FW: Vaccinations In Sweden

[Guest guest]

is the mother of Sam, Björn and . She loves them all, but is

her sunshine baby, always happy, always smiling, quite extraordinary. When

he is about to turn 18 months he starts talking, every new day there is a

new word coming. And when his big brother Björn asks him " Are you strong

today? " he clenches his small arms and fists to everyones delight.

But February 9th 1999 everything changes. At age 20 months he gets the

MMR-shot for mumps, measles and rubella. On the way home from the Drs office

his father sees he's a bit warm, but a slight fever was something to be

expected, the nurse had told him.

But the fever doesn't go down. The same night wakes up several times

and screams in pain. The day after he still runs a fever, and is getting

warmer. s mother and father assure one another that the reaction is

normal.

But the days go by and doesn't get better. He puts his hand on his head

and moans as if he's pain. There are no more happy sounds. In just a few

days a happy little boy has turned very sad.

And when big brother Björn now asks him if he is strong doesn't even

look up.

A few weeks later there is an explanation: has encephalitis. And even

though it is a hard blow, it is nevertheless some sort of relief - now there

is an explanation, soon will get well again.

But time passes and still no laughs are heard from , and never a single

smile. His parents are worried sick, and they ask the pediatrician: when

will get well? And why does he act so strange? He no longer wants to

sit on anyones lap, he doesn't say any words and no one can remember the

last time he was happy.

And then one day the word is there: autism.

- Oh no, the experts say. Autism is life long, hereditary and incurable.

Your son is NOT autistic - he used to talk!

But s mother and father do not feel comforted. Why is it so hard to get

eye contact? Why doesn't he react to sounds? seems to be almost

completely deaf, the Drs say after an examination. And the whole family is

offered a course in sign language and is offered the opportunity to

start in a special day care for deaf children. But his parents doubt that he

is deaf.......

And an audiometric test finally reveals he has perfect hearing. But the fact

remains: no longer smiles, doesn't look anyone in the eyes and he has

lost all his language.

Following a long investigation everything is settled - has infantile

autism. And the hard questions remain: what is the relation between the

encephalitis, the brain inflammation and autism? What is the role of the

vaccination?

Soon it becomes clear there are no answers - at least no officially

recognized ones. For a family with a child diagnosed with autism there is

very little help. The disorder is still considered to be life long,

hereditary and incurable - just those words that were supposed to finally

prove was not autistic.......

But s mother and father start looking for answers on their own . And

then the terrible insight dawns: there is scientific evidence showing that

1. measles virus can cause brain inflammation, encephalitis.

2. the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) is known to have caused

encephalitis.

3. infantile autism might be the chronic continuation of the acute

inflammation and damage of the brain.

The vaccination got on February 9 1999 didn't just give him a fever.

The vaccine probably caused the inflammation of the brain that finally

turned into autism.

was never the same after day in February. For his parents everyday life

is now about improving his situation as much as possible. But also a very

strong feeling that other children should not be injured the same way. The

mere suspicion of a connection between the vaccine and autism ought to be

enough for a thorough investigation. Not all children are affected - but

this is no reason to put the lid back on and stop thinking about it.

Instead the factors making some children more vulnerable have to be

identified. And the MMR-vaccine should be stopped until this is thoroughly

investigated.

Finally: I am a journalist. Never before have I written about something

closer to my heart. I am . And is my son.

Carlshamre