Toby is 15, and has only just been diagnosed as Autistic, even though the signs were there from the beginning. The general atmosphere here in the UK for the last couple of decades has been one of denial, where specialists even with their suspicions, have been frightened to come forward and speak out. Any talk of links between the MMR vaccine, and the Autistic Spectrum have quickly been hushed and swept under the carpet; any professional brave enough to stick his head above the parapet, has quickly been shot down.....
Toby's condition is undeniably linked to the vaccine. He was a well developed, talking, eating, healthy child. There were no signs of any problems at all, until post injection. Almost immediately, the change was dramatic, no talking, impossible eating regimes, difficulty with bowel movements, social interaction became difficult, no eye contact, etc., etc.
Over the next 13 years or so, the changes became more obvious, and although we were pushed down several routes of treatment, the underlying tension was there every time you raised the MMR theory, with people actually frightened to acknowledge publicly, that there could be a link. The professionals denied it, but us, the parents, knew there was a definitive link, and talking to parents in a similar position, only sought to reinforce our theory.
Now, the tide is turning, there is some agreement here that there could be a link, nobody talks publicly about it, but if you engage a professional and talk off the record, they are a little more relaxed. For us though, it's a little late. Toby is now a teenager, and has missed out on years of valuable time, where he could have had some decent help. In the UK, you get no help until you are diagnosed....
We love him dearly, he is a great boy, funny, articulate, focused and good company. He is a little bit reclusive, he's been out of the house less than a dozen times this year, preferring to interact online, but hopefully we can now move forward, and he can start to fulfill his fantastic potential.....
BOURNEMOUTH, United Kingdom