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We want you the web site visitor to help us solve the puzzle in this case we are about to present. Your ideas, insights, questions, and comments will appear on the web site as we work together to solve the mystery of
WHAT HAPPENED TO JESSIE?
(The numbers in the text represent clues for further reference and discussion. They will be “Web Site Talking Points” please e-mail us yours. We will publish insights and answer your questions on any numbered talking points.
CASE #1
WHAT HAPPENED TO JESSIE?
It has to be extremely confusing to a newly pregnant woman to make even simple choices. Let us take a common but hypothetical case of such a woman we will call Jane. Jane is very health concerned, career-oriented, well adjusted, beautiful young woman. Jane enthusiastically looks forward to being a new mother. Jane comes from good genetic stock and she has a loving supportive family that shares her dream. Jane thinks that fish (1) is a healthy choice. It is high in complete protein and devoid of antibiotics and hormones used to “pump up” other meat choices. It is high in Omega 3 fats and low in “bad fats” and carbohydrates. Jane concludes that her fish intense diet was the healthy choice for herself and her developing fetus. Jane stopped smoking the minute she discovered she was pregnant. Jane’s only remaining vice is the eight to 10 cups of coffee (2) habit that she has acquired. The coffee seems to fuel her engine helping hers to stay alert to meet the demands of her career and lifestyle. A lifestyle she blames for the increasing fatigue (3) or tiredness she seems to manifest.
The doctor advised Jane not to gain weight during her pregnancy. To avoid excess carbs she drinks only diet drinks (4) . She religiously takes one ounce of alcohol (5) daily for its recommended long-term cardiovascular benefits.
Jane delivers what appears to be a healthy child named Jessie. Jessie had fetal heart monitoring during delivery. Just before delivery Jessie’s heart rate went down to 45 beats per minute for approximately half a minute (6) . The monitor sounded an alarm in the nurse?s station and the delivery crew came running. Jane finds all went well and the Apgars were 10 out of 10 (perfect).
Early on, infant Jessie seems to have “colic.” An episode of diarrhea prompts the pediatrician to recommend an infant formula (7) that is “easy to digest.” Soon after infant Jessie seems unreasonably agitated. Unable to see the pediatrician (8) the distraught mother complains to the physician assistant (P.A.) that baby Jesse cries incessantly. Jessie is only quieted when feeding or sleeping from exhaustion. The P.A. says, “It has to be an ear infection because the lungs and urine are clear and the child is in obvious pain (9) .” The mother notices that the P.A. avoids putting the otoscope into the thrashing baby’s ears to avoid injury (10) . Obviously, the P.A. could not directly visualize the problem. The mother follows the P.A.’s advice and gives them to Jessie the prescribed HMO approved broad-spectrum antibiotic (11) . A few days later Jessie has mild diarrhea (12) , which persists until the stoppage of the antibiotic. This scenario of ear infection/antibiotic is repeated several times. However, Jessie’s anguish does not seem to change (13) . Relatives question Jessie’s temperament. A slightly offended mother rationalizes “he’s OK my parents said I was a terror too.” Fortunately, the working mother shares childcare duties with others who are either extremely tolerant or who have successfully completed anger management courses. Therefore, infant Jessie does not end up a shaken – baby statistic.
For the mother Jane it is a nightmare of sleep deprivation, anxiety, self-blame, and fear. Even Jane begins to wonder and insist on seeing the real M.D. this time. She questions Jessie’s constant agitated state. The doctor examines Jessie with difficulty and frustration. He reassures Jane that he sees this behavior occasionally and says, “These children always grow out of it.”
Then suddenly, as if a prophecy coming true, Jessie’s behavior changes dramatically, coincident with Jessie starting on regular food, and Jane stopping Jessie’s commercial formula. In retrospect, it was obvious; as soon as Jane eliminated the high-priced special predigested formula, the child began to act like a normal baby. He was smiling, laughing, interacting, and generally looking like the angel the mother wanted. Everyone noticed the difference in Jessie. Jessie’s father Bill, who is a biochemist, asked the pediatrician about the formula. Could it contain something that caused Jessie’s weird behavior? “Not possible,” the pediatrician says. He has recommended the formula many times (14) to rescue infants when they had problems with other formulas. After all the reason the formula is so good (and expensive) is that the manufacturing process breaks the protein down into the amino acid so that the child’s intestine can absorb these easier. In addition, he remembers being “detailed” by the manufacturer’s representative who left him samples (15) of the product to give to his patients.
Bill persists; he calls customer service of the formula manufacture. A representative Christie in a pleasant voice reassures him there have never been any complaints. She says the product has been around since the 1940s. Bill cannot get the pleasant voice to answer biochemistry questions he asked her about the manufacturing process, the product, etc. Christie says she will have a company scientist call him back. Bill specifically wants to know if other children consuming the formula acted like Jessie. Could the formula contain psychoactive chemicals?
Days later Karen, the Company’s director of medical services returned Bill’s call. Karen in a firm voice-related that she was a nutritional specialist but would not elaborate on her credentials. She stated she had no authority to disclose any information on reported concerns regarding the product. Bill noted that this was a different answer to the same question poised to Christie. Karen did not know the proprietary process used for the preparation of the formula except that it was a casein hydrolysate predigested with enzymes. She implied that the product was recently improved by modification of the manufacturing process. In addition, the product had a long customer satisfaction record since 1948. With authority, Karen says the product contains only amino acids which are building blocks of normal food protein so they couldn’t cause any problems in any children. (16)
At this point, Jane discounts Bill’s concerns. “Jessie seems to be happy and I’m finally getting a good night’s sleep. Everything will be OK,” Jane says. Bill tables the inquiry (17) . Bill still feels a little uncomfortable, after all Bill and his father started walking at the precocious age of seven months and Jessie now 13 months, is not walking (18) .
Bill is relieved when Jessie begins to walk at the age of 14 months. At age 18 months, Jessie, not yet speaking (19) , gets his checkup. Jessie looks perfect physically. Jane ponders the decision to have the recommended MMR vaccination (20). Jane is very concerned because she has heard the vaccine contains mercury that might harm Jessie. The daycare she has chosen will not take Jessie if he does not get the shot. Jane decides to vaccinate Jessie after a discussion with a family physician friend.
In the following months, Jessie’s behavior comes more and more into focus for Jane, Bill and the others who care. He is different. Not yet speaking, Jessie seems disruptive in his interactions with other children. He is tactless and either ignores or is aggressive to cohort children who attempt to play with him. He seems to be more satisfied with simple repetitive stereotyped behaviors.
Jessie continues to get his checkups. Each time he has proclaimed a well-baby despite the concerns Jane meekly voices.
Finally, after a series of incidents, more focus is cast upon Jessie’s abnormal behavior and Bill insists that a specialist evaluate Jessie.
The specialist reports to the parents after an intense workup. Jessie’s behavior is abnormal and Jessie’s MRI is abnormal. Specialist diagnosis is AUTISM (21). Bill and Jane simultaneously blurt out the question “WHAT HAPPENED TO JESSIE?”
Send comments or questions regarding “What Happened To Jessie?” to Bliss Planet. Please identify each by talking point number. A future article will review this case, and integrate some of your own insights and questions on any numbered talking points.
By James A. Ferrel M.D. , CNC
Author: James A. Ferrel MD, CNC
Dr. James A. Ferrel MD, CNC is a retired physician who specialized in environmental medicine. He is the author of Neogenesis - Reconstructing the Self.
