Monthly Gathering

Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
Matthew 10:40

The gathering for parents and caregivers of children and/ or adults with disabilities was a great success. Thank you Chris, Christina, and Longwood Baptist church for hosting the event. We meet on the third Monday of every month. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

I have been part of a number of support groups and there are a number of aspects about them that I like.

The one aspect I like the most is when a new person joins a "parents of children with disability support group". Often the parent has not had anyone to talk to. Parents coping with disability issues often can only relate to other parents in the same situation. It's inspiring to hear the parents story. Often he/she appears to be shedding the weight of thousand trials as his story is pored out in conversation. The look of relief on a persons face when someone listens and hears about her life illistrates God's love in the world.

Listening actively says to the speaker: You matter, your child matters, your family matters. The world may not think so but we are not the world. We are the Church. Each and every one of us have been created in God's image and he loves each and every one of us.

One of the most loving things we can do is listen. By listening we can affirm God's love.

Peace and Love,
Andrew

Advice to Parents Part 6 and 7: Fight and Pray

I will finish off my 7 part "Advice to Parents" by combining the last two parts. In the Bible fighting and praying were one and the same or closely linked among God's people.

"Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13,14

God delivered his people that day and if you are in need go to your Holy Father for deliverence. Parents with a newly diagnosed child will face many challenges, obsticles, and roadblocks. Fight for your child with everything you have. Keep in mind that the world is strong like the Egyption army. You will need a miracle from God for victory. For me and others I know the road was/ is hard. The ones who come through intact, in most cases, were carried through by faith. Don't give up. Fight and pray. Jesus taught us:

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:9,10

This will not happen in our time but in God's time. You are never alone. Stay strong in your faith. Keep fighting and praying.

Peace and Love,

Andrew

Advice to Parents Part 5: Geography

I'm going to repeat myself on this point. Different states, counties, cities, and towns offer different levels of support for children and families with autism. In short: Do your research and find the best place with the best support. It is important to understand that some states and localities offer lots of support and some offer little or nothing. If you are in Florida and can move, leave now (If you can). Kids with autism in Connecticut (and other northern states) get most of their therapy and education at little or no cost to the parent. The quality of the product is much better. Minnesota, California, Arizona, and most other states are also known for good support. If you must stay in Florida there are ways to get what your child needs but prepare to spend lots of money. The poor and wealthy tend get or buy more services. Middle class people tend to go broke fast. Resourceful people can always find ways but it takes a lot of time and effort. In short: Do your research and make the best geographic choices for you and your family.

Peace and Love,
Andrew

MLK on the role of the Church.

There was a time when the church was very powerful. It was during that period when the early Christians rejoiced when they were deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town the power structure got disturbed and immediately sought to convict them for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators." But they went on with the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven," and had to obey God rather than man. They were small in number but big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated." They brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contest. - MLK



I found this to be a moving description of the early Church from Martin Luther King.



Peace and Love,

Andrew

Vaccines and autism: More info about our story.

I wanted to comment about the latest attack on Dr. Wakefield by a journalist in London. The case was made by Dr. Wakefield that autism in linked to the MMR vaccine. I believe that Dr. Wakefield was partly correct but his focus on the MMR alone has given his detractors an opening to savage him. The latest attack acuses Dr. Wakefield of ignoring previous data from the 12 children in his study. I don't agree with that conclusion. In our own case I believe the MMR was the knock out punch in a series of events that result with the onset autism in Andrew Jr..

Here are some entries in Andrew Jrs. "Growth and development book" that may help you understand.

On the 1/25/02 visit Andrew Jr. was a week old and we had questions about how much to feed him and a heart murmer (it went away).

On 2/22/02 he was 5 weeks old. No concerns were listed. The only note written was "Had Hep B vaccine". The next visit was scheduled for 4/2/02.

We instead went back on 3/21/02. After the Hep B shot Andrew had extreme pain from digestive dificulties . All the notes going forward reflect digestive damage but otherwise he developed normally. When he recieved the MMR at 2 1/2 he imediately had a fevor, lost language and had OCD behavior.

I believe that the first event contributed to the onset of autism in Andrew Jr.

The onset of autism is a complex matter. It appears that the 10 fold increase in vaccinations since 1984 is linked to the massive increase in autism rates over that same period of time.

In Dr. Wakefields case nothing has been proven or disproven. Look at the evidence for yourself. Remember "Educate before you vaccinate".

Peace and Love,

Andrew

Part Four: Lies and Deception - Advice to Parents

Part Four: Lies and Deception - Advice to Parents

In Genesis The serpant is clearly identified as the bad guy:
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”" Gen. 3: 1-3
She knew God said not to eat the fruit. The serpent's question was designed to bring about doubt and confusion. The serpant was clearly the smarter one in the interchange. His goal was achieved with the fall. "Then the LORD God said to the woman, ''What is this you have done?' The woman said, 'The serpent deceived me, and I ate.'" Gen. 3:13 You probably heard the rest. Adam also ate the fruit. Sin was introduced to the world and the two were ejected from eden.

The serpant, of course, was/ is the devil. Jesus gave his diciples instruction about dealing with those who would persecute them. He told them to be smart like the serpant without compromising their faith. “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16

Why is this important to a parent? Think back to what the serpant said to Eve in the garden. He tried to sow confusion, falsely justify, and mislead.

The bottom line is sometimes everything is great with those who serve your child. You still you need to watch those who say they want to help your child:

The school administrator may mislead you, not based on his knowledge of right and wrong, but on the situational ethics of the environment in which he works and suvives.

The pediatrican that suspects problems with vaccinations or other treatment fears losing his job, reputation, and licence.

The insurance rep is pressured to parrot the line of her corporate masters.

It is very common for a parent to have interactions with good hearted teachers who say: "Officailly I can't comment but I will give you the true story off the record."

Jesus said to be shrewd like a snake. At that time he was warning about the powerful of that time who would hurt the diciples. In our context this means that you should understand the ways of those who will do evil or wrong against your family. Don't trust a functionary who may follows the unethical orders of powerful persons you may never meet. When you deal with the representative of the medical community, school system, or corporation your not dealing with an individual who always makes individual ethical choices. Sometimes your dealing with the distant powerful of our time who put money, power, and status ahead of the best interest of your child.

So in short:
Be shrewd like a snake, be as innocent as a dove, and watch out for wolves.

Peace and Love,
Andrew

Disability and Autism parents group at Longwood Baptist

An autism/ disability support meeting will held at the First Baptist Church of Longwood on Monday Dec. 13th at 630 pm. This meeting is for parents and other supporters of children and/ or adults with diabilities. Child care will provided. Please RSVP with me ASAP. I hope you can come.


Peace and Love,

Andrew

Romans 8:28