Should Parents of
Children with Autism, Asperger's, ADHD and Other Neurological Disorders Feel
Guilty?
Autism was a devastating diagnosis for Shannon and Doug Ruhe's son,
Tyler, but with the Body Ecology program and fermented foods and drinks,
he functions like a typical 4 year old, learning and playing with his
younger sister,Taylin.
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The parent-child relationship is sometimes so fraught with peril. Am I
doing things right? Will my child turn out ok?
Charged with the raising another human being, many parents second-guess themselves.
Yet, we know so many parents are working hard to give their children every
advantage, from conception forward.
In fact, at Body Ecology, we often talk to parents of children with autism,
ADD, Asperger's and other neurological disorders. We know first-hand how committed
these parents are to healing their children, to search every avenue for answers,
like professional detectives.
Many of you may feel you have nowhere to turn. And yes, many of you may feel
guilt and blame for your child's state of health.
At Body Ecology, we want to encourage parents to acknowledge themselves.
We know how much you care, and in this article, we'll share the story of one
parent who has a message of hope for all parents.
How To Approach The Autism Epidemic
In the face of epidemics like autism and ADD, many parents have risen to
the challenge, making choices outside the norm to achieve normalcy for their
families via radical nutrition and the Body Ecology lifestyle.
Families around the country participate in the BEDROK
(Body Ecology Diet Recovering Our Kids) community to share their experiences
and receive support as they face the challenges of raising children on the
autism spectrum.
But barriers remain that make Body Ecology a "tough sell" in the
mainstream.
With no real medical evidence pointing to a root cause for autism and other
disorders on the spectrum, parents are left confused about what route to take.
There are many pieces of the puzzle, but no real consensus on the cure.
We do know that vaccines have gotten a lot of press as the root cause and
that dietary changes can contribute to treatment. But choices about whether
to vaccinate and how to change a child's diet are often fraught with worry
and concern.
Body Ecology's founder, Donna Gates, has done extensive research on the
REAL root cause, along with natural treatment options AND a prevention plan
for autism spectrum disorders. Find out more by reading: What
Every Girl & Woman Needs to Know NOW If She Ever Wants to Have a Baby
But Donna Gates and all of us at Body Ecology want to find ways to reach
out to parents... to let them know that Body Ecology can help thousands of
children regain functioning and without heaping judgment on the heads
of parents.
We spoke with Shannon Ruhe, mom of 4 year old Tyler, about her thoughts
on autism, nutrition and guilt to see how she approaches the great joy and
responsibility of Body Ecology's groundbreaking approach to treating kids
on the spectrum.
What Is Normal?
If you met Tyler today, you would probably assume he is a fairly normal 4
year old.
He goes to a Montessori school and speaks and plays with his little sister
Taylin, age 2. He asks questions and even interacts.
But when snack time comes, you would notice that both Tyler and Taylin are
munching on what appears to be sauerkraut
and drinking some strange green
concoction. Later on, you might even see Taylin chomping on a red pepper
as if it were an apple!
This is normal in the Ruhe household, but highly unusual for the average
American family. Why such adherence to what appears to be a crazy nutritional
regime?
The Journey From Autism
What you wouldn't see is that just a few years ago, Tyler was an 18 month
old with horrible diarrhea who lived in his own world and self-stimulated
with repetitive motion.
Diagnosed around that time with autism, Shannon and her husband Doug feared
the worst: a child who wouldn't be able to enjoy the world they hoped to give
him.
But faced with the reality of "the real world and a real kid who
was sick," Shannon says they didn't have a choice. They did what
many parents would do: they educated themselves and quickly intervened.
Dietary changes became the cornerstone of Tyler's treatment and proved effective.
Shannon says that after a year of intensively following the Body Ecology
program Tyler achieved "huge gains. The asthma and diarrhea were gone.
He was looking, talking, playing. He developed new skills. He's delayed, but
he's a typical kid."
But Shannon still feels emotional about the journey her family has taken
to achieve this level of normality. She monitors her kids' diets rigorously,
takes "pizza" and "cupcakes" to school parties, and endures
the questions of incredulous moms who wonder why she even makes the effort,
since her kids are so healthy.
Shannon concedes, "I'm working harder than anyone I know, but they're
not understanding where he was and where he could be in the future. Even my
healthy daughter was on a breathing machine as a baby!"
About vaccinations and pre-natal care, even her epidural, she says, "I
have sadness that I followed the herd and did what medical people were telling
me."
Indeed, plenty of moms take medications, eat whatever they want, give their
children flu shots, and their kids are NOT on the spectrum.
Shannon believes that for her body, perhaps she wasn't strong enough to handle
the modern medical interventions. She and her kids are blood
type A, which is strongly linked to autism. (link type a blood to The Little-Known
Link Between Blood Type and Autism (and Why It Matters to EVERYONE)
Still, she emphasizes, "I didn't know. And as soon as I did, we started
cleaning up our lives and did what we could."
The result is a healthy and well-adjusted 4-year old who can read and interact
and has a very bright future.
Autism and Emotion
Shannon feels that our modern lifestyle choices are revealing themselves
in all of our children, whether they have asthma, learning problems, obesity
or autism, even though they follow the guidelines of modern medicine.
"We all read baby books and talk with our pediatricians. I was told
Tyler was fine and that it was toddler diarrhea. My friends can get an antibiotic
over the phone every month. We feel like good moms when we faithfully take
our kids to the doctor and can afford to give the next drug. We feel like
we are giving our kids the best care in the world."
She shares that in her neighborhood kids with asthma, eczema, hyperactivity,
chronic ear infections, ear tubes and adenoid removal are the norm.
Parents consider her to be abnormal: "the crazy lady with the crazy
diet and the kid who's doing great."
"But," she adds, "all the pain we went through with
Tyler brought us to where we are."
Fortunately for her own health and the health of her family, Shannon remains
positive in the face of this epidemic that has become personal. "I
don't blame myself. I take responsibility for my health prior to pregnancy.
I've never thought that I caused autism. I believe the modern world caused
autism and I am a part of that."
As Tyler continued to improve, Shannon admits that she felt some anger. Why
didn't she have this vital information before she became pregnant?
But her anger and sadness have turned to joy... "joy that I am informed
and can help people. I'm planting seeds."
The Natural Autism Solution offers a comprehensive, holistic and effective
approach to autism spectrum disorders, including ADD, ADHD and Asperger's.
In this exclusive 12 CD audio presentation, Donna Gates and other experts
share the details of how you can positively impact the health of current
and future generations with simple changes in your diet and lifestyle.
Order the Natural
Autism Solution today!
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A New Approach to Autism
Autism is an emotionally charged topic, and the concept that parental nutrition
and choices can impact children so forcefully could turn treatment into a
"blame game."
But the best approach to addressing autism and the other disorders on
the spectrum might be the one Shannon advocates: understanding that autism
and its root causes are part of a bigger problem that calls us ALL to do our
part, even on a small scale.
Promoting education, making better dietary choices and supporting current
and potential parents without judgment can slowly turn the tide so
that cultured vegetables, green drinks and healthy kids are one day the norm.
For more information on how to naturally prevent and treat autism, ADD, ADHD
and Asperger's, listen to: The
Natural Autism Solution, a 12-CD set featuring Donna Gates and expert
medical professionals providing you with the information you need to bring
your child back to optimal health.
If you find yourself feeling guilt or blame, we have found solutions for
emotional health that have worked for countless other parents. Our favorites
are: The
Emotional Freedom Techniques, the Sedona
Method and the the
LifeLine Technique.
We encourage you to acknowledge your courage and strength and allow yourself
to release emotions that are no longer supporting you. Your whole family deserves
to heal, both physically AND emotionally.
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