The Seat of the Soul - The Origins of the Autism Epidemic
A Presentation by Andrew Wakefield, Executive Director, Thoughtful House Center for Children
Held at Carnegie Mellon University's Mellon Institute Auditorium  
Thursday, November 17, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.

- Dr. Andrew Wakefield discussed his autism research and the connection with the MMR vaccine.
- Arthur Krigsman, MD presented GI illness in children on the autistic spectrum.
- Edward Yazbak, MD presented a history of the medical community's response to Dr. Wakefield's research.
- Additional presenters include Vicky Debold, RN, PhD and Debbie Darnley-Fisch, MD.
- A moderated panel discussion immediately followed the lectures.  

The archived presentation can be viewed here:  http://www.chem.cmu.edu/wakefield/ 

TAAP leaders send letters of support.  
View letters:  April Oakes - TAAP President,  Linda Demos - TAAP Secretary, Lisa Jillani - TAAP Trustee 

November 20, 2005
From: April Oakes - TAAP President
 

Dearest Professor Collins,

 

I would like to thank you for allowing the November 17 conference to occur.  It's imperative that this much needed research gets publicity and funding so we can help the Autism "epidemic" of 1 in 150 children today.  These researchers are listening to the parents and proving what we already know.

 

My first little girl was my victim and passed away at 4 yrs of age.  Casi was born on June 3, 1995 and was a very healthy baby, scoring 8 and 9 on the APGAR scale.  I had heard of the risks of vaccines while I was pregnant with her, but we had an immunologist pediatrician who told me she would die if I didn't vaccinate her.

 

Casi received her first Hep B vaccine on June 19, 1995.  I was not informed of any risks and was given a bottle of Tylenol to mask the symptoms of any reaction.  She was given HbPV, OPV, DPT and her second dose of Hep B on July 27, 1995.  Her first unusual behavior was her floppiness, where she could not hold up her limbs.  On Sept 27, 1995 she received another dose of DPT, HbPV, and OPV.  She was still very floppy and she had "high pitched" screams at night.  I would rock her to sleep, but was told that I was spoiling her and was then advised to let her scream.  Within a week she developed eczema and resisted being put on her stomach.  She had been babbling "mama and dada" and playing peek-a-boo with her dress.  She would turn her head towards the TV when she heard music, so I was not concerned about her mentally.  When I brought up my concerns to the pediatrician about her physical development, she didn't seem concerned and told me that all babies develop differently.

 

On Nov 11, 1995 she received DPT and HbPV.  Her eczema was out of control and I noticed her babbling stopped immediately.  We couldn't get her to play peek-a-boo any longer and all she wanted to do was lay on her back.  She was always looking up at the ceiling, so I thought she was fascinated with fans and lights.  On March 12, 1996 she received her third dose of Hep B and within a month her joints were noisy and she began rolling to get around.  She would cry when we would put her on her stomach or try to stand her up.  She was not advancing mentally of physically.  She had become very quiet and passive and we thought we had the perfect self-entertaining child.  She would be entertained for hours just in her bouncer seat.

 

At her one year birthday everyone in our family realized that something was wrong.  She was not even going from a lying to a sitting position on her own.  When I confronted the pediatrician and demanded answers, she referred us to a neurologist.  He diagnosed Casi with hypotonia, which is low muscle tone and wanted to perform many different tests.  Everything came back normal and he had no answers.  He referred us to a physical therapist and wanted to see her again in 3 months.  The physical therapist suggested Autism, because she had a son who was Autistic.  When we revisited the neurologist he said, "Absolutely not" to Autism.  We asked if the vaccines could be responsible however he did not think so.  We changed pediatricians and on September 26, 1996 Casi received the MMR and HbPV vaccines.  She immediately developed chronic constipation and always has a swollen stomach.  Her development still was very slow so I started getting very alarmed and desperate.  We had the best neurologist in South Florida and he could not give us answers.

 

We continued her physical therapy twice a week and taught her how to crawl.  We spoke to the new pediatrician regarding our concern about the vaccinations and he didn't agree.  He suggested giving her a safer version DTaP vaccine along with OPV and TB screening on December 19, 1996.  We finally taught her to walk at 22 months old.  She was very unstable and fell a lot, but managed to get around.

 

We were watching a news broadcast on a Heb B vaccine reaction and noticed a little boy that walked just like Casi.  We immediately contacted the news station and also spoke with the mother of the little boy.  He had a severe reaction to the Heb B vaccine and they diagnosed him with "Cerebral Ataxia".  This was the beginning of my investigation of the risks concerning vaccines and I realized why Casi had developed her hypotomia.  We did MRI's, Cat scans, EEG's, etc and everything came back 'normal'.  I took her to several specialists, even to other neurologists and no one could give us answers.  My obsessive research lead me to the adverse vaccine reactions and I realized that she regressed after each round of vaccines.  I also discovered that vaccinations were cultured in animals and realized that it was against my religious belief to introduce animal DNA into the human body.

 

God created us with a perfect immune system.  He gave us fever, vomiting, and diarrhea to eliminate a virus in which vaccines bypass these defenses and directly into the body inject biological toxins for immunity.  We are wondering why the body cannot distinguish self from non-self, and attacks (autoimmune)?  Vaccines are also preserved in toxins such as Thimerosal "a mercury derivative", Aluminum, Formaldehyde and many other ingredients I wish someone would have shared with me, before I chose to blindly hold my daughter down and allowed her to be injected.

 

I had a son on Feb 5, 1997 and chose not to vaccinate him.  He was walking and talking at 8 months old.  I was able to see with my own two eyes the difference between a fully vaccinated and a non-vaccinated child.  Casi and my son would catch the same virus and he would run a 15 min fever to kill the same bug Casi would take at least a week to kill.  My son is almost 9 yrs old today and I've had another little girl who is 5 yrs old.  They are both vaccine free and have never even had an ear infection!

 

Casi never spoke and after seeing every specialist available she was labeled "Autistic".  We started her at Ralph J Bauldwin oral school, which is primarily for Autistic children.  Even though I believe Autism is just a "label" that they give vaccine-injured children, we needed the funding for the school and allowed them to give her the label.

 

In May 1999 Casi started running a fever and blood work showed positive for the Epstein Bar virus, which is known to cause mononucleosis.  We had been diagnosed by one of the top infectious disease specialists and dealt with Casi's fevers on and off for several weeks.  She lost a lot of weight and missed a great deal of school.  My son never caught the virus, although he would drink from Casi's bottle and they were inseparable.  She inevitably contracted bacterial meningitis and was not properly treated at the hospital.  I lost my Angel on June 13, 1999.  She was my entire life and I started "Casi's Quest" (TAAP of FL) in honor of her, enable to expose what I had to learn the hard way as to prevent other families from experiencing my tragedy.  My whole mission in life has been devoted to funding the independent researchers and educating others on the truth about vaccines.  The founder of TAAP (The Autism Autoimmunity Project) had asked me to take over the organization due to needing to care for his severely injured son.  I have dedicated the rest of my life to doing whatever is necessary to help these innocent victims and to protect the healthy children and children-yet-to-be from the Autism epidemic.

 

Thank you again for your presentation and know that many parents greatly appreciate you.  We support you 100% and please know that our organization will stand behind you if needed.  May God Bless you and your family.

 

 

April Oakes, TAAP President

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November 20, 2005
From: Linda Demos - TAAP Secretary
 

Dear Professor Collins,

 

I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks for hosting the presentation on 11-17-05, The Origins of the Autism Epidemic.  Knowledge of Dr. Wakefield’s research, and biomedical interventions presented have been an invaluable source of information to those of us whose children have suffered autoimmune derailment as a result of a vaccine reaction.

 

On September 8, 2001, Casi’s Quest, (TAAP of Florida) held a conference sponsoring Dr. Jeffrey Bradstreet, & Dr Andrew Wakefield. Dr. Bradstreet discussed the latest biological interventions, mercury and other heavy metals, and Dr Wakefield presented his cutting edge research regarding Autistic Enterocolitis, and the link between the MMR Vaccine and Autism.  It was clear then that this flame of knowledge would transcend boundaries, and it cinders would ignite the kindling in the hearts of so many parents trying to understand the needs of their children, and in doing so find answers to retrieve their child/ren from a lifetime of suffering.

 

TAAP’s (The Autism Autoimmunity Project’s) mission has been to remove the boundaries that constrict research, and lend education, support, and options to families living with autism, and related autoimmune diseases. We sincerely hope that we will be able to continue assisting you in carrying the torch of knowledge that will pierce the darkness, and shed light on the information that the “Powers That Be” prefer were kept secret.

 

 

May God continue to bless your efforts,

 

Linda Demos

TAAP Secretary

Mother to Steven (Vaccine Injured and Labeled Autistic)