Pam,
No I don't think it is vaccine related.
i know that those vaccines can be nasty in some poeple.
And I know that timing of the on set of symptoms makes it seem like the vaccines caused the symptoms, but no. It is also odd that the child is developmenting speach and so forth and then seems to go backwards.
We don't have an answer yet. But no good evidence points to the vaccines.

It looks like a strong genetic component.

Mari


http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aut...348/DSECTION=3
CAUSES
Autism has no single, known cause. Given the complexity of the disease, the range of autistic disorders and the fact that no two children with autism are alike, it's probable that there are many causes. These may include:

Genetic errors.
Researchers have discovered a number of genes that appear to be involved in autism. Some may make a child more susceptible to the disorder; others affect brain development or the way brain cells communicate. Still others may determine the severity of symptoms. Each genetic error may account for a small number of cases, but taken together, the influence of genes may be substantial. Some genetic errors seem to be inherited, whereas others occur spontaneously.

Environmental factors.
Many health problems are due to both genetic and environmental factors, and this is likely the case with autism as well. Researchers are currently exploring whether viral infections and air pollutants, for instance, play a role in triggering autism.

Other causes.
Other factors under investigation include problems during labor and delivery and the role of the immune system in autism. Some researchers believe that damage to the amygdala — a portion of the brain that serves as a danger detector — may play a role in autism.

One of the greatest controversies in autism centers on whether a link exists between autism and certain childhood vaccines, particularly the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and vaccines with thimerosal, a preservative that contains a small amount of mercury. Though most children's vaccines have been free of thimerosal since 2001, the controversy continues. To date, extensive studies have found no link between autism and vaccines.

Thank you Mari, he lived a good life and we're lucky he managed to stay healthy up until the end. Three weeks ago he was fine...It just tears me up. :( Thank you for caring Mari. :hug:

I think its more like we overload their littel immune systems too soon, I think they should wait until they are two before forcing the rigid schedule at us parents. Because somehow the guts are involved as is the immune system, ever heard of Leaky Gut Syndrome? That along with the genetic factors is probably enough. Who really knows though...Thanks for the info you shared, most of it wasn't new to me since I post on BT's Autism forum as far back as 99' around the time we got the word from his pediatrician that we could be looking at mild autism.

He hugged me and leaned hard against me today and I fell on my butt, it was by the trunk of the car and I was just about to get the chair out. *sigh* he didn't mean it, but still it stinks to lose your balance, he was so sweet though, "What happened? Why fall?" And I explained it to him and he hugged me again lightly. We'll see how the rest of this week goes, next weekend is the funeral. :(

I also got word that we're going to go for the actual funeral up North, sometime later this year and we're going to take Jackie for his first minivacation while doing it, I am so nervous about it. But it has to be this way, Jack can't go alone and I can't stay here and watch Jackie alone. So much is up in the air right now it's just an awful feeling. We could have to move again later this year too. I am just so full of anxiety. I've taken my full dose of Avitan today, .5 at two points during the day just because I am so nervous.

I hope it goes well, I have to get not one but TWO suit coats, one in a bigger size for Jack, dress shoes for him and new ties. Just aches knowing that this happened. And it won't be truly over with for awhile really disturbs my usual mental peace and quiet. I am glad I go see my T soon, I definitely need to get some things off my mind and chest. I am so thankful for this board and for all of you. I can't go into details with all that's up in the air, but hopefully I can get some answers soon and get my peace of mind back. After I get our clothes squared away, because Jackie ripped up the only dress I had that I could have worn to this funeral ceremony.

I know Jack is upset about the whole situation but he seems to be taking it okay, I am doing my best to be there for him when it seems like he needs me. What more can you do? Thanks for posting Mari. :hug:

oh pamster I jsut caught up with this thread....
Wow.
You have a lot on your plate.
This sounds like a very tiring time for you....I wish that you did not have this extra stress to deal with.
I am glad to hear that this grandfathers suffering is over.

Grief is so hard on people...so very hard.
take comfort where ever you can....
((((HUGS))))
bizi

Thank you bizi, :hug: just having friends and being able to talk about it helps. I woke up and realized that we're going to need luggage too for this trip whenever it happens. I am so worried about so many things, it's just that this could be a big thing for Jack, and it might mean us moving back to the home town we grew up in, IF they have stuff for autistic children, like we've got here. I don't really want to move back, it's so crowded, so this could have a lot of repercussions and I am just worried about it all because I hate the unknown. :(

Top all that with the grief about losing this fine man under really iffy circumstances and you've got a heckuva a lot of emotional turmoil. Jack has been a little touchy too, I totally understand but it's not easy with Jackie home to accommodate Jack in his time of grief, especially when Jackie wants his attention. One more week and he goes to two weeks of summer school. Phew, I know we can make it. We will get through this summer, somehow. :)

I am glad my computer was able to fix itself after running an in-depth scan the other day, it seems to be working better, but I am afraid to let Jackie near it now. :p He's so rough on things. I got him a really cool five dollar squishy ball with tenticles everywhere on it and he destroyed it yesterday within six hours of having it. He's just INTO destruction. Next year in school he hopefully will start the lifeskills classes, because he's gotten as much out of their acedemic program as he's going to. We think he knows a little math and reading so that's all we can expect really.

I hope that he enjoys the new routine as much as I think he will. He loves to help clean and he loves to take out the trash along with many other things. He likes to do stuff with a purpose, which I can fully appreciate, he saw no purpose in the acedemics therefore he gave his teachers trouble. Like not sitting in his seat and talking non stop. He's such a little chatterbox, though I am very grateful he can talk it's just frustrating when he's talking his non-verbal language we don't understand and he expects us to.

Anyway I think that's pretty much it for what's on my mind this morning. We washed the car yesterday and today I have no clue as to what we're going to do with him, maybe play some basketball. Oh well, we'll find something to do. :D Hope you're all having a great Sunday today. If you get the discovery channel (in HD too) remember tonight is part two of the special mini-series "When We Left Earth" so don't miss it! :D :D :D

Pam

Sending you some thoughts and hoping you are holding up good today.

I also hope that Jack and Jackie are having a good Father's day today.

Donna

Well it rained almost all day so it wasn't that great of a father's day, but you can't win them all. :(