Categories: Parents Guide

My Story: How It All Began

Article At A Glance:
I share my story about my family's experience and how we found relief.

Many parents I encounter ask me how I began my journey as an advocate for families dealing with autism, so I thought I'd briefly share my experience.

I'm a single dad of a 7-year-old boy, and shortly before his 3rd birthday, my son was diagnosed with autism. The pediatrician told me there was nothing we could do and then handed him a piece of candy. I was devastated.

To say it was a difficult time would be an understatement: I was confused about what to do next, and I felt like all my dreams of raising my son were beginning to shatter. What would our family look like? Could he ever be happy and successful, or were things always going to be a struggle?

Although I initially felt helpless, I knew that as a father, I had to do everything in my power to find resources to support my son (even though the medical community thus far offered nothing for us). So I began to research, study, and learn everything I could about autism. I read every medical journal, blog post, article, and book I could find, and I began networking with other parents of children with autism to learn their stories. We started ABA therapy for my son, and although we saw some initial progress, we wanted true healing, not just a “bandaid” for his symptoms.

Around this same time, I had been sick and was exploring alternative methods to healing for myself. Through using proper nutrition and eliminating toxins from my diet and my environment, I went from experiencing adrenal fatigue, mono, and low testosterone to feeling the best I ever have in my life. I believed that making these same changes for my son could help heal him in the same way it did me.

Making a major lifestyle shift is not easy, and as any parent can attest, it's only more difficult when it involves children who are often picky eaters and resistant to change. I was amazed at how some of the changes came rather quickly. Within the first 30 days of cleaning up his diet, my son went from echolalia to 2-way communication. And through some trial and error learning, eliminating toxins, and persevering even when things were hard, I am happy to report that today, my son is thriving socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually. He is free from pain, doesn't have the sensory issues he once did, and I feel closer to him than I ever have before.

As a father who's been in your shoes, I felt called to share our story about how healing the gut, reducing inflammation, and using a holistic approach has helped our family. I'm honored to walk this journey with you, and I'm here to help.

*This website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by a healthcare professional.

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