No longer blind The story of our baby born blind and brain-injured
Sterling was born blind and brain-injured due to a massive cerebral
hemorrhage (stroke) he sustained in utero or at birth. The prognosis was
that our son would remain blind and a vegetable for the rest of his life
and the doctors suggested that we institutionalize him and move on with
our lives. We refused to go in agreement with them and began our own research
which led us to read 'What
To Do About Your Brain-Injured Child' and to discover the Institute
For The Achievement Of Human Potential (IAHP) in Philadelphia and a
controversial sensory stimulation program, the Patterning exercises, that
we could implement in the privacy of our own home with the help of volunteers.
Welcome to...Overcoming
cortical blindness and brain-injury ShirleysWellnessCafe.com (aka:
MyWellnessHouse.com) - A free educational web site on the internet since
1996
This site is being continuously
updated so check in often to see what's new ---Last update 10/31/2009 Check
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When he began the Patterning
exercises, at 6 months of age, Sterling was had little tactile feelings,
was unable to hold his head up, roll over, sit up, crawl, play with toys,
he was completely blind. He was sleeping all the time and had a hard time
breastfeeding because of spasticity and poor sucking reflexes. (I still
managed to breastfeed him for 3 years.) One month after we started the
Patterning Program, Sterling recovered his vision. We continued the Patterning
program for 12 more months in which time Sterling learned to hold his head,
sit up, finger feed on crackers and play with toys. Sterling is far from
being a vegetable. He is very active in his own right, having learned to
move his body across the floor by rolling on himself. He is a happy boy
and he is a God-sent to us, a most precious blessing in our lives.
I am pleased to have this opportunity to share with you the story about
my son Sterling. At last month's meeting, Dr. Yetenekian had an interesting
discussion on how to cope with children with developmental disabilities.
He told us about children who had achieved a certain level of development
and who may be displaying behavior problems. Sterling's situation is different
from these children in that for a long time I had
a child who could not achieve even the lowest level of normal development.
His neurological damage had left him blind and unable to function at any
level, other than breathing, eating, and sleeping. In addition to this,
he also suffered from severe health problems. Therefore, our main goal
and focus with regard to Sterling has always been to find ways to bring
life into him, to stimulate him, to sharpen his senses and his awareness
and to try to improve his health(when I say "our" or "we", I'm
always referring to my husband and I.)
During this presentation, I will tell you a little about Sterling's
birth, and I will explain to you the nature of his disabilities and health
problems. You will learn about the dramatic improvement that he experienced
over the years despite ongoing negative medical prognosis. I will also
describe to you how we have adapted our lives and our home to meet Sterling's
very special needs. Our lives with Sterling has been a most incredible
experience of mutual growth and learning on the job. Therefore, I have
titled this presentation "Life with Sterling: living and learning with
a very special child"
Sterling was born in 1979, a full term 7 1/2 lb. baby. He is our only
child. My pregnancy was uncomplicated and I had planned to give birth to
my baby at home, unfortunately due to complications, it just didn't work
out as we had planned. When I arrived in the hospital, I insisted to have
a natural, drugless
delivery and as soon as our baby was born, the doctor laid him on my
stomach and gave my husband the scissors to cut the umbilical cord.
We would not allow the nurses to take our baby away to the nursery room
as is routinely done in hospitals, because we felt that a baby's place
after birth belonged in his mother's arms, at the warmth of its mother's
bosom, and not alone in lifeless crib. We felt it was important to preserve
an uninterrupted closeness between mother and baby which is necessary in
establishing vital bonding. So I kept my baby on my stomach or at my side
all the time, until we were discharged from the hospital 24 hours later.
We also didn't allow our baby to be circumcised as it is routinely done
in the US hospitals because we believe that it is a barbaricact
against an innocent and helpless newborn. Studies have demonstrated that
the "hygienic" aspect of a circumcised penis is a myth. (learn
more about the torture of unanaesthetized infant undergoing circumcision
in modern hospitals)
None of the doctors or nurses at the hospital had noticed anything wrong
with Sterling, even though there were already signs that something was
not quite right. The first clue that something was wrong with our baby
was that I could not wake him up to get him to feed. He appeared to be
sleeping deeply, in actuality I think that he was in a state of semi-unconsciousness.
As I was desperate to get him some nourishment, I turned for help to the
La
Leche League organization which is a support group for nursing mothers.
They advised me to manually extract some of my milk (colostrum
) and to feed my baby with an eye dropper. I followed their advice and
for 2 days I was able to feed him a little of my milk with an eye dropper.
Eventually Sterling began to nurse on his own. But there was something
wrong in the way he was nursing. He was unable to suck properly and had
difficulty holding on to the nipple. It would have probably been easier
for Sterling to nurse at a bottle, but I was reluctant to extract my milk
or to give him formula. We believed that while cow milk is fine for calves,
my milk would be best for my baby. Despite the problems I persevered with
a lot of patience and special nursing positions and continued to breastfeed
my baby for 3 years. It wasn't until a few months later that we learned
that Sterling's difficulties with nursing was caused by the fact that he
was spastic
and had poor coordination reflexes.
When Sterling was 6 weeks old, we began to wonder why he wasn't showing
an interest in making eye contact with us or looking at objects. Our pediatrician
and specialists at children's hospital ran a number of tests on him. They
informed us that Sterling was cortically
blind,
and that he would most likely be blind for the rest of his life. They also
told us that our son would also be a vegetable and recommended to us that
we would be better off to place our baby in an institution, and get on
with our lives. At first, we were shocked and devastated by their prognosis,
but we never gave in or gave up. We decided to get opinions from other
experts and to do our own research on cortical blindness and brain-injury.
None of the medical experts could determine the cause of his condition.
There was speculation that he may have suffered a massive brain hemorrhage
or a stroke at birth, and/or that he may have suffered from congenital
brain malformation during the gestation period.
At 3 months, Sterling began to experience seizures and severe
constipation. He was placed on an anti-convulsive medication, Phenobarbital.
This was extremely frustrating to me because I didn't like drugs and I
was very concerned about its side- effects. We were desperate and determined
to find help for our son and for the next few months, we took our baby
from one medical specialist to another and he was subjected to endless
medical tests. Unfortunately no medical answers or solutions were offered
to help him and the prognosis about his condition remained very negative.
Medical experts patiently explained to us that damaged or injured brain
cells do not regenerate or heal. We were told time after time that Sterling
would remain blind and a vegetable the rest of his life. But we just wouldn't
give up hope, and we continued to search for more help.
When
Sterling was about 5 months old, we learned about a controversial therapy
program which claimed to produce good results with brain injured children.
This sensory stimulation program (the patterning) which was to be done
at home by parents and volunteers consisted of simple, yet extensive series
of repeated exercises. The purpose of this therapy was to simply stimulate
the brain and to train healthy brain cells to take over the function of
the damaged cells. At first we were skeptical about this program, but after
reading ''What
To Do About Your Brain-Injured Child' we decided to go ahead and try
it on Sterling. We felt that we had nothing to loose and everything to
gain. (The author of that book, Glen Doman, is also the founder of The
Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in Philadelphia)
We took Sterling to the institute's sister organization 'Help
For Brain Injured Children' (HBIC) in La Habra, CA for
a consultation with Dr. Bob Doman (Glen Doman's brother) and Dr. Spitz,
the neurologist from the Institute in Philadelphia. We were relieved that
Dr. Spits and Dr. Doman did not recommend surgery for Sterling and they
offered us a hopeful prognosis.
When Sterling started the program he was 6 months old. He was blind,
he was unable to hold his head up or to sit, he had no muscle tone and
no coordination, and he continued to experience difficulty nursing. In
addition, we also found out that he had very poor tactile feelings, meaning
that his skin sensitivity to touch was very low. At 6 months Sterling was
still functioning at the level of a newborn, in other words, he was
doing nothing more than sleeping or nursing all the time.
I don't think that I have time today to discuss the details of this
therapy program, and this is not really the focus of this presentation
anyway. So I'm going to move along and just tell you about the results.
One
month after I started Sterling on this program I noticed something unusual
about him. He seemed to be smiling directly at me. At first I thought I
was imagining things. I couldn't believe that he was able to see after
only one month on this program. This was like a miracle! But it was true,
those big, beautiful eyes were focusing on me, and he was actually making
eye contact with me! He also began to play with his hands by flipping his
fingers repeatedly in front of his eyes.
Sterling
at 8 or 9 months old
To see Sterling recover his vision so quickly gave me the encouragement
to hope for more miracles. So for the next 18 months I diligently continued
to do the therapy with him. I have to admit that the long hours spent in
doing the program with Sterling was very hard work, both for me and for
him. But it paid off because Sterling made tremendous progress in the development
of his muscle tone and motor control. Of course, Sterling is not walking
or talking and he is still obviously very delayed in his overall development,
but he his certainly far from being a vegetable as some doctors had predicted
he would be. In fact, Sterling learned many important skills on this program.
The
Boy Who Sees Without Eyes Ben Underwood is blind.
Both eyes were removed when he was just three years old, leaving him with
no vision at all. So how on earth does he play basketball, rollerblade
and cycle his bike? Ben lost his eyes to retinal cancer but, unbelievably,
he's taught himself to see; with sound.
He
has acquired the ability to sit on his own and he can pull himself onto
his knees. He has also learned to use his hands to grasp objects and play
with them, and he can finger feed on rice cakes. But I think that his biggest
achievement on this program, other than the recovery of his vision, is
that he has gained mobility skills. However, Sterling does not move
his body as most children do. Instead of learning to crawl or creep like
a regular toddler, which Sterling is unable to do because of weakness in
his arms and legs, he has learned to move his body in a most peculiar way:
he simply rolls on himself. In this fashion, he has gained precious
independence and enjoys traveling all over the apartment as he pleases.
Its
amazing to me to witness how a child can learn to compensate for his disabilities
and overcome his weakness.
The
patterning slide board was used to teach 12 month old Sterling to crawl.
Sterling is hypotonic, meaning that he has floppy muscle tone. Developmentally,
he still performs at the level of about a 9 month old baby and he requires
the same care and attention as an infant. Like a toddler, he expresses
his joy by squealing and screaming and for those who are not familiar with
him, these sounds may appear as though he was crying or having a tamper
tantrum. But just one good look at his face will show only a big shining
smile or an expression of happiness.
Despite the fact that Sterling is a teenager now, there are no more
discipline issues with him than there are for a 9 month old infant. What
Sterling needs more than anything, is plenty of tender loving care, and
a safe and stimulating environment. Sterling has a very sweet and happy
disposition. I have never seen him being angry or having a tamper tantrum.
At home he is always babbling and smiling. Sterling is like a living doll.
In the process of helping Sterling on this therapy program, I learned
that no matter how serious an injury or a health situation may be, we
all have tremendous recuperative power. We should never give up
hope, no matter how desperate a situation in life may be or how negative
a medical prognosis is. I also learned to not succumb to despair or stay
victim of any given circumstances! With a positive attitude and determination
and with lots of love and patience miracles do occur.
The
Family Bed Now I'd like to tell you a little about our Family Bed. But before
I do so, I need to explain to you about how life was for me when I was
a baby. I was born
in the late forties and at that time, in the Western world mothers followed
unnatural and rigid standards in the care of their infants. For example,
as a baby, I was left to sleep in a crib in a room by myself. When I cried
no one was allowed to pick me up or attend to me for fear of "spoiling"
me. The feeding and care of babies in those days, ran similar to a strict
military schedule, with the same lack of human warmth. As a young child,
I also sadly witnessed my younger siblings being subjected to the same
tragic treatment. We were raised by the rod and the whip at the hand of
our mother. When Sterling was born, I was determined to care for my child
with warmth and love in the most natural setting as possible. I have always
admired how babies are cared for and loved in the 3rd world.
The
Family Bed concept is a lifestyle that promotes closeness and emotional
warmth between parents and children and children are welcomed to sleep
with their parents at night. I learned about this concept at the breasfeeding
support group and by reading a book titled "The Family Bed".
(photo
taken in Nov '93 - 14 year old Sterling in the family bed with Shirley,
looking at himself in the mirror.)
The family bed played a very, very important role in the care of
Sterling, and continues to be an integral part of his life to this day.
In addition of promoting bonding between us and Sterling, this lifestyle
also significantly reduced stress in our lives. For several years, when Sterling was still unable to move his body,
the most comfortable place to keep him day or night was at my side in our
bed. This arrangement was very comforting and relaxing to both me and Sterling.
He felt very secure and contented to be next to his mommy all the time,
and I was able to watch TV in bed, or to study, or to simply rest as much
as I needed to. The other reason we choose to have Sterling sleep with
us was because he was prone to violent, life threatening seizures
which occurred mostly during sleep time.
Note: If I had known
about Transfer Factor at the time, I think it may
have helped Sterling's seizures. - Testimonial from Nanci Mikels
about her son who suffered from seizures: "At the age of 2 yrs. I had
a healthy boy. When he turned 29 month old, Josh had a seizure which
put him in the hospital and we found out he had Hydrocephalus
and so they put a shunt
in his head at that time. From then on, Josh was in the hospital a lot.
He had seizures, and he always threw up and suffered with pain of
migraine headaches. The vomiting was possibly also from the mal-functioning
of the shunt. The shunt was revised at age 7. When he turned 9 when we
heard about Transfer Factor. We gave him the recommended dosage for the
Transfer
Factor Classic, which is 3 per day. Within 2 months his seizures
had reduced and vomiting had stopped and he only had to go to the hospital
once within those two months. He had gone to the hospital in a ambulance
every month from age 29 months until he started taking Transfer Factor
but between that time and now, age 12, he has not been in the hospital
and does not throw up. It has amazed us how Transfer Factor changed his
life. At age 11 we added the Transfer
Factor Kids Chewables. The Transfer
Factor Tri-Factor Formula became available when he was 9 and we gave
him 2 in the a.m. and 2 in the p.m., working up to 6 a day. He is
now 12 and he takes: 3 TF Advanced in the a.m. and 3 in the p.m. He also
takes the RioVida
juice on some days. He sleeps well at night now. His disposition is
good, he is definitely a happy kid." Nanci Mikels - Email
address: nancimikels @ aol.com - Telephone : 503-492-2067
(click here for information how to purchase Transfer
Factor in countries around the world)
We
ha to be close to Sterling at all times to immediately help him breathe
and give him assistance during the seizure attack. I have always been very
protective of my baby and I never felt safe unless he was close to me all
the time. Our family bed is large and very comfortable. It is made simply
of 2 double mattresses placed side by side and it stands low to the floor
without a frame. When Sterling gained mobility and wanted to move about
in the apartment, he learned to roll off the bed onto the thick carpeted
floor without hurting himself. And to this day, Sterling continues to spend
a lot of time relaxing or napping in bed with me while I work on my laptop
computer or watch TV. This past year Sterling has become much more active
and independent and he no longer sleeps with us at night. He has comfortably
graduated from the family bed to his own little bed next to our bedroom.
His seizure activities have diminished and he requires less attention.
Occasionally, I still have to get up in the middle of the night to help
him through a seizure or discomfort. However, during daytime, he and I
continue to spend a lot of quiet time together in the family bed.
Seizure
Recovery testimonial:
"My sons have been taking
Marine Phytoplankton. My 11 year old has been in a special needs school
for the last 3 years, due to severe memory loss caused from seizures.
Since taking Marine Phytoplankton my son no
longer needs to take medication and his memory is as good as it ever was.
In September he will be able to go back to his regular community school.
I can't believe how he feels about himself. As a mother you don't know
what it is like to see the life come back in your child's eyes, and watch
his self-esteem get better. He tells numerous people about Marine Phytoplankton
and its web-site and the video they should watch. He loves what the product
has done for himself as well as the family. My other son, who is 8 years
old has been diagnosed since birth with epilepsy, autism, ADHD, tourettes,
and more. He was using 5 different medications a day and it was a struggle
to get him to function. People were scared of him. He would never get invited
to birthday parties or sleepovers. He had a very aggressive nature, he
could only sleep 2 hours at a time, he was wetting the bed and was 15 pounds
underweight. After 6 weeks of taking Marine Phytoplankton he is now medication
free, which is amazing! He has been in a special needs school since he
was 3 years old. His teacher cannot believe the difference in his behavior
in such a short amount of time. The boy that always struggled, just received
3 A's, 2 B's and 1 C on his final report card. He is now sleeping through
the night, no longer wets the bed and his weight is now up to normal. Everybody
is noticing the dramatic change and is asking what has happened. All we
can say is Marine Phytoplankton and hand them a brochure. I had tears in
my eyes when he got invited to a birthday party and his first sleepover
recently. Life cannot be better when you see your children live happy and
peaceful lives. Words cannot express the gratitude I have. Thank you Marine
Phytoplankton for giving us peace and well-being. Before Marine Phytoplankton
the cost of the medications for the 3 of us was $800 per month!" R. R.
Dr.
Jerry Tennant, M.D. says that marine phytoplankton
contains almost everything one needs to sustain life and to restore health
by providing the raw materials to make new cells that function normally.
Marine phytoplankton has been called "the most nutritionally dense foods
on the planet". Containing a
wide range of trace elements, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll,
enzymes and cellular materials, marine phytoplankton promotes and maintains
optimum health by boosting and supporting all systems within the body.
Its antioxidants and unique polysaccharides can halt the genetic mutations
that can lead to cancer. Both high levels of saccharides and adaptogens
increase energy and stamina by improving our ability to consume and use
oxygen. Adaptogens also improve cardiovascular health by strengthening
the heart and circulation. more about marine
phytoplankton's healing power
NOTE:
If I had known about the marine phytoplankton
20 years ago, and given these to Sterling, I think it would have made a
huge difference in his health and well being. Shirley
Because of his health condition and other issues, we choose to homeschool
Sterling. Everyday at home, we implemented a sensory stimulation program
(devised by Help For Brain Injured Children
(HBIC)) and we spent hours patiently teaching Sterling various skills.
Using food as a motivational tool When Sterling was just a couple of years old, and still unable to hold
his head up or move his body in any fashion, I used food as part of his
sensory stimulation program to motivate and stimulate his developmental
skills. For example, I stopped feeding him in a high chair and instead,
I put him on his stomach on the floor to feed him. When he wanted to eat,
he had to lift his head up long enough to allow me to slip a spoon of food
into his mouth. With time, his neck muscle tone improved and he learned
to hold his head up. In the same fashion food was used to motivate and
to teach him to roll over and eventually to crawl as he learned to move
his body on the floor inch by inch toward his food. Finally in the same
manner he also learned to sit up on his own.
Feeding Time - Finger Feeding Sterling is too big now to sit in a high chair and he doesn't sit at
a table to eat. Instead, he eats his meal seated in a corner of the kitchen
floor, or sometimes he prefers to lay flat on his back on the floor to
eat. I let him decide which way he likes best. Sterling suffers from digestive
problems and he eats a simple diet of vegetarian foods.
Sterling likes to finger feed on rice-cakes. I encourage him to finger
feed because it provides him with important small motor exercises and helps
improve his hand-eye coordination. However, Sterling has a problem with
finger feeding, because he does not understand how to hold on to his rice
cake. As soon as he takes a bite, he compulsively opens his fingers and
drops the rice cake onto the floor. Naturally, it is not possible for me
to keep giving him the rice cake back over and over again. The only way
to resolve this problem in a way that permits Sterling to eat all the rice
cakes he wants any time he likes is to maintain a good supply of rice-cakes
on the kitchen floor at all times. It isn't good enough to keep just one
or two rice cakes on the floor for him because he does not understand how
to visually locate where the rice cakes have fallen, although sometimes
he tries to feel with his hand like a blind person, but he often misses
locating the rice cake. We found that the best answer to this problem is
to simply keep a bunch of rice cakes on the kitchen floor all the time.
With so many rice cakes all around him, Sterling can easily locate one
and grab it.
Mirrors
and Dolls As I mentioned earlier, Sterling was born blind and he recovered his
vision at about 7 months of age, after receiving intensive special visual
stimulation therapy at home for one month. Eventually, Sterling obtained
excellent vision and he used his sight to play with objects, however, he
rarely looked at people or paid any attention to them. This made me believe
that he might be autistic but experts reassured me that he wasn't autistic,
only that he was very shy.
1995
- 16 year old Sterling kneeling over the coffee table, looking at himself
in the mirror.)
To help Sterling overcome his extreme shyness and to improve his confidence
level I got the idea to hang a lot of mirrors and dolls on every walls
in our apartment,
including the kitchen and the bathroom. Wherever he goes Sterling always
finds himself surrounded by mirrors and dolls. At the beginning, he ignored
the dolls and his own image in the mirror but gradually he began to timidly
make brief eye contact and eventually began to smile and even babble with
the dolls and with his own reflection in the mirror. In time, he gradually
developed a fascination with his own image. He'll grab a mirror and bring
it close to his face and press his lips on it to kiss himself. Now I constantly
hear him babbling and giggling with his own little bad self and he also
likes to watch himself eat rice cakes in front of the mirror.
June
1999- 20 year old Sterling "chatting" with a neighbor
His interaction with the dolls and his own image have raised
Sterling's awareness and confidence level and helped improve his eye contact
with people. He is still shy, but he seems to have more self-assurance
and when he feels well he will respond and interact with someone who says
hello to him. I have to mention that despite his extreme shyness toward
strangers, Sterling has always demonstrated a great deal of interest and
affection toward his father. For example, I remember when he was just a
few months old and still blind, he used to always turn his head toward
the sound of his daddy's voice and smile. Perhaps he remembered the sweet
little nothing chats that his daddy used to have with him through my abdomen
when I was pregnant.
The
Living Room Despite his disabilities, Sterling is a very active and independent
child, and he loves his freedom of mobility that he is accustomed to. We
have always encouraged Sterling to exercise his body as much as possible
on the floor and he is always free to travel anywhere he likes in the apartment.
He has never been restricted in a playpen or a crib. As I explained earlier,
Sterling never learned to crawl or creep because of weakness in his arms
and legs, instead, he learned to move his body by rolling on himself. To
protect him from hurting himself, we have cleared the center of our living
room from most furniture items except for a sofa and a coffee table. Sterling
is using the coffee table as a "pull up" exercise bench. We have even glued
a toy and a mirror on top of the coffee table to encourage him to lift
his body up on his knee to reach for the toy and the mirror.
Nov
'94 - 15 year old Sterling with Shirley) - July 1995,
16 y old Sterling exercizing muscle tone over coffee table.
Sterling's Digestive problems Sterling
has suffered from poor digestive process his entire life. For years we
consulted with several medical specialists and Sterling was subjected to
numerous medical tests bu we never found the cause of his problems nor
a cure. We suspect that the vagus nerve may have been damaged during
his brain injury which in turn is affecting his entire digestive system.
Special diets and feeding plans were developed by dietitians at UCLA to
help put weight on Sterling but that didn't work either.
Putting weight on Sterling, and keeping it on has always been a major
struggle for me and for him. He likes to eat and is always willing to eat
but the problem is that the wrong kind of food or too much food triggers
seizures or vomiting. Early on, when I began introducing solids into his
diet- when he was weaned at the age of 3- I realized that Sterling did
not tolerate animal proteins, fruits or vegetables. The food he tolerates
best consist primarily of grains like millet, amaranth, quinoa, oats, rye
and barley, organic butter, olive oil, flaxoil*,
bee
pollen, Spirulina - kelp - Chlorella and sea
salt. The grains must be well cooked and processed into a puree in
the blender for easier digestion. Scientifically
Established Miracles of Bee Pollen and a testimonal about a severely developmentally
delayed floppy child
* In Feb. 2003, I read an
article from Patricia kane Ph.D.,
The
Neurobiology of Lipids In Autistic Spectrum Disorder, which said "Omega
6 essential fatty acids (in this case the precursor PG1 as evening prim
rose oil) must be repleted and stabilized before omega 3 supplementation
commences". I never gave Sterling evening
primrose oil rich in Omega 6. (Flaxoil is
the omaga 3) I wish I had this information years ago.
To help put weight on him, I also add barley malt, rice syrup and glucose
(Polycose) in his food. Whenever Sterling gets sick with seizures or vomiting
and cannot eat, I resort to use slippery
elm in powder form. When mixed with water (cold, warm or hot water)
slippery elm powder takes on the consistency of a pudding which is highly
digestible and nourishing. To help improve his digestion, I give him a
capsule of enzymes
with each meal and a capsule of friendly digestive bacterias. Lately,
I have also discovered the wonderful healing power of
clay,
particularly, Red Desert™ Clay and pascalite clay, which provide
much needed trace minerals, improves digestion and detoxifies the system.
Another wonderful nourishing and soothing product is the raw Chia
seed soaked in water, broth, or juice . (Always consult with a physician
before using herbs or other products as they could interfere with anti
seizure or other types of medication.)
NOTE: 2006:
If I had known aboutthe marine phytoplankton juice,
and given these to Sterling, I think it would have made a huge difference
in his health and well being. These juices have been used in the treatment
of atrophic gastritis, weakened digestion due to reduced stomach activity.
SLIPPERY
ELM:
In times of famine, early American settlers used slippery elm as a
survival food. A strengthening, soothing demulcent herb, slippery elm is
ideal for sore, inflamed, ulcerated mucous membranes and wasting disease.
Primary uses:
Slippery elm can be used by weak or debilitated people as a mild food to
help build up the body. It is especially helpful when no other food can
be kept down. It is a highly nutritive, tonic herbal food and is further
helpful for conditions of tissue deficiency.
As a key part of combinations for stomach, bowel and colon sores, ulcers
and inflammation. As a specific for stomach and lung cancer lesions; as
a throat coat and demulcent expectorant for dry sore throats and coughs.
As the soothing part of a formula or indigestion and gastritis; a soothing
astringent for diarrhea.
Slippery elm is useful in treating digestive conditions with inflamed mucous
membrane linings such as gastritis, gastric or duodenal ulcer, enteritis,
and colitis, where it has a soothing demulcent action. more
about slippery elm--- slippery
elm inner bark powder
CONSTIPATION
Tommy, an eight-year-old boy with the most awful constipation anyone
could imagine, read more...
The
chia seed is one of the richest
source of omega-3 oiland other essential nutrients easily digestable.
They do wonders for constipation. They
were the power food of the ancient Aztecs. According to Spanish manuscripts,
the Aztecs ate the Chia seeds to improve their endurance - they called
it their "running food" because messengers could purportedly run all day
on just a handful. more
Mom's Stress Issue
Our lifestyle with Sterling may seem strange perhaps to some people.But
we do what we feel is necessary to survive and to make life as comfortable
as possible for all of us. Together, we learned to adapt to a unique and
exceptional situation. Sterling has lived all his life at home with
us and we want him to spend the rest of his life with us. So again, it
is important that we organize our lives with him in a way as to make things
as stress-less, and as harmonious as possible for all of us. I would like
to share with you some of my experience with stress which I endured for
several years after Sterling was born. But most importantly, I'd like to
tell you how I learned to overcome and manage my stress. There were basically
3 main sources of stress in my life:
I suffered from ongoing sleep deprivation because of Sterling's health
problems.
My overall state of health was in very poor condition and I was sick most
of the time which made my life miserable.
I was a victim of negative emotions and attitudes.
Sleep deprivationwas a very big issue for me. The pains
and seizures that poor little Sterling experienced kept him, and us, awake
late into the night. When he finally did fall asleep, it was only to be
jerked awake by more pain or seizures at all hours of the night. Our sleep
was constantly interrupted. There came a point, when Sterling was about
5 years old, when I became so tired that I could no longer function normally.
Eventually, I suffered a nervous exhaustion- breakdown.
We had to take immediate action and change our sleeping habits. We decided
that at this point, the priority in the family was for me to get some rest.
And so we resolved that I would sleep by myself, and that Chuck (my husband)
would stay up with Sterling all night. Fortunately Chuck was self employed
and had no problem to change his working schedule from daytime to nighttime
so that he could take care of Sterling at night. We kept this arrangement
for a long time until Sterling's condition and seizure activities improved.
When he was able to sleep better, we started to sleep together again.
As I mentioned earlier, Sterling is sleeping by himself now. He has
grown and matured and has become more active and independent. His seizures
have improved to the point that he no longer requires constant attention
and care during the night. So for me, sleep deprivation is the exception
now, rather than the rule. And I'm happy to say that over the hump in that
regard.
Health Condition:My poor state of health was another
tremendous source of stress for me. I had very little energy because my
body was unhealthy and overweight as a result of bad eating habits. I suffered
from a wide variety of chronic ailments such as allergies, repeated infections,
horrendous back aches which totally debilitated me, and I had recurring
huge cysts in my breast. I experienced only temporary relief from the cortisone
and antibiotics which I had been taking or a very long time, but which
unfortunately caused severe side effects. By the time that Sterling had
turned two, my breast was in such bad shape that the doctors recommended
that I undergo a mastectomy (surgery to remove the breast). I refused to
go along with their program, because I just didn't believe in surgery.
Nevertheless, I was compelled to try to improve my overall health for the
sake of Sterling, because more than anything, I wanted to be there for
him for many more years to come. I was advised by Sterling's pediatrician
to consult with a Naturopath and a Homeopath (doctors of alternative medicine.)
I knew little about natural, holistic health and even less about homeopathy
but I trusted her and followed her advice. Available
natural herbal products and and more information for stress issues
1981
Shirley with 2 year old Sterling - I was overweight (185 lbs), suffered
from chronic fatigue and depression, and my health was steadily going down
the drain. For years I had been a "junkie"--addicted to prescription and
over the counter drugs. Learn How I lost 60
pounds in 3 months and recovered my health.
First of all, my health improved in all areas. Breast surgery
was no longer required because the cysts in my breast went into remission
and never came back. As my immune system improved, I became naturally healthier
and the other symptoms I mentioned earlier eventually cleared up without
any further use of prescription drugs. My energy level increased and I
noticed that I was better able to function and to deal with stress. I was
calmer and felt happier with my life. I was thrilled with my looks too,
because as a result of my new natural diet I had dropped 60 pounds in 3
months effortlessly - learn more about my health recovery.
Finally, the third source of stress in my life originated from emotional
factors. Anxiety and worry were big issues for me, especially during the
first few years of Sterling's life. I constantly worried and feared for
my baby's very survival. Each time I watched him experience one of those
horribly violent seizures
which impeded his breathing, I feared that he might not make it through.
It is hard for a helpless mother to watch her baby in so much pain.
Fortunately, Sterling is doing much better now. The frequency and severity
of his seizure activity has diminished and he is able to eat, sleep and
function much better. The improvement of his seizure activity was the result
of a carefully monitored diet, as well a herbal and homeopathic treatments
and the selection of the right medication. During moments of discouragement
my husband was always a great source of support for me. He had little tolerance
for negative attitude, and he patiently taught me how to maintain a positive
outlook and keep hope alive no matter how desperate things appeared to
be. He taught me that I have the power within me to react to any situation
with positive and constructive thoughts rather than fear, worry or any
other destructive thinking. I also learned to go with the flow and take
one day at the time. I tried to accept the things that I could not change
and continued to try to change the things that I could.
(photo
taken in Nov '93 - 14 year old Sterling with Shirley on a swing)
The love we have for Sterling carried us to the top of the mountain.
We made Sterling the center piece of our lives, because he was so innocent
and helpless, he had so many problems and he needed us more than anything
in the world. Some people think that we have given up, or sacrificed a
lot from our lives for Sterling.But what we have done for our child
in all those years, we don't consider as a sacrifice, rather we see it
as an investment, in both him, and us as well. Sterling is not and never
has been a burden for us, quite to the contrary. He is our precious little
treasure.
Sterling has brought so many blessings into my life. If it hadn't been
for him, I would have probably stayed with my old ways of life and old
belief system and I would have missed out on challenging learning experiences
and new opportunities. Because you see, I feel that if it hadn't been for
Sterling, I would probably never have discovered
homeopathic medicine and holistic
healing, and I would not have been motivated to change
my diet and improve my health. I was so impressed with the results
I obtained with my health that as a natural evolution, I decided to learn
more about holistic healing by reading a lot of books. The great thing
about my home studies is that it was done in a very relaxed manner, at
my own pace, with Sterling by my side in bed, most of the time.
When a member of my family becomes sick or injured, they seldom need
to see a doctor, because I have the know-how to treat them at home with
effective, safe and natural remedies. (And I would like to add at this
point, that anyone can have access to this information and can easily learn
how to practice natural medicine at home. There are also short homeopathic
study courses available for lay people or beginners. Courses info can be
obtained from The
National Center for Homeopathy (phone # 703 548-7790)
Also, my fascination with the healing power of
natural foods ignited in me the desire to want to learn to grow my
own food, without the use of pesticides or chemicals. In 1987 my rooftop
garden won the New American Garden Contest Special Merit Award from the
National Gardening Association, and the National
Gardening Magazine featured an 6 page article on my container garden.('Up
on The Roof' - April 1988 issue - and also in the Futurist Magazine- 'Gardens
in the Sky' March-April 1993).For 8 years I grew a wide variety
of fruits and vegetables such as grapes, corn, apples, bananas, cabbages,
blackberries and much much more. Everything was grown entirely in containers
on the rooftop of my Hollywood apartment building. By the 5th year, my
container garden produced over 1 1/2 ton (or 1500 pounds) per year of organically
grown fruits and vegetables.
But the best thing about my garden was that Sterling was never very
far away from me. If he was not in the garden with me, then he was just
a few flight of stairs away taking a nap in our apartment. My husband would
call me from our apartment window to let me know when Sterling had just
awakened from his nap and needed me back home.
In
1995 another great opportunity knocked at my door because of my commitment
to homeopathic medicine. A grateful retired school teacher and computer
consultant offered to teach me how to use a computer as a trade off for
the successful results she achieved with my homeopathic treatments. At
first I hesitated to accept her offer because computers intimidated me
and even frightened me. Also I didn't think I was smart enough to learn
about those machines. But the opportunity was too good to pass, so I went
ahead and got myself a laptop. I was surprised to discover how easy it
is actually to learn to use a computer. The teacher taught me the rudiment
of using a computer and word processing. Unfortunately, the teacher didn't
have enough tech knowledge to teach me the internet and website publishing
business so I learned at home on my own, with the help of various phone
tech supports like AOL, Netscape. With the word processor I have learned
to truly enjoy writing. I write articles on homeopathy, on nutrition, on
holistic veterinary medicine, and of course I also write articles about
Sterling. And again, for me, the best thing about working with a laptop
is that I can take it in bed with me, and write to my heart's content or
surf the web while Sterling is happily playing, relaxing or napping right
by my side. My life with Sterling has been that of an extraordinary experience
of love, mutual growth, and overcoming challenges together. This is why
I have titled this presentation "Life with Sterling: living and learning
with a very special child".
In concluding this presentation, I'd like to say again, that despite
his disabilities, we think that Sterling is the most precious gift that
life has ever given us. And despite the difficulties and the stress that
we experienced because of the circumstance of his neurological condition,
Sterling has brought more joy into our lives than we ever thought possible.
He is our true little blessing.
Click here for more information about children
with special needs, natural health care for children and parenting issues.
Note: I can't remember
a time in my life, prior to Sterling's birth, when I wasn't struggling
with failing health. I was overweight, suffered from chronic fatigue and
my health was steadily going down the drain. For years I had been a "junkie"--addicted
to prescription and over the counter drugs. I used oral and topical corticosteroids
for 9 years to suppress my eczema/psoriasis (side effects of corticosteroids).
I grew up on antibiotics for recurring throat infections. I used nasal
decongestions for chronic sinus congestion, and various drugs for chronic
backaches and other health problems. Unfortunately, instead of generating
a cure, the medications merely temporarily suppressed my symptoms, weakened
my immune system, and in the long run made me sicker. I believe that the
combination of a bad diet (toxic foods) and the side effects of the
drugs affected Sterling's brain development in utero and contributed to
his neurological problems. Through Sterling's spiritual guidance I was
led to the light at the end of the tunnel and fully recovered my health
and vitality. Here is the story of my health recovery
December
30, 2000 - Goodbye My Love On this day, my adored little angel Sterling has departed from this
earthly plane of existance and returned Home. He stopped breathing
peacefully at home during his naptime sleep. In his death, Sterling looked
so beautiful and so peaceful. Needless to tell you that loosing Sterling
was the worst pain that my husband and I experienced in our entire lives.
It was like loosing part of our own body and soul. But in our sorrow,
we feel eternally grateful for having received this wonderful gift from
the Universe (Sterling) and having had the honor and joy to care for him
and to love him for 21 years. I'm so grateful for the riches and
the wonders he brought to our lives. Everyone says that it is a miracle
that he lived that long. Despite his many health problems, Sterling was
a very happy little boy in the loving environment we provided for him.
Sterling has touched the lives of almost everyone that came into contact
with him.
(photo
taken in Nov '98 - 19 year old Sterling )
Received from reverent Michael James, from the PERFECT PRAYER by St.
Francis of Assisi.
Do no stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow; I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain; I am the gentle autumn's rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft star that shines at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there; I did not die.
From: Jodi Abbinanti
Email: jkabbin@optonline.net
Location: Ronkonkoma, NY, USA
Date: February 2005
Shirley- I wanted to thank you for sharing your story about Sterling.
It truly has touched my heart- and changed our lives. My Daughter
Kyli
Margaret is 33 months old. She went through every test imaginable
including a skin/muscle biopsy. Nothing turned up. The good
news is- we don't have a diagnosis - and yet that is frustrating.
Kyli was in the hospital at 11 weeks, 6 months, 9 months, 15 months, 16mos,
and finally 18 mos. Around the 6th month mark I came across your
website and ordered Glenn Doman's book "What To Do About Your Brain Injured
Child." I read it - but it took a long time to finish b/c of all
we were going through. After starting the recommended patterning
program and building an incline plane as well as working w/ therapists
etc., I finally attended the course at The Institute for the Achievement
of Human Potential (IAHP) in Dec. 2004. It was amazing. By your story,
I know you read the book but not clear if you took the course.
Needless to say, Kyli is 33 months old and developmentally around 7
months. Since beginning patterning in Aug. 2004, Kyli has increased
her neurological age by 3.7 months (Practically doubled her development
in 4 months!) She too is considered legally blind, and she now is
seeing functionally in the outline perception stage. I could go on
forever about Kyli's story and recent accomplishments. But what I
really wanted you to know is that Sterling's life is a living miracle.
Because you have had the courage to share his story, we are experiencing
tiny miracles every day. I can tell by the way you expressed your
love for Sterling that you understand that I have no idea what tomorrow
brings, but that each day we celebrate the tiny miracles. Sterling's
story is a miracle to us, b/c it lead us to the wonderful resources IAHP
has to offer and we are seeing joyful improvements as a result. I
know Kyli is being watched over by a legion of angels. Often she bursts
out in laughter while in her crib or high chair and I believe the Angels
are telling her jokes. Perhaps Sterling is one of the Angels she
has met along the way. Thank you so much for having the courage to
share what you have learned and to let Sterling's life touch ours.
God Bless you and your family.
Micah
Lee Rock's Story. When Micah was born his heart stopped beating
and he could not breathe on his own.. The doctors did an x-ray and found
he had a collapsed lung. They removed the free air from his chest cavity
and brought him back to life after at least 30 minutes. Read Micah's story
and watch the video.
Watch the inspiring
video of Rick & Dick Hoyt, the father and son team, who have competed
in triathlons, iron man, marathons and road races for 25 years overcoming
some incredibly disabilities. If the video on the left does not show or
play download
the flash player
Generational Consequences
of Nutritional Deficiency
There are many serious consequences
of generation after generation having diets
deficient in an element essential for normal development of the nervous
system. In 1996, Laura J. Stevens, of the Department of Foods and Nutrition,
Purdue University, and co-investigators published an extremely important
paper in Physiology and Behavior. The researchers found that boys with
lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their
blood showed more problems with behavior, learning, and health than those
with higher levels of total omega-3 fatty acids. Dr. Weston Price
- "If a native abandoned his ancestral eating habits in favor of modern
foods, ill health and dental caries followed. If that
same person switched back to the original eating pattern, however, health
returned and the progression of dental decay stopped and reversed itself.
This is perhaps the most uplifting aspect of Price's work: one can always
reverse the trend; there is always hope. " Learn more
The Institutes for the Achievement
of Human Potential Visit
The Institutes® is a free educational organization that serves children
by introducing parents to the field of child brain development. Parents
learn how to enhance significantly the development of their children physically,
intellectually and socially in a oyous and sensible way.
United States:
The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential 8801 Stenton Avenue
Wyndmoor, PA 19038 USA Telephone: (215) 233-2050
Fax: 215-233-9312 E-Mail: institutes@iahp.org
A special thanks to Dr.
Kathleen Power, doctor of Applied Kinesiology (neurology/internal disorder)
in Pasadena, California, for donating her time to treat Sterling.
June 2002: I received an email from Viraj
V Kulkarni, the father of a child who sustained brain injury in a car
accident in India. Viraj introduced me to the G.
Therapy, a pioneering treatment for a variety of Neurodevelopmental
disabilities like Cerebral Palsy, Mental Subnormality, Autism, Down Syndrome,
Global Delays, etc., invented by Dr. Gunvant Oswal. Had I known about the
G Therapy a few years ago, when Sterling was still alive, I would most
certainly have flown to India and seen Dr. Oswal with him.
Micah
Lee Rock suffered from lack of oxygen at birth. He is also on the patterning
program. The video and Micah's story are inspiring!
.
Resources and support for
families with special children in the US
Our-Kids, Support and Information
for Parents of Children with Disabilities. Send E-mail to: listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu
Subject line doesn't matter. In the body of the message type: subscribe
our-kids your_name http://www.our-kids.org/
CP Parents, Parents of Children
with Cerebral Palsy. Send E-mail to: listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu
Subject line doesn't matter. In the body of the message type: subscribe
cpparent your_name
Family Voices National Office
http://www.familyvoices.org
Family Voices National Office 1-888-835-5669 (toll-free) E-mail:
kidshealth@familyvoices.org
The Arc of the United States
http://www.thearc.org/
With more than 1,100 affiliated chapters and 140,000 members across the
United States, The Arc (formerly Association for Retarded Citizens of the
United States) is the country's largest voluntary organization committed
to the welfare of all children and adults with mental retardation and their
families. The Arc, with its rich history in advocacy and services, is comprised
of individuals with mental retardation, family members, and professionals
in the field of disability and other concerned citizens. The Arc has adopted
various positions on issues that affect people with mental retardation
and their families, and the organization's mission statement forms the
basis for the organization's activities.
CSHCN-L: The Children with Special
Health Care Needs-ListServ CSHCN-L is a discussion list individuals interested
in the children with special health care needs. CSHCN-L provides the opportunity
to exchange ideas, identify exemplary programs addressing the needs of
children with special health needs and their families, and initiate a dialogue
of the critical issues that need to be identified and articulated to inform
the current debates. To join send an e-mail message to: listserv@ichp.edu
In the body of the message type: subscribe cshcn-l Your Name
The incidence of neurotoxic, allergic, and immune reactive conditions
such as autism, schizophrenia, ADD, dyslexia, allergies, asthma, eczema,
psoriasis, childhood diabetes, etc. have been increasing rapidly in recent
years. A recent report by the National Research Council found that 50%
of all pregnancies in the U.S. are now resulting in prenatal or postnatal
mortality, significant birth defects, developmental disabilities or otherwise
chronically unhealthy babies. There has been a similar sharp increase in
developmental disabilities in Canadian children over the last 2 decades,
including learning disabilities and behavioral problems, asthma and allergies,
and childhood cancer. Exposure to toxic chemicals or environmental factors
appear to be a factor in as much as 28 percent of the 4 million U.S. children
born each year , with 1 in 6 having one of the neurological conditions
previously listed. The U.S. Dept. Of Education indicates that over 5 million
children attending school have neurological related disabilities reported
by state agencies, other than ADD. According to the American Academy of
Pediatrics between 4 to 12 % of all school age children are affected by
ADHD and a similar number have some degree of dyslexia. Studies
indicate that over 60,000 children are born each year with neurodevelopmental
impairments due to prenatal exposure to methyl mercury and two other sources
of mercury exposure appear more common and at higher levels than
this, mercury from vaccines and amalgam dental fillings.
(more on the toxic danger of amalgam
dental fillings)
Transfer
Factors and Your Child's Immune Defense "Did you know that close to $10 billion was spent on
antibiotics in the U.S. last year? Did you know that many bacteria have
become increasingly resistant to these drugs and that many drugs are outdated
as soon as they are released for use? Have you seen the many articles in
Time and Newsweek (and many medical journals) about the variety of plagues
caused by infectious agents throughout the world? What can we do to protect
ourselves in a safe and natural way against this ever-increasing threat?
Have you had a child or patient who has required multiple drugs to deal
with one or several ear infections? This is how this threat touches our
daily lives. We now have new HOPE . . . literally, hope in a capsule of
Transfer Factor!" David M.
Markowitz, M.D.
David Markowitz, M.D. - "I have now completed a retrospective
study comparing children in our practice who did not use Transfer Factor;
during the same period. 87 children, age 8 months through 9 years, used
Transfer Factor. We found 74% less reported illness and 84% less reported
use of antibiotics. "Thousands of testimonies reinforce these results!
Transfer Factor enhances the immune system. The immune system is the key."
David
Markowitz, M.D.isa general pediatrician for more than 20
years. and a pediatrician in Kennebunk, Maine with a patient base of 4,500
children, is conducting an ongoing retrospective study of patients who
are consuming Transfer Factor. --- Application
of Transfer Factor in pediatrics medicine
A doctor wrote about a five year old child: "This is a severely developmentally
delayed floppy child whose differential includes a structural abnormality
in the brain or a genetic abnormality, some of which may be diagnosed by
chromosome analysis or genetic screen." Parent's tried every possible approach
with no improvement. The Easter Seals Rehab Center listed the child as
"(1) Severe receptive and expressive speech/language delay; (2) Immature
neuromotor functioning; (3) Delay in development of play/cognitive skills;
(4) Questionable hearing acuity/perception; (5) Severe delays in all areas
of development; (6) Severe hypotonia."
Her mother began to give Bee pollen, and slow progress began: lost rag-doll
floppiness, clung to mother when held. Later noted that her eyes fixed
on colorful objects with interest; able to scoot body forward while sitting
on couch; rolled over for the first time; reached with operational arm
for articles; skin color better; able to drink from cup.Improvement continued
onward: Colleen is alert and interested in things around her -- this fact
alone is "medically impossible" -- and is beginning to speak -- she smiles
and laughs, loves hugs and kisses. learn more about
the wonders of bee pollen
H. J.
Roberts, M.D. "I have observed severe intellectual deterioration
associated with the use of aspartame products (NutraSweet,
Equal,
Spoonful, Canderal, Benevia, etc.) It was usually manifest as great
difficulty in reading and writing, obvious problems with memory and grossly
impaired orientation to time, place and person."
Ralph
Walton, M.D. "Aspartame has a profound effect on mood and cognition....depressed
mood, anxiety, dizziness, panic attacks, nausea, irritability, impairment
of memory and concentration." (Learn about
the Legal class action against aspartame. )
more
.
What
Every Parent Should Know BEFORE Their Childen Are Vaccinated! Why
are a growing number of parents and health care professionals around the
world questioning vaccination? The controversy stems from the thousands
of deaths and permanent disabilities attributed to vaccination annually,
as well as the many published medical studies, government statistics, congressional
testimonies, and other credible sources that directly contradict commonly
held assumptions about vaccine safety and effectiveness.
Bart Classen, a Maryland physician, published data showing that diabetes
rates rose significantly in New Zealand following a massive hepatitis B
vaccine campaign in young children, and that diabetes rates also went up
sharply in Finland after three new childhood vaccines were introduced.
More pictures
of vaccine damage available to view at the
CDC
website
In fall 1997, two influential professional magazines featured articles
asking the question: Has the decrease of infectious diseases in childhood
through the mass use of vaccines been replaced with an increase in chronic
diseases such as diabetes and asthma? The Economist, a prestigious international
magazine read by world leaders in government, business and public policy,
and Science News, a magazine read by both health care professionals
and the general public, explored the reported links between vaccines and
chronic diseases in their November 22, 1997 issues.
Homeopathy
can be used successfully to prevent and treat smallpox, measles,
whooping
cough, chickenpox, and other ailments.
Would you allow big brother to enforce vaccinations on your kids? Government
Enforced Vaccinations Vaccination Tracking Registry - Government programs
that limit your choices -and your rights- in health care when it comes
to mandatory vaccination. These mandates last for 40 or so years
and they're impossible to repeal. Also, learn about Legal Requirements
and Exemptions
Are Vaccines Damaging Our Pets?
Routine Vaccination: Is
it really safe and effective? Most recently, an article
appeared in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
entitled "Are We Vaccinating Too Much?" Read about the comments of veterinarians
who believe that vaccines are damaging our pets.
Home:
ShirleysWellnessCafe.com (aka: MyWellnessHouse.com) is a free educational
site site dedicated to help promote holistic health for you, your family,
and your animals.
Natural
Immune Booster In a clinical study, pediatrician,
Dr.
David Markowitz, M.D. reports an 84% reduction in antibiotic use when
children used transfer
factors. "There is no other product in a nutritional substance,
nor a drug, that has this kind of power and ability to affect our immune
system. With the increase of killer viruses, mutated germs, super-resistant
germs, and food contaminations, our only hope and defense, must lie within
our own immune system." Dr. Rob Robertson, MD more
T h e
D R U G S T O R Y A Factological History of
AMERICA'S $10,000,000,000 DRUG CARTEL — ITS METHODS, OPERATIONS,
HIDDEN OWNER-SHIP, PROFITS AND TERRIFIC IMPACT ON THE HEALTH OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
Dr. Jerry Tennant, M.D.
says
that marine phytoplankton contains almost everything
one needs to sustain life and to restore health by providing the raw materials
to make new cells that function normally. These nutrients improve mental
function, and memory. They reduce depression, harmful effects of stress,
and mood swings. Profound Life-Giving Properties
of Marine Phytoplankton
Do
you have a question or need guidance? Patricia Wilson volunteers
her time to provide guidance and support in your quest to find relevant
information. She can be reached at 281 581 2424 or 206-222-1619
(USA) If you prefer you can click here to
contact Shirley .
Shirley was once a victim
of the never-ending flow of propaganda from the medical establishment who
wants to maintain a monopoly on the word "cure" and who wants us to believe
that we have no control over our own health and that our only hope to get
"well" is with drugs, surgery and radiation. You can read an account
of Shirley's
journey into health without drugs, surgery or radiation.
The
Terror of Pediatric Medicine is a free downloadable e-book from
IMVA Publications. The e-book covers in-depth the vaccine controversy,
pediatric dentistry, oncology as well as childhood psychiatry and psychology.
Raising
Public Awareness Most modern maladies are
caused by prolonged exposure to a combination of negative lifestyles and
toxic environmental factors, including junk food and malnutrition, pesticides,
antibiotics, microwaves, chemical pollution of food, water and air, lack
of exercise and chronic stress. These factors are further aggravated by
the failure of modern medicine to recognize them as agents of dis-"ease"
and death and the consequent failure to take preventative measures against
them. more
Successful
Moms - Join a caring and motivating group of at-home entrepreneurs that
are enhancing lives with an ethical and rewarding home business. click
here
Teas
Are One of The Most Effective Ways to Benefit from Nature's Healing Herbs Teas can help fight depression
and anxiety, heal skin conditions and gastrointestinal disorders, regulate
hormone imbalances, improve your sex life, prevent illness, and help
you healfaster.
Many diseases and conditions for which we turn to modern medicine can also
be treated naturally with healing herbs. These treatments can be safer,
less expensive and possibly even more effective than traditional methods.
Dr.
Myklebust, MD: "Teas are rich in antioxidants called polyphenols which
are plant chemicals that may help prevent cancer, heart disease, and other
diseases" More
MagnesiumTherapy
Magnesium helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart
rhythm steady, and bones strong. Dr. Sidney Baker - "Magnesium deficiency
can affect virtually every organ system of the body. With regard to skeletal
muscle, one may experience twitches, cramps, muscle tension, muscle soreness,
including back aches, neck pain, tension headaches and jaw joint (TMJ)
dysfunction." more
"I
am Only A Child"
13 year old Severm Suzuki,
plead for the future of her generation. "Even when we have more than enough,
we are afraid to share." 6
Minute Video
A story so heartwarming,
it's unreal! You can never tell what type of impact you may have on another's
life by your actions ... or lack of action. Teddy Stoddard, an emotionally
disadvantaged child, blossomed under the influence of his teacher and went
on to become a successful doctor. Watch
this short movie online
Childhood
Insomnia We all struggle to sleep sometimes and children
are no exception. Sometimes sleep problems become chronic and a pattern
of insomnia sets in. This can cause much frustration for children and their
parents and can even result in relationship difficulties if the problem
is not addressed. If you find yourself struggling to put your child to
sleep night after night, then it is important to do something about it.
Childhood
Anxiety Children are also vulnerable to stress. Some
children suffer from anxiety and shyness and may struggle to adjust to
new situations like school and friendships. Others experience worries about
their safety or have intense fear of the dark, insects, animals or other
creatures.
Natural
Remedy for Bedwetting Bedwetting is common during the
pre-school years and children vary in their ability to control their bladders
at nighttime. It is quite normal for a child under the age of five to wet
the bed occasionally and boys often take longer than girls to become dry
at night. 'Accidents' do happen and should be dealt with kindly and sensitively
in order to prevent emotional problems. Children who wet their beds should
not be punished.
"What
Babies Want" An award winning DVD documentary film that explores
the profoundly important and sacred opportunity we have in bringing children
into the world. The documentary includes groundbreaking information on
early development as well as appearances by the real experts: babies and
families.
ADD/ADHD
Helping
Children, Not Drugging Them.
In 1996 the World Health Organizationwarned
that Ritalin over-use has reached dangerous proportions. "The drugging
of children has gotten so out of hand that America is waking up to this.
This is a national catastrophe." Peter R. Breggin M.DLearn
about natural solutions
Standard
hospital practice is to place preemie twins in separate incubators to reduce
the risk of infection. That was done for the Jackson girls in the neonatal
intensive care unit at the Medical Center of Central Massachusetts in Worcester.
Suddenly, Brielle went into critical condition. She began gasping for breath,
and her face and stick-thin arms and legs turned bluish-gray. Her heart
rate was way up, and she got hiccups, a dangerous sign that her body was
under stress. Her parents watched, terrified that she might die. Learn
how she was rescued by her twin
Natural
Colic Remedy - Babies between the ages of 0 - 6 months often develop
colic. This could be due to wind or other digestive problems or even the
incorrect formula.Signs of colic include persistent fretfulness and crying
(especially after feeds), and baby may become red in the face and pull
up his legs to relieve the pain in his stomach.
Stressed
out? Anxious? Worried? Panic Attack? Insomnia? Today's fast paced
living can translate into a highly stressful environment. Our bodies are
continually challenged physically and emotionally, in the workplace and
in our personal lives. Calmazon helps our body to relieve stress naturally.
It produces a calming effect by assisting the body's natural processes
and supporting its nutritional needs. learn
more
Optimal Prostate Health and
Prevention Measure to prostate enlargement.
Prostate Cancer: a drugless
approach
Homeopathic approach to impotence,
bladder infections, prostate problems etc.
The Male Andropause (like menopause)
Male Herbs for Impotence
Peter R. Breggin,
M.D - "The drugging of children has gotten
so out of hand that America is waking up to this. This is a national catastrophe."
more
Julian Whitaker M.D -
"Class
action lawsuits have been filed in Texas, California and New Jersey charging
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis, maker of Ritalin,
with conspiracy to create the psychiatric disorder known as ADHD in order
to fuel the market for their product." more...
.
Overcoming
cortical blindness and brain-injury
USE
OF THIS SITE SIGNIFIES YOUR AGREEMENT TO THE DISCLAIMER
One
month after I started Sterling on this program I noticed something unusual
about him. He seemed to be smiling directly at me. At first I thought I
was imagining things. I couldn't believe that he was able to see after
only one month on this program. This was like a miracle! But it was true,
those big, beautiful eyes were focusing on me, and he was actually making
eye contact with me! He also began to play with his hands by flipping his
fingers repeatedly in front of his eyes.
He
has acquired the ability to sit on his own and he can pull himself onto
his knees. He has also learned to use his hands to grasp objects and play
with them, and he can finger feed on rice cakes. But I think that his biggest
achievement on this program, other than the recovery of his vision, is
that he has gained mobility skills. However, Sterling does not move
his body as most children do. Instead of learning to crawl or creep like
a regular toddler, which Sterling is unable to do because of weakness in
his arms and legs, he has learned to move his body in a most peculiar way:
he simply rolls on himself. In this fashion, he has gained precious
independence and enjoys traveling all over the apartment as he pleases.
Its
amazing to me to witness how a child can learn to compensate for his disabilities
and overcome his weakness.
born
in the late forties and at that time, in the Western world mothers followed
unnatural and rigid standards in the care of their infants. For example,
as a baby, I was left to sleep in a crib in a room by myself. When I cried
no one was allowed to pick me up or attend to me for fear of "spoiling"
me. The feeding and care of babies in those days, ran similar to a strict
military schedule, with the same lack of human warmth. As a young child,
I also sadly witnessed my younger siblings being subjected to the same
tragic treatment. We were raised by the rod and the whip at the hand of
our mother. When Sterling was born, I was determined to care for my child
with warmth and love in the most natural setting as possible. I have always
admired how babies are cared for and loved in the 3rd world.
Mirrors
and Dolls
apartment,
including the kitchen and the bathroom. Wherever he goes Sterling always
finds himself surrounded by mirrors and dolls. At the beginning, he ignored
the dolls and his own image in the mirror but gradually he began to timidly
make brief eye contact and eventually began to smile and even babble with
the dolls and with his own reflection in the mirror. In time, he gradually
developed a fascination with his own image. He'll grab a mirror and bring
it close to his face and press his lips on it to kiss himself. Now I constantly
hear him babbling and giggling with his own little bad self and he also
likes to watch himself eat rice cakes in front of the mirror.
The
Living Room
Sterling
has suffered from poor digestive process his entire life. For years we
consulted with several medical specialists and Sterling was subjected to
numerous medical tests bu we never found the cause of his problems nor
a cure. We suspect that the vagus nerve may have been damaged during
his brain injury which in turn is affecting his entire digestive system.
Special diets and feeding plans were developed by dietitians at UCLA to
help put weight on Sterling but that didn't work either.
1981
Shirley with 2 year old Sterling - I was overweight (185 lbs), suffered
from chronic fatigue and depression, and my health was steadily going down
the drain. For years I had been a "junkie"--addicted to prescription and
over the counter drugs. Learn 
In
1983 with 4 year old Sterling. I lost 60 pounds effortlessly in 3
months and fully recovered my physical and mental health entirely with
natural means. Learn 
seizures
which impeded his breathing, I feared that he might not make it through.
It is hard for a helpless mother to watch her baby in so much pain.
In
1995 another great opportunity knocked at my door because of my commitment
to homeopathic medicine. A grateful retired school teacher and computer
consultant offered to teach me how to use a computer as a trade off for
the successful results she achieved with my homeopathic treatments. At
first I hesitated to accept her offer because computers intimidated me
and even frightened me. Also I didn't think I was smart enough to learn
about those machines. But the opportunity was too good to pass, so I went
ahead and got myself a laptop. I was surprised to discover how easy it
is actually to learn to use a computer. The teacher taught me the rudiment
of using a computer and word processing. Unfortunately, the teacher didn't
have enough tech knowledge to teach me the internet and website publishing
business so I learned at home on my own, with the help of various phone
tech supports like AOL, Netscape. With the word processor I have learned
to truly enjoy writing. I write articles on homeopathy, on nutrition, on
holistic veterinary medicine, and of course I also write articles about
Sterling. And again, for me, the best thing about working with a laptop
is that I can take it in bed with me, and write to my heart's content or
surf the web while Sterling is happily playing, relaxing or napping right
by my side. My life with Sterling has been that of an extraordinary experience
of love, mutual growth, and overcoming challenges together. This is why
I have titled this presentation "Life with Sterling: living and learning
with a very special child".
December
30, 2000 - Goodbye My Love
Do
you have a question or need guidance? Patricia Wilson volunteers
her time to provide guidance and support in your quest to find relevant
information. She can be reached at 281 581 2424 or 206-222-1619
(USA) If you prefer you can 
