The Perfect Storm

I have read many stories of moms that knew something was just not quite right with their infant children. I was not that mom.

Early on I didn’t have any concerns with Travis. And because of his biological family history, I was watching for concerns. He seemed to be hitting all of his developmental milestones.

Except maybe speech. Travis had chronic ear infections. His pediatrician prescribed Amoxicillin. When that didn’t do the trick he prescribed Augmentin. Another form of antibiotic.

I would take him in, he would be diagnosed with an ear infection, he would be prescribed an antibiotic, and the infection would go away. And then a couple of weeks later we would repeat this cycle. And we repeated it again and again.

The pediatrician convinced me that this would be a temporary problem. That once Travis turned two (or so) his eustachian tubes would be the appropriate size and would flow downward to promote drainage. That children get ear infections because their bodies are still developing. When they are younger the eustachian tubes are smaller and level to the ground.

When Travis was two and a half I scheduled an appointment with an ear, nose and throat specialist. (ENT) Without a referral. (That was back in the day that a referral was absolutely necessary in the insurance world.) The ENT doctor could not believe that our pediatrician had not referred Travis to see him earlier. Travis had his first set of ear tubes placed right away.

Travis began talking. Pretty much immediately. (And he hasn’t stopped to take a breath since). Many of you know what I am talking about!

Who knew that you would need to be able to hear better to learn to talk!?

A few months later Travis got another ear infection. Apparently his first set of tubes had fallen out. So he got his second set. And a few months after that he got his third set. This set was shaped like a T so that they wouldn’t fall out. They were removed by a doctor several years later.

Travis had to wear ear plugs anytime he went swimming or bathed. And we had them custom made for his ears. Truth be told, the store bought ones just do not work as well folks.

I do not to this day know what causes autism. And I do not know why Travis has autism. What I do know is that I did not see any signs early on. I am not a conspiracy theorist. I do believe that doctors have our best interest at heart.

But I did happen upon information years later that studies were being done that showed there may be a link between autism and the use of Augmentin. If you’re interested in the science of it, just google it and make your own determination.

My advice. Do your homework. When a doctor advises a course of action on any medical condition do some research. Maybe get a second opinion. Listen to your gut. I wish I did more of that earlier on. But I did develop a better knack for that as time went on. Doctors are not infallible. I have decided that is why they call it practicing medicine. With each patient they get in a bit more practice.

What is different about our world today that is making the autism diagnosis more prevalent?

Is it continuous antibiotic use? Is it vaccinations? Is it some type of environmental exposure? Is it chemical exposure? Is it the processed foods we eat today?

Maybe it’s a certain combination of factors. Are some children genetically predisposed? Was there some kind of perfect storm that played out causing Travis’s diagnosis?

I remember filling out forms on evaluations being conducted as we tried to reach a diagnosis. And I remember questions asking whether he had ear infections as a young child and how often. Does that mean there may be a correlation?

I do not know the how and why of Travis’s autism diagnosis. It’s possible I never will. What I do know is it does not matter today. Even if I knew I couldn’t go back and change it. All I can focus on is how do I help Travis moving forward?

Can he learn to cope? Can he learn to be independent? Can he learn to accept himself? It is imperative to his mental health to be loved and accepted. Is it possible that if others loved and accepted him just as he is that he would be better able to do the same for himself? I believe so.

“Let go of who you think you are supposed to be and be who you are.” - Brene Brown