The Cause of It All
April 11, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Asperger's Syndrome, Cause, Charlisms, Classics, Literature, New Jersey, Travel, Vaccines, new york
“Happy is he who knows the causes of things,” writes the Roman poet Virgil in Book 2 of his Georgics. Virgil was writing about the stars and the sun and the moon, about why there are eclipses and earthquakes, about natural phenomena, about the cosmos—-and his words can be applied to a much more specific concern, the discussion today about the cause of autism. The need to figure out “what causes it” seems, indeed, to be the main goal of so much research about autism.
Certainly this need is what principally fuels the discussion/debate/issue about vaccines and autism. Today in Washington, D.C., the federal government is holding a public meeting of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) Vaccine Safety Working Group, to “discuss a government-wide research agenda to explore the safety of vaccines,” as the New York Times reports. And Bernardine Healy, M.D., writes nothing less than
in the April 10th US News and World Report, Healy notes that, the medical literature of 40 and 50 years ago is “replete with reports of neurological reactions to vaccines, such as mood changes, seizures, brain inflammation, and swelling.” It it, she says, thanks to the efforts of “doctors, researchers, and yes, families,” that “sacred medical dogma” (including the “universal vaccine strategy”) are being challenged.
Sometimes it feels that—in talking about autism—-one has to reveal whether one is “anti-vaccine/pro-vaccine safety/a vaccine skeptic,” or not. But how happy will anyone really be when, if, the “cause of autism,” or of the recent increase in the prevalence rate of autism, is found to be from vaccines?
Because—when one sees how much energy is focused on this particular topic—-one wonders about all the autism topics that are not getting talked about.
Causa, the Latin word for “cause,” also means “reason,” as in “reason why.” When I think of the words “cause” and “autism” together, what I first think of is not “why is Charlie autistic” (I have only to consider the various quirks and different-ness of my husband Jim and me to know that Charlie a lot from us), but of how much I’ve learned from the experience of raising Charlie, and just from Charlie; of how many roads I’ve now walked on that I never would have even noticed, had it not been because of my no longer little boy.
Last night–a Thursday night; a weekday night—took me—us—to the JCC of Manhattan, after a few other stops.
The first stop was, as ever, the parking lot outside our apartment in north-central New Jersey, where I met Charlie’s bus. The plan was that after a quick snack, he and I would board the black car and drive to Newark Airport to meet Cliff Schumacher, who was to arrive in the early afternoon, after which we’d all go together into New York to the JCC, where Jim would meet us.
This did eventually happen but first—what’s a night out without a twist?—-some delays occurred. “Maintenance” needs delayed Cliff’s plane by a couple of hours, and I found myself looking up train schedules as Charlie packed up his backpack and informing me it was time to leave. We left just around 5 pm; drove around Level 4 of short-term parking looking for an empty space; walked through Terminal C. Cliff arrived shortly after 6pm and then it was onto the Airtrain and NJ Transit (where the noise and the unusualness of the whole situation briefly got to Charlie; I was feeling a bit flushed too), and then into Penn Station and NYC and onto a really crowded (it was commute hour) #1 subway uptown. Charlie squeezed into an empty seat and was peaceful easy-feeling and attentive—nothing like the motion of a subway car.
It was just nearing 7.45pm when we hurried up Amsterdam Avenue to the 7th floor of the JCC; found the room; met the babysitter that the JCC had very kindly arranged for; and listened to poetry by Jason Ross and more poetry about baseball by Leigh Silver, and to Amy Gravino on her forthcoming book and ABA, and Cliff’s reflective piece on identity and autism. Kim Stagliano had read before we got there and we spoke about our children; Jacob Artson presented via a live feed from Los Angeles and said, memorably, that
not being able to speak means being able to have lots of time to think.
(I think I got that right—-something to think about.)
Charlie sat with the babysitter just outside the room and munched and (as she noted) answered her questions; at one point (I was reading) he wandered up to the podium and I assured him that “Dad will come soon” (and Jim indeed did, after teaching up in the Bronx; Charlie grinned big). We got a ride back to Jersey from another mother (thank you!); Charlie stretched out in the back seat of our car and was asleep when we got home. We got him up and he padded heavily, but eagerly, up the steps curled up in his bed. I set his blue backpack on the floor nearby and carried out his fleece coat and vest (blue too) and shoes to the living room, ready for him to don before the schoolbus appears again.
As I tucked the blanket under his chin, I felt—it’s another meaning of the Latin word for “happy,” which is felix—lucky to have met everyone tonight; lucky to know my son; lucky to have such adventures, because of a certain boy.
Jeff Stimpson
Jill Cornfield
Hi Kristina,
So you live in Jersey? What exit?? (Born and raised around Trenton.)
My child received autism due to vaccines. The reason I can say that is because I have three other children besides her that, for all intents and purpose are (and I hate this word) “neurotypical.” Our fourth received no vaccines and she is developing better than any of them (my previous three all had some issues after receiving vaccinations, but only the oldest is on the asd spectrum).
That being said, I agree with everything you say.
I don’t believe that vaccines are the sole cause of autism - I DO believe that it is a topic that the media can easily jump on, especially when you have Jenny McCarthy and others in the limelight. And yes, I think children like Charlie do get lost in the shuffle. And that is unfortunate.
We cannot discount that vaccinations do play a role in many cases of autism, despite what the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC say. There are enough parents out there who can attest to that, like my wife and I. But it is just one factor, and who knows how that role is played? It could be because my daughter got the MMR shot at such and early age (12 months). It could be because we give so many vaccinations close together or at the same time. And it could be because there is an underlying genetic factor that is triggered or exascerbated by the vaccines.
But the real bottom line is that my child is on the spectrum. Like you and Jim, my wife and I have travelled down many roads we would never have taken, all because of our special child.
Thanks for your blog. I am planning on subscribing.
Thomas
Will Doctor Bernadine Healy now get the Jenny McCarthy treatment from Orac and company?
It must be a sad day for those who regularly use ad hominem attacks in their autism tirades.
Kristina, last night’s event was terrific. I enjoyed meeting Charlie, you and Jim. Charlie held his own very well.
I’ll bet you never even noticed my horns and tail, did you? (Judicious hair placement and diligent tucking.)
Of course, the stars of the evening were the young adults/adults who displayed their talents. They give me hope for my girls.
I trust you got home safely. That garage took quite a while to get our car!
Between 9.30pm when we left the garage and 10am History of Rome class, we’ve been back and forth several times in the Meadowlands and probably past a Jersey devil or two——sorry I was not able to hear you read; Cliff’s plane was supposed to arrive much earlier and I had a whole plan of walking him through Jersey City and to Manhattan by way of the WTC site. Instead, we had to make more of a run for the train and subway, but motion is always good.
@H6,
Perhaps the ad feminam treatment…… for myself, I have to say, bring it on.
@Thomas,
I teach at Saint Peter’s College and we live further west in super suburbia. Went to a large university up the road from Trenton.
Am not fond of the “neurotypical” term—-jargony—-Charlie’s diagnosis has always been clear and we’ve never had to make a case for him having autism. That said, I do not think he would have been diagnosed with autism in previous generations, due to his limited language: My sense is that he would have been considered MR and emotional/behavioral disorder.
Very glad to be on the road with your and yours!
It’s too bad that Healy wasn’t more sensitive to dissident scientific views when she was the Director of NIH. At a time when scientists were questioning the Robert Gallo’s HIV-causes-AIDS hypothesis which was the official government line on AIDS, Healy was doing her best to help mitigate evidence that Gallo was one of the most creative crooks in the history of science. She compared him to Mozart when in fact Salieri might have been closer to the truth.
Healy didn’t much like the idea of accountability in science when the Office of Scientific Integrity criticized her inquiry into scientific fraud at the Cleveland Clinic where she had worked. Or when it investigated Gallo’s claims to have discovered HIV when French researchers had done so before him and had sent him their virus.
Ironically, Healy may have played a curious indirect role in the current autism epidemic, if autism does turn out to be a part of the HHV-6 epidemic. By helping to salvage Gallo’s reputation, she helped keep the HIV paradigm alive. Had Gallo lost all his credibility by being portrayed as a scientific con artist, the HIV hypothesis doubters might have had their day. Had that happened, the search for an alternative explanation for AIDS might have led to HHV-6, the virus Gallo was pushing as a co-factor while still insisting HIV was the real cause.
Doubts about HIV have never died down and the science of HHV-6 in AIDS and many other medical problems only becomes more substantial and alarming as time goes on. Just Google “HHV-6″ and start reading.
And HHV-6 has been found to be a potential problem in autism. Hence, the road back to the truth about the HHV-6-autism link may pass through some of Healy’s actions. And a lot of time has been lost in understanding all the illnesses related to HHV-6.
(For the whole story on Healy and Gallo, read John Crewdson’s “Science Fictions: A Scientific Mystery, a Massive Cover-up, and the Dark Legacy of Robert Gallo)
“…in talking about autism—-one has to reveal whether one is “anti-vaccine/pro-vaccine safety/a vaccine skeptic,” or not…”
To be honest, I never did, or had to until we got the internet and encountered the world of grouplists and related. I joined a group to find out what other folks were doing and within a week was being scrutinized on my vaccinations views. It seems to have accelerated recently.
Up until that pre-internet time I thought exclusively about education and teaching and how to teach.
Those seem like “simple, yet good times” now.
If I find out that Eleanor has autism because our genes are different, or something environmental, or because a black cat crossed my path at the wrong time–the thing I have to worry about today and right now is “what are we doing today”, “how am I going to teach what you need and/or want to know”, and “did you/we have a good day?” If we accomplish the last every day we can–that’s the one that matters to me.
The rest maybe I’ll get from the newspaper and find out if ignorance is bliss. At least it seemed like it.
Thank you for everything, Kristina, especially with my ridiculous plane adventures (yes, I even got delayed on the way back. Go figure). Everyone there was great and really nice. Charlie in particular was very nice to meet.
Cliff
Very sweet ending to this post.
It was great meeting you, Jim, and Charlie last night. I think that we all did great. I am glad everyone enjoyed my poetry. I hope that someday I can write a book someday. In fact a friend and I wrote a short story for a fiction writing contest about two people with aspergers. I hope that I win that contest with my friend.
anyway, have a great weekend.
@Cliff,
I was afraid you’d have to wait some in the airport going back—-hope the rest of the trip was smoother. Talking to you was a real highlight for me and Jim for sure and Charlie.
@Jason R.,
Yes, I really hope you can write a book someday—what was the story about, if I may ask? Very best.
All this science stuff, now mitochondrial autism, forget it. It’s not science it’s arithmetic. No unvaccinated British kids are autistic, nor are Amish children nor are kids in the Homefirst natural health group.
No vaccination = no autism!