Hi Dad:

Some good news: Leelo has been much more "himself" in the past week. Keep your fingers crossed that ups and downs are just a natural part of the process.  

Regarding all the links:

Thanks for forwarding the info. We too have been reviewing these same sites lately. Squid and I are both discussing and researching the chelation issue, and won't make any decisions until we are clear on all sides. We all want to do the best thing for Leelo.

In the same way that I am suspicious of the claims of many chelation and supplement advocates, I am troubled by contradictory claims by the CDC, as well as their current push in Congress to publish a consensus paper when several large, independent studies have not yet completed.

Both DAN and CDC are stakeholders in the outcome of any studies on the issue of mercury toxicity. The challenge is finding a path through the middle - with independent research of both a qualitative and quantitative nature - when so little is actually known about this (group of) disorder(s). We are left with making decisions based on whatever good science is out there, plus our own parenting communities' consensus as to what seems to be working and what is not.  

Few currently dispute that ASD is a likely a genetic predisposition acting in concert with one or more external factors - we all know there is no such thing as a genetically-based epidemic. Whatever those external factors turn out to be will (or do) have suporters who will protect their specific interests. Historical examples: petroleum companies insisting lead was safe in gasoline, car companies lobbying against seat belts, and the tobacco industry maintaining cigarettes don't cause cancer. In all of these cases, the govt. did not initially support the small band of researchers who raised the red flag - but eventually (except for smoking of course) they came around. Are we in that same spot with Autism? Time will tell.

Anyway, let's keep the dialogue going and the research coming.

Love Seymour