HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

(Whilst having a good old sort out through my possessions recently, I found an article that I had written two years ago. An article which I would very much like to share with you).




It's my sister Hannah's birthday next week - she'll be 21. So, yesterday, I went into town to buy her a birthday card.

I must have been into about four different card shops, and I still hadn't found a suitable card for Hannah. I was about to give up my search for that day, when I spotted another card shop nearby.

I became exasperated as I flicked through the assortment of cards - I just couldn't find a card that was suitable. I wanted a card that had '21' on it. There were plenty of 21st birthday cards to choose from and many that I liked, but they just weren't suitable. There were cards with champagne glasses printed on them, door keys, disco divas, but not one of them was right for Hannah. Why? Because Hannah won't get to enjoy the taste of champagne. Hannah won't be having a key to the front door. And she certainly won't be going to any discos. Hannah is severely autistic, or should I say, 'vaccine damaged.' She has the mental age of a baby.

Instead of doing all the things girls of her age normally do, Hannah just wants to sit on the sofa and rock backwards and forwards whilst she plays with her toys. Most of all, Hannah likes to play with her tub of loose beads; she loves running the beads through her fingers over and over again. She also likes to play with my mother's Freeman's catalogue (Hannah has adopted many) by repeatedly flicking through the pages; she likes the feel of the glossy paper between her fingertips. Looking at Hannah at 'play,' you would be correct in thinking that she seems very content. Indeed, she is content - during those moments at least. You've caught her on a good day. On a really bad day (and there have been many), Hannah will scream and sometimes cry intermittently for hours at a time. As a last resort, my mother is reduced to giving her a strong dose of Valium to help calm her down. Hannah suffers from epilepsy, and her screaming fits are part of it. Hannah developed epilepsy in her teens. Epilepsy is common in people who have brain damage. Hannah takes two lots of medication- the maximum dose - to help control her seizures. The side effects of her medication are most unpleasant.

If Hannah ever has a problem or is frightened by a nightmare, she can never tell us, Why? Because she cannot talk. She makes noises just like a baby does.

I remember a time when Hannah was only a toddler, when she could say a few words, and I also remember feeling excited in the knowledge that one day soon, her vocabulary would increase enough for us to have sisterly conversations together. Those sisterly conversations never took place because Hannah gradually began to lose the little vocabulary she had. I remember being confused by this and I recall my mother being very worried. Hannah went through many tests by doctors and psychologists, but no-one could tell us why Hannah had regressed. Years later, Hannah was finally diagnosed with 'autism' at the age of 10.

According to some of the textbooks on autism, it is very common for children with severe autism to lose their speech around the age of two. I remember thinking how nonsensical this was. How can someone who hasn't been in an accident or who hasn't suffered a stroke, lose their speech? According to the textbooks, one is born with autism. Why would someone who is born with autism, acquire the ability to speak only to lose that ability later on? What utter nonsense! Don't these so-called specialists learn to think for themselves? Do they all follow textbooks? I was fourteen for goodness sake when I first realised that all this didn't make sense.

A couple of years ago, Vernon told me about the link between autism and vaccinations. Vernon had been writing about the dangers of vaccinations for many years. Now, all of a sudden, there are other doctors who have finally come to the conclusion that autism might be caused by vaccinations. It all makes sense now.

I asked my mother whether Hannah had had any vaccinations shortly before she lost her speech and regressed. Yes, she had. Hannah had four vaccinations on one day. A short while afterwards, she screamed on and off for days. When I think back, I do remember her screaming episodes.

How dare those in authority continue to say that vaccinating your child is essential when there is still so much unresolved conflict and controversy about all vaccines? Vernon and I both believe that there are important questions still to be answered. (There is a substantial section dealing with vaccines in Vernon Coleman's book, Superbody, which is available both through the shop on this Website and through your local library).

I am angry that so many parents have vaccinated their children on the reassurance of those in power. How many of these vaccinated children have developed 'autism' as a result? Did you have your son, Leo vaccinated, Mr Blair? If so, why haven't we heard about it?

If I had a child, I know for a fact that I would not have my child vaccinated. I would much rather leave my child's fate in the hands of God than in the hands of drug companies.

Yes, Mr Blair, I'm angry. Yes, drug companies, I'm angry. I've got anger burning through my body at what has happened to my sister. And the anger just gets stronger every time I hear of somebody else suffering just like Hannah. But most of all, I'm saddened by the fact that children will, I believe, continue to develop so-called 'autism' until those in power develop a conscience.

I am also angry that a beautiful soon to be 21-year-old lady, should have the mental age of a baby. Hannah will always need protection. She will be dependant on my mother for the rest of my mother's life. What then? What happens if something happens to my mum or to me? What will happen to Hannah then? Who's going to give her the love she deserves? Who's going to give her the protection she needs? If, God forbid, she should ever get mistreated, who the bloody hell would know? Hannah can't talk. She won't be able to tell anyone.

Getting back to the card shop, I finally found a birthday card for Hannah that was just right. The birthday card had a little teddy bear sitting on top of a parcel with the words: 'Happy Birthday to someone special who's 21 today.' I went to the cash desk to pay for the card, and the woman behind the desk told me they had a special offer of '21st birthday' champagne glasses. She suggested that I might like to buy one to go with the card. I shook my head and averted my gaze, trying hard to make sure she didn't see the tears that had welled up in my eyes.

Happy birthday Hannah, my special beautiful sister.




Copyright Donna Antoinette Coleman (December 2003)

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