don't vaccinate. That isn't the case. Most of what they vaccinate for are mild childhood illnesses. Merck stands to make BILLIONS of dollars if they mandate the Gardisil vaccine. They've invested MILLIONS into the commercials we all see every day. They're trying to convince you that a relatively harmless virus that most women catch and get rid of on their own without ever knowing they had it, is going to give you cancer. Only 10% of the viruses can actually lead to cancer and even then, cervical cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer. The catch is though, that Gardisil only prevents a FEW forms of the virus, not ALL of the forms! However, what they don't tell you is that 95% of the time, women get over the virus, even if they have it! Now they are trying to tout it as an "anti cancer" vaccine, when it's the furthest thing from that. Just read. Read. READ! Don't assume the FDA, CDC and the USDA are all looking out for our best interest! They are all FOR Profit institutions! That allow chemicals in our foods, toxins in our products and posions in drugs!
Like any neurological condition, autism is
extremely complex and does not have one
simple cause.
www.autismspeaks.org is a very informative
website and helped me gain a greater
understanding of this condition.
I think Jenny is not only funny but a very smart and loving woman. I have just recently found out that my son who is 2 in December may have autism, and I was devistated. I knew there was something "worng" and different about my son, but when I saw Jenny on tv talking about her son and the signs that he showed, I knew that my son was showing the same signs! I have read her blogs and am watching for her book 'Louder than words,' so I can read more up on the subject. I have taken books on autism out from the library and read as much as I can. Like Jenny, I want to do what is best for my son, and I thank her from the bottom of my heart for showing me the direction to go for healing my son! THANK YOU JENNY!!
Thank you to L.Noelle for such a great post.
I'm really impressed with who she's become.
As an
infant, Evan was full of life, making eye contact and smiling, but soon
things started to change.
Two days later, a doctor diagnosed Evan with epilepsy. 
To help Evan learn to play with toys as other children do, Jenny tried
another approach -- video modeling and play therapy. Because Evan didn't
know how to play catch, Jenny showed him a video of her catching a
ball. From that day on, Jenny says he was into the game. She used play
therapy to help him learn in other ways. 
In recent years, the number of children diagnosed with autism has risen
from 1 in every 500 children to 1 in 150 -- and science has not discovered
a reason why. Jenny says she believes that childhood vaccinations may
play a part. 
Soon after Evan's diagnosis, Jenny says the stress of raising a child
with autism began to take a toll on her marriage. An autism advocacy
organization reports that the divorce rate within the autism community
is staggering. According to its research, 80% of all marriages
end.
In the midst of the seizures, doctor visits and divorce, Jenny met the man she was looking for, actor Jim Carrey.
When Evan began to recover, Jenny's "girl instincts" took over. She
says she sent Jim a text message that said, "Is there still room on
your sofa or has the seat been filled?" Jim replied, "Your seat will
always be here." From that day on, Jenny says Jim has been a big part of her and Evan's
life. 
Back in 1999, Holly says there were very few resources for parents of
autistic children. Even doctors were less informed than they are today. 
They have also tried to focus on maintaining a healthy, happy
relationship. Holly says autism impacted her marriage, but she and
Rodney learned to rely on each other when times were tough. 
Many parents of children with autism may not have the same success as
Jenny and Holly, but these Hollywood moms want them to come away with
one thing -- hope. 
