Marcella’s Substack

When my daughter first showed signs that something was seriously wrong with her health, I was very entrenched in the mainstream medical model. I thought everyone knew better than me. I was afraid and full of self-doubt and as a result, I handed over the reins to the wrong people. They weren’t terrible people and I don’t think they intentionally hurt her.

At MAPS (Medical Academy of Pediatrics and Special Needs) we are busy preparing for the upcoming Clinician and Parent Conferences next month in Philadelphia. Children’s health is always on our minds, and we are continuously searching for effective ways to prevent harm and promote optimal wellness in children. MAPS clinicians often work with extremely sick children, and they are trained to look at root causes of chronic and complex illness.

There is a very real association between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and gender dysphoria (GD), with multiple published studies finding increased rates of GD among individuals diagnosed with ASD when compared to the rates in the general population. There is a high degree of variability, with some sources reporting 4-7% and others reporting up to 20% increased gender dysphoria in children and teens diagnosed with autism, compared to peers without ASD.

If you are a parent of a child diagnosed with autism or PANS/PANDAS, you may already know there is a big overlap with tick-borne (or vector-borne) infections including Lyme Disease and co-occurring infections like Bartonella and Babesia. These infections have a negative effect on oxygenation and circulation because they damage the endothelium.

Children and adults diagnosed with autism and/or PANS/PANDAS can recover with proper medical assessment and interventions that address their underlying medical issues. In the following video, MAPS Executive Director Honey Rinicella relays the story of one of many children previously diagnosed with autism who was successfully treated by Dr. Anju Usman Singh. This is the message from Emmett’s mother: As Honey says in her video, we need thousands of doctors like Dr. Anju Usman Singh.

“Vaccination is one of the most highly effective public health interventions, responsible for saving millions of lives each year.” I’m sure you have heard this a lot. I certainly have. Every time I have attended a pharma sponsored event, or CDC “vaccine education” event, that is the opening line. “Anti-vax parents posting on social media are spreading misinformation and lies! Ask a medical professional for advice on vaccines. They’re the experts!” Yep. Heard that one a lot, too.

When I was in graduate school I took an Abnormal Psychology course. During that single 9-week course we touched on many different “mental illness” diagnoses, including major depression, bipolar depression, anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety, phobias, panic disorder, social anxiety, OCD), schizophrenia, and a long list of “personality disorders.” We also covered neurodevelopmental disorders. The discussion on autism encompassed less than one hour. It was the 1990s.

Assessment of the individual immune system and family history is paramount before receipt of live viral vaccines. You know how every time there is an “outbreak” of measles, the media and doctors talk about “the responsibility of those who CAN be vaccinated to do so, in order to protect those who CAN’T be vaccinated?” We usually hear about the immune compromised, those with autoimmune conditions, and people undergoing treatment for cancer, whose immune systems are significantly depressed.

This post originated on VaxTruth in 2016. Among the articles I have written, this one has been one of the most frequently requested. I have updated the information contained in the original post and have added many links for information to help you in your journey, as you seek to answer the questions, “Are vaccines in pregnancy right for me and my baby?” and “Are vaccines right for my infant?” The amount of information is overwhelming, and the credibility of sources is variable.

Please see the research cited and discussed at: https://vitamindstopscovid.info/00-evi/. Proper vitamin D3 supplementation, in quantities well above the minuscule quantities in government recommendations (such as 600 IU), is needed to attain at least the 50 ng/mL 125 nmol/L circulating (in the bloodstream) 25-hydroxyvitamin D the immune system needs to function properly.