Why It Hits Close To Home

Today's Oprah had my heart breaking, remembering some very very dark times but also I was jumping up & down so thankful that FINALLY some Moms are getting their say.

Noah was normal just like any other 2 year old when he had his first seizure. We were told it must have been due to an illness or a fever even though he wasn't sick at the time. A few tests were run and we were sent home. Like it wasn't important. Then about a week later he had some very different types of seizures and we were back to the ER, back to more testing, and then told he has epilepsy. Like Jenny McCarthy says on Oprah today, we were not handed a pamphlet telling us how to deal with this diagnosis, we were just sent on our way. On our own.

In the beginning of today's show, Oprah explains that when a child is diagnosed with cancer, families send cards, bring food, and show support. When a child is diagnosed with autism (and in our case epilepsy), no one brings you food or wants to play anymore. In our friends' & familys' defense, I honestly think they don't know how to act, so they don't "act" at all. But I will say that this is a time parents need support more than any other. We were blessed with a few close friends and family that were an amazing support, but let's just say I can still relate.

There was NOTHING that could stop me from getting Noah better. I remember being alone as hubby was off to work during the day and I was home with Noah and Carter who was just 1 year old at the time. It was winter. Noah would have seizures all day long. I couldn't do anything but stay close to him. Or sometimes had to just keep him in a highchair all day so that he could sit up (he could hardly hold himself up) and then that way he also wouldn't fall when he'd have a seizure every few minutes.

I felt like the doctors around us didn't really want to help. They wanted us to just "move on" with how things were. But I KNEW that this was not the plan for Noah's life. When I learned about other ways to treat his seizures rather than medication (meds only made him worse), I was belittled and laughed at. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. If you as a mother have a doubt or gut feeling about something- anything- big or small- you should be able to talk openly about it and NOT be made to feel less-than.

I wanted to try the Ketogenic Diet to treat Noah's seizures. Our doctor at the time couldn't have made me feel more ashamed for even thinking that it would work. My Mama instinct said get rid of him and I did. And we tried the Ketogenic Diet and Noah was seizure-free by day 4 of that diet. Next month he will be seizure-free for THREE YEARS.

And of course, what worked for us may not work for everyone. But the bottom-line is that there is hope. No matter what diagnosis some doctor gives. You can not give up.

YES- vaccines were called out on today's show. Both Jenny McCarthy and Holly Robinson-Peete saw changes in their child after vaccination. You can't deny it. Does that mean you stop vaccinating your children? That's up to you to decide. Please know all your facts whatever you choose to do.

And I meant to add that I totally agree with Jenny on Oprah today that the vaccine schedule is not "one size fits all" but doctors seem to make it that way. Personally I do not like any vaccines, but if you are going to vaccinate, can you at least consider delaying until your child is older? Or if you must still vaccinate, try just one shot per visit instead of multiple vaccines at one time. But most importantly, be informed.

How much louder can I say it? YOU know your child. YOU know what is right deep down. Our Mama voice NEEDS to be heard and you know what, it DESERVES to be heard. We have a RIGHT to be heard and we ARE right.

You can read Noah's full story here and my previous posts on vaccines here.

My Two Boys has an open forum about Oprah's show here.

I'm keeping my Mama claws out for a bit longer today...