Kaisha
Saturday, September 23, 1995 our (private) adoption agency
phoned: our daughter had been born – could we come to pick her up at the hospital?
YES! We had planned to try to breastfeed but Kaisha was 5 lbs., a month early and
having a hard time suckling. We had no
notice! As an open adoption, the mom and dad
chose us to parent their child.
Once home, we noticed Kaisha shivered and cried a great deal. Thinking she was cold, I bundled her tightly and
kept her in a sling against my body 24 hours a day (little did I know this would be needed
for 8 months). As it turned out, Kaisha was in drug withdrawal. The crying lasted up to 12
hours a day. The tremors slowly improved and
the crying was about the same when, at 2 months she had a DPT shot. I had not heard of the possible side effects, but,
concerned about the tremors, I asked our pediatrician if immunization was wise. He
insisted. The shot was administered and immediately Kaisha started a high pitched scream. The health nurse said it was normal. It lasted 13
hours. Then she slept 8 hours – she had never slept more than 2 hours in a row prior
to this.
Things got progressively worse. The
crying turned to incessant high-pitched screaming – 16-18 hours per day. Diarrhea started two days after the shot and
persisted 7 months. She started exhibiting
spastic movements. We were referred to a
neurologist. She said there was neurological
damage but refused to connect it to the DPT shot – instead she said she had a
pre-existing neurological condition that would have worsened on its own anyway. By this time I had learned that the package insert
of the DPT shot (something neither parents nor patient see) itself stated a baby’s
possible neurological damage, weight less than 10 lbs. and family history of severe
allergies were contraindication to vaccination (all of which Kaisha had).
The neurologist diagnosed indeterminant neurological damage,
possibly cerebral palsy and/or mental retardation or delay.
She told us to sedate her (at four months).
Finally we rebelled, I said, “As long as I can walk this earth I’ll
walk our baby in the sling. You’re just
prescribing something to give me rest, not to help her.
I don’t need it.” Thank
God for strength and stamina – although I fell asleep in all sorts of places Kaisha
never fell from the sling.
Our pivotal step – at four months we took Kaisha to a
homeopath. He had been a medical doctor and
naturopath/homeopath in France and had treated vaccine damaged children. He looked at her – screaming and said the
first positive thing we’d heard “She’s going to be fine.” This after the neurologist said she may not walk
or talk. The homeopath walked with us those
next four months and still does. Within weeks
of therapy the screaming lessened to 12 hours a day.
By 8 months she was in and out of the sling and crawling! At 10 months walking. (Oh… we were told… but the drugs must
have affected the learning capacity, she won’t talk). At 12 months speaking 25 words. At 18 months 300 words. Now, 21 months, she says
3-4 word sentences. She is a miracle child. She is our daughter. She has severe allergies, celiac disease and can
only tolerate organic foods. She is
inquisitive, loving, creative, her own fascinating little person.
I tell this story to promote awareness. I encourage readers to research, read, be
informed. For some reason informed consent
has not been applied to infants although it is a cornerstone of medical legal thought. We were not told of any risks associated with the
DPT shot, nor were we told certain children should definitely not receive the shot. Needless to say Kaisha never had a second shot. Unfortunately, I know of other children who have
had second and third shots who suffered irreversible damage – one of whom is involved
in a lawsuit in Canada.
Our story has a happy ending.
Kaisha is thriving. She’s
outside collecting raspberries from our organic garden right now as her new brother,
Joshua born to us March 15, 1997, nurses contentedly.
Bless you,
Krista,
Mom to Kaisha, 3 1/2 and Joshua, 2