vs. DAN

[Guest guest]

GCC,

You asked about the difference between the Dan Protocol and Dr. G. When my son

was little, I started with Sidney Baker who is the primary author of the Dan

protocol. Although he helped my son, he did not take things to the degree that

Dr. G does. Dr. Baker thinks that autism is a result of a leaky gut. Dr. G he

believes that the gut problem is a secondary result of a bigger issue, an

overactive immune system that fires when it shouldn't. Dr. Goldberg makes only

one change at a time to ensure that we know what is and is not working. He only

uses proven scientific methods of treating children.

Our children all have something in common. Their immune systems are not

functioning properly. Kids like my son, , have shown that if their medical

problems can be corrected, they can lead normal lives. The medications my son

is taking help his immune system to function. Unfortunately, these

interventions are not yet a cure. If I stopped his medications, he would

regress. But his successful treatment and the treatment of others like him have

shown that the Research Institute physicians are correct in their theories.

We are so close to a cure.

When started kindergarten, he was in the third percentile for speech. When

he was tested again in the third grade, was at the 85th percentile.

Fortunately, we don't need to have him tested anymore so we don't know exactly

where he would score today. On his sixth grade report card he brought home all

" A's. " But more importantly, my son is happy, has friends, and succeeds

socially. For someone who had to be taught almost every social skill, now

has a great group of friends.

Autistic children like my son are proving they are individuals with normal or

above normal intelligence. Unfortunately, they are often thought of as kids that

cannot be helped. The first psychiatrist I saw told us would never be

okay, and the best prognosis I could hope for would be that some day he would be

running a computer in some basement away from other people. This psychiatrist

(the " leading authority " on autism in our metropolitan area) went on to tell me

how most of these kids end up in prison or mental institutions and we would just

have to see how he turned out.

In retrospect, her devastating prognosis was probably the best thing she could

have done for my kid. At first I was paralyzed with grief. Then my husband and

I just got angry and vowed we would not wait around to " see how he turned out. "

My husband and I went from doctor to doctor in various states trying to find

someone to help . But what we found was too many physicians that had no

understanding or knowledge of autism. Sadly, we usually knew more about autism

than most of the so-called experts we went to see.

Fortunately, we found Dr. Goldberg in California. Dr. Goldberg uses

lab tests and proven medicine to treat autism. These medical treatments worked

for and made it possible for him to learn all the things he missed when he

was not speaking or hearing us.

One of the first things Dr. Goldberg did was to send us to Harbor UCLA Hospital

in Torrance to have a NeuroSpect analysis. This test measures the blood flow to

different areas of the brain. At the time my son had it done eight years ago,

it was relatively new technology and available in only four places in the United

States. By reading this test, doctors can tell if a child will have a learning

disability in math or reading. They can also tell if a child is ADHD or

autistic. It is hard science and a concrete way of testing if the medical

things you are doing are improving a child's functioning.

For most children correctly diagnosed with autism, the NeuroSpect shows

decreased blood flow to the temporal (and parietal) areas of the brain. My

son's spect showed he was autistic. After many years of treatment by Dr.

Goldberg, the spect was repeated. The blood flow to the affected areas of the

brain had improved dramatically.

Unfortunately, each child with is different. What works for one might not

work for another. Although similarities exist, each child with autism may have

different medical problems. Extensive lab work needs to be done to determine

what is not working in each individual. Dr. Goldberg and the Institute is

working on identifying which treatments will work for each child and testing new

agents that could possibly help more children to recover.

My kid is going to make it, but there are too many children with autism that

never will. Some parents have given up hope of ever helping their children. I

want them to know that our kids can get better.

The success we have achieved is the result of a tremendous amount of work on the

part of many people, most of all my son. It wasn't easy and there were times I

thought I would go crazy and probably did a little. My son got worse (if that

was possible) before he got better. I remember the tears and depression when we

thought we were going backwards. At times it was hard to continue when we

weren't sure we were doing the right thing.

The interventions both medically and behaviorally were not an instant " cure " and

are not for any family who is not willing to work unlimited hours. We worked

at this twenty-four hours a day. No one other than a parent can be that

obsessive and stubborn about continuing when sometimes there were no signs that

my son was getting better. The hardest part was to keep going. When he was

little I really didn't believe he would ever be " normal. " His behavior was so

bizarre. Even though I thought he would never be okay, I did many things so I

wouldn't have guilt later. I wanted to be able to say I did everything possible

to make my child better.

When I had trouble continuing, I would play a tape in my head that they thought

Albert Einstein had Autism. (Stories of his early life are very interesting.

You can tell he was a member of our club.) I was sure my child would be

brilliant like Albert and would hope he would only be a little quirky like him

too. When that didn't work, I sometimes thought of my son as a stroke victim

that I had to teach everything to, stuff that other kids just learned. These

are just a few of the mind games I used on myself when the roller coaster was at

the bottom of the hill.

In the beginning, it was how to tell which medical interventions were working.

How can you tell if medicine is working when your child has limited verbal

ability? It takes years for a " normal " child to learn language. Even if someone

could wave a magic wand made my child's body normal, he still wouldn't have been

normal. He spent too many years not speaking, not learning what he should, and

learning weird behaviors that helped him survive this hell. It took many years

to reteach him. I know my son would not be okay if we had not found Dr.

Goldberg. All the doctors told me he would never have a sense of humor or be

able to have empathy for other people's feelings. They couldn't have been more

wrong.

In sixth grade, has a speaking part in the middle school play. This was

quite an accomplishment for a lowly sixth grader who usually has to pay his dues

in the chorus. was Mr. Bundles McCloskey in the play, Annie. When I saw

him on the stage flirting with Miss Hannigan, I sometimes wonder what his life

would have been if I had believed all those doctors.

Even though Dr. Goldberg helped my child, we still argue over what is best for

my kid. My kid is going to make it, but there are too many children with autism

that never will. Some of the parents have given up hope of ever helping their

children. I want them to know that our kids can get better.

We saw too many medical doctors that had no understanding or knowledge of

autism. Most physicians did not even perform a cursory exam on my kid. They

didn't believe autistic kids could get better. They had nothing to give us, not

even hope. Unless you have experienced it, I don't think anyone can understand

just how devastated you feel when your child is given the diagnosis of autism.

I hope we can get the message out so other parents don't just accept the life

sentence that well-intentioned but misinformed doctors are handing down. Don't

give up until you find the answer for your child.

Marcia Hinds

[Guest guest]

i enjoyed reading your " article " . i too will stop at nothing to help my son.

he is 5 and diagnosed as autistic. i have tried pfeiffer ctr, gf/cf diet.

very little improvement (my son is non-verbal and major behav/sensory

issues). i read the info on dr g and it made good since to me so i am

trying. into my third wk on famvir (valtrex was horible!)

little improvement noted. still have a long way to go w/treatment w/dr g.

again, thanks for the info