Pediatrics
Stars Speak out against Autism and its Relation to Vaccines
 | Actress Holly Robinson Peete, wife of former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete for the Carolina Panthers, recalls their battle with autism. Their eldest son, R.J. Peete, was diagnosed with autism at age three. "I will never forget that day when he went from saying, 'Cow, cow,' to nothing. Silence. Indifference. That change happened very soon after he received his innoculation for measles, mumps, and rubella. I noticed that he ceased making eye contact and responding to his name." | |
| Rodney Peete said, "When he was two, I remember R.J. standing by himself. He had a glazed look in his eyes, like he was a million miles away, and it broke my heart. I could just tell that something was wrong." People, June 4, 2007
Robinson-Peete also appeared on Oprah with Jenny McCarthy on September 20, 2007. Holly says the CDC's statement about vaccinations has given her hope that parents and medical professionals can lay down their arms and open the lines of communication. "I would just say to the pediatricians, listen to [mothers] sometimes and give us a little bit more respect," Holly says. "Our gut is really dead on." Oprah, Sept. 20, 2007 | ||
 | In her new book, Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism, actress Jenny McCarthy shares her emotional story of diagnosis, hope, faith and recovery—a journey many thousands of parents now face. Following are statements Jenny made on the Oprah Show.
Jenny says even before Evan received his vaccines, she tried to talk to her pediatrician about it. "Right before his MMR shot, I said to the doctor, 'I have a very bad feeling about this shot. This is the autism shot, isn't it?' And he said, 'No, that is ridiculous. It is a mother's desperate attempt to blame something,' and he swore at me, and then the nurse gave [Evan] the shot," she says. "And I remember going, 'Oh, God, I hope he's right.' And soon thereafter—boom—the soul's gone from his eyes." Oprah, Sept. 20, 2007 | |
More on Pediatrics
Testimonials
My lower back was in extreme pain, which made me uncomfortable standing for long periods of time and could not even be touched. I consulted with my family doctor, and after x-rays and a bone scan, he was unable to find anything wrong. After dealing with my pain and numbness for five months, my daughter suggested I see Dr. Coberly. Only a month of seeing Dr. Guy, I no longer have the pain in my back when I'm on my feet at work. Read more.
Geraldine H.
