Refresh, Rejuvenate and Replenish!

Dear Readers,

I do not usually promote services at my office, however……………. I feel so strongly and have  had soooo many patients and readers wanting clarification on purification and cleansing, I am offering two different  workshops ( no charge!)

Purify your body! Transform your life through whole food purification!

Monday February 6th 1:00-2:00 or

Wednesday February 15th 6:30-7:30

Cardin Wellness Center

9159 West 133rd Street. Overland Park, Kansas 66213

Call and reserve your spot today!

913-239-8501 or

info@cardinwellness.com

PLAY IT SAFE

Let’s help kids stay in the game for life, PREVENT and STOP unnecessary sports injuries.
I am a mother of four boys and I would be the last person to discourage children from playing sports. I love so many of the aspects that sports has to offer. Sports help children physically develop skills, get exercise, make friends, have fun and learn to play as a team member, and learn to play fair and improve self esteem. It is important to remember that the attitudes and behaviors taught to children in sports carry over to adult life.
With the rising number of children being diagnosed with obesity every year, I wish many more children would move away from their computers, put down their iPods and cellphones and devote more time and energy to physical activities.We need to ensure that our kids are in a safe environment. But, for many children and adolescents, the problem is the just the opposite of being too sedentary, its overtraining and burnout leading to overuse injuries.
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, participation in organized sports is on the rise. Nearly 30 million children and adolescents participate in youth sports in the United States. This increase in participation has led to some startling statistics in injures among America’s young athletes.
The CDC reports that more than 3.5 million children under 14 years of age receive medical treatment for sports injuries, overuse injuries account for almost 50% of these injuries. (1)
According to the CDC, more than half of all injuries in children are preventable. (2)
The American sports culture has become increasingly competitive and stressful… “Win at all cost”” attitude, creating an unhealthy environment. As children around the US become increasingly involved in competitive and more organized sports activities, the frequency and severity of both acute and overuse injuries continues to arise.
Encouraged by parents and coaches, many young athletes are having the vision of glory and scholarship. Too many young athletes are being pushed or they are pushing themselves to the point of breaking down, not only physically but often emotionally. As these young athletes are pushed, they stray further and further from its core mission of providing healthy, safe and character building recreation for children that will last into adulthood. Unfortunately the goal is getting skewed and our kids are unnecessarily getting injured.

CAUSES of YOUTH SPORT INJURIES:
Participation in any sport, whether recreational or competitive can teach kids to stretch their limits and learn sportsmanship and discipline. But any sports carries the potential for injury.
By knowing the cause of sports injuries and how to prevent them, you can help make athletics a positive experience for your child.

• Kids, particularly those younger than 8 years old, are less coordinated and have a slower reaction time than adults because they are still growing and developing.
• Kids mature at different rates. Often there is a substantial difference in height and weight between kids of the same age. When kids of varying sizes play sports together, there may be a greater potential of injury.
• Lack of pre-season conditioning.
• Not warming up, cooling down or not stretching properly.
• Kids may not access the risk of certain activities as fully as adults might. So they unknowingly take risks that can result in injuries.
• Failure to provide reliable safety equipment (helmets, shin guards, etc) for all athletes.
• Overzealous practices schedules that do not allow proper rest or stretching.
• Failure to recognize and treat an injury promptly and competently.
• Playing while injured.
• Failure to ensure that young athletes have access to a health care professionals who is qualified to make medical assessments and decisions.
• Failure to educated family and players signs and symptoms of injuries.
• Allowing or even encouraging over aggressive or prohibited behavior.
• Denying athletes adequate water and rest during practices and game.s
• Poor nutrition and hydration.
• Unprepared for weather and temperature, too hot or too cold.
• More youths are specializing in one sport at an early age and training all year round.

PREVENTION OF YOUTH SPORTS INJURIES:
Review the Parent’s checklist for the sports. Ensure a safe and healthy playing environment for the children who participate in the sport.

• Use proper equipment and safety gear that is the correct size, fits well and is properly maintained.
• Make sure that all surfaces from courts to tracks to playing fields are in good condition, not full of holes and ruts.
• Warm up before exercising. This can minimize the chance of a muscle strain or other soft tissue injuries during sporting events. Warm up exercises make the body’s tissues warmer and more flexible, thus preventing injuries.
• Wear sunscreen and a hat to reduce the chance of a sunburn.
• Stay well hydrated before, during and after any physical activity.
• Know your coach. Any team sport or activity that kids participate in should be supervised by qualified adult. Select a team and league with the same commitment. The team coach should have training in first aid and CPR. The coach’s philosophy should promote player’s well being and development.
• Make sure that your child is matched for sports according to their skill level, size and physical and emotional maturity.
• Allow adequate rest between practices and games.
• Play a variety of sports. Playing multiple sports at different times of the year gives some muscles a chance to rest while other are being worked.

Common Types of Injuries:
1. Acute injuries occur suddenly and are usually associated with some form of trauma. Acute injuries can vary from minor bruises, stain, sprains to broken bones and torn ligaments. Acute injures often occur because of lack of proper equipment or the use of improper equipment. For example, no eyewear, no mouth guard, improper foot wear, loose cage of a helmet…….

2. Overuse Injuries occur from repetitive actions that put too much stress on bones and muscles. These account for more than 50% of all sports related injuries and are the most preventable. Overuse injuries also occur in adults but are more problematic in child athletes because of the effect they may have on bone growth.
Most common types of overuse injuries:

• Anterior knee pain
• Little league elbow
• Swimmer’s shoulder
• Shin splints
• Spondylolysis

Overuse injuries can be caused or aggravated by:

• Growth spurts or an imbalance between flexibility and strength
• Inadequate warm up
• Excessive activity, increased intensity, duration and frequency
• Playing the same sport year-round or multi sports during the same season
• Improper technique, whether throwing, catching, running, skating, jumping….
• Unsuitable equipment, from non supportive, improper fit…

3. Re-injuries occur from returning to the sport before the previous injury has sufficiently healed. Avoid a re-injury by allowing an injury to completely heal. A medically trained professional should be clear or approve the child to return to the sport.

TREATING YOUTH SPORTS INJURIES:
For acute injuries better to play it “safe than sorry”. Administer first aid immediately, then follow up with a doctor. If the injury seems more serious, it is important to take your child to the nearest hospital emergency room. Don’t trust the diagnosis to a parent or a fan in the stands.
For overuse injuries, the philosophy is similar. If a child begins complaining of pain, it’s the bodies way of saying there is a problem so do not wait to have it checked out.
Have the child examined by a qualified health care professional. It is important to get overused injuries diagnosed and treated as soon as possible to prevent them from developing into larger chronic problems.

Your doctor may recommend:

1. Continue to play but use protective device (ex. knee brace, wrist guard..).
2. Rest, Ice and recover to allow the healing process to begin and preventing further injury.
3. Undergo rehabilitation (physical therapy) to support tissues like muscles, tendons and ligaments.
4. See an orthopedist or sports medicine specialist for further diagnosis and imaging ( X-ray, CT, MRI…).
5. See a chiropractor to help restore normal mobility to the joints, muscles, spine and nervous system.
6. Receive acupuncture to decrease, pain, swelling and healing time.
7. Use proper nutritional support to decrease swelling and facilitate the repair process of the damaged muscles and connective tissues. Including an anti-inflammatory diet can also reduce the recovery time.

*ALWAYS have your treating physician determine when your recovery is complete and when you can return to your sporting activities.

My Thoughts:
When at least 60 percent of all injures sustained were in direct relation to training and overuse injuries…..have we gone too far? Are we putting too much emphasis on athletic participation and performance all consuming and causes injuries that can sometimes compromise a child’s future?
The most important thing to do when you suspect you your child is injured is STOP doing whatever sporting activity has caused the injury right away and seel medical advice.
In good health,
Dr. Heather

SOOOO Stressed

Dear Dr Heather,

I am SOOO stressed out this time if year with the holiday here. I have a hard enough time keeping up with my normal day to day demands. And now with all of the extra activities of family get together, kids activities, parties, programs, extra shopping and cooking…………. Is there ANYTHING I can TAKE or DO to help my stress level?
Sincerley,
SOOO Stressed

Dear Sooo Stressed,
We certainly live in a stressfull time and the holiday can certainly add additional stress. Yes, there are things you can do to help reduce your stress this time of year. Here are a few of my personal tips.

• Enjoy this time. It is a great time to rejoice, be thankful and reconnect with friends and families. Remember it when you were a child and how exciting and fun this time is.
• Get organized, sit down and map and plan out your week. Don’t wait till the last minute to prepare for a holiday event, to make treats or buy that last minute gift item.
• Get Sleep! Nightly sleep is critical for proper function of: the brain, immune system, endocrine system, digestion, as well as for energy, recovery from injury, and restoration of health. Sleep gives us the energy, the will, and the foundation to accomplish these changes. While a person sleeps, the body rejuvenates. Cells are repaired and the immune system is strengthened and mental functions are sharpened.
• Eat! don’t skip meals or binge on your holiday favorites just because they look good. Food is fuel for our bodies! Eating a proper, well balanced meal will give you energy to handle the extra day to day stresses of this time of year.
• Feed the body, the adrenals and the immune system. Take extra vitamins and mineral supplements that help feed your body the nutrients that are being used and drained in times of stress!
• Exercise- Exercise increases your overall health and your sense of well-being, which puts more pep in your step every day. But exercise also has some direct stress-busting benefits, it increase your bodies own endorphins and improves your mood.
• Balance your nervous system. In a vicious circle of stress, muscular tightness and pain can be relieved by chiropractic treatment and acupuncture.

There will always be stress. We can learn how to reduce the physical efforts of stress and become stronger, healthier and happier in the process.

In Good Health,

Dr Heather

Dairy & Gluten Free Pinto Bean Fudge

Not only is these a ton of health benefits from eating pinto beans,  they taste great in a number of recipes. If you haven’t tried making this recipes….. it is a must:)

Thank is right, pinto bean fudge…. You will be completely surprised how fabulous it is! Perfect for the holiday!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter or Ghee
• 1 2/3 cups mashed pinto beans
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 pounds powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Melt together unsweetened baking cocoa and butter. Mix in thoroughly drained and mashed pinto beans, vanilla, and powdered sugar.
2. Place in a large, buttered, shallow baking pan with sides and chill until firm.

Makes 24 pieces.

Health benefits if Cocoa

Health Benefits of Pinto Beans

Is it TRUE???

We’re told that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what exactly are the health benefits of apples? Here are ten reasons to heed the advice of that old proverb.

1. Bone Protection:    
French researchers found that a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones.
2. Asthma Help :   One recent study shows that children with asthma who drank apple juice on a daily basis suffered from less wheezing than children who drank apple juice only once per month. Another study showed that children born to women who eat a lot of apples during pregnancy have lower rates of asthma than children whose mothers ate few apples.
3. Alzheimer’s Prevention: A study on mice at Cornell University found that the quercetin in apples may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
4. Lower Cholesterol: The pectin in apples lowers LDL (”bad”) cholesterol. People who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 percent.
5. Lung Cancer Prevention :  According to a study of 10,000 people, those who ate the most apples had a 50 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer. Researchers believe this is due to the high levels of the flavonoids quercetin and naringin in apples.
6. Breast Cancer Prevention :  A Cornell University study found that rats who ate one apple per day reduced their risk of breast cancer by 17 percent. Rats fed three apples per day reduced their risk by 39 percent and those fed six apples per day reduced their risk by 44 percent.
7. Colon Cancer Prevention :  One study found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 43 percent lower risk of colon cancer. Other research shows that the pectin in apples reduces the risk of colon cancer and helps maintain a healthy digestive tract.
8. Liver Cancer Prevention: Research found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 57 percent lower risk of liver cancer.
9. Diabetes Management: The pectin in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body’s need for insulin and may help in the management of diabetes.
10. Weight Loss: A Brazilian study found that women who ate three apples or pears per day lost more weight while dieting than women who did not eat fruit while dieting.

Are Energy Drinks Unsafe?

Do you or your children drink energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster or Powerade? Have you ever read the label on these drinks?

I think that everything you put  in your body or your child’s body should be considered for its nutritional value.  Empty calories are definitely one of the reasons that America is the most overweight society in the world. What I mean by empty calories is, food sor drinks that we consume which have very little nutritional benefit per calorie.

Energy drinks, though they do give you a burst of energy, are full of caffeine and sugar. One energy drink may have as much as 6 times the caffeine as a similar sized soda. Caffeine raises heart rate, and if consumed in high quantities, a person with heart problems could die from altered heart rhythm.

Some of the symptoms caused by energy drinks are:
• Heart Rate Acceleration or Irregular Beat
• Dehydration (caused by the diuretic effects of caffeine and excessive sweating)
• Stomach Problems
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• High Blood Pressure
• Weight Gain
• Irritability

Energy drinks were not designed to quench your thirst. They do not hydrate the body, in fact, they cause dehydration through excess sweat production and frequent urination. This can cause an imbalance in electrolytes, which are what help your heart function properly. Caffeine can also cause heart burn.
Many people find that when they use energy drinks they have a boost of energy, but then they feel tired later, which causes them to drink more energy drinks. If you consume high doses of caffeine in the afternoon, it can disrupt normal sleep patterns and cause you to feel less rested in the morning. Which leads to weight gain, and irritability. Some things never change. Remember the Dr. Pepper sign is 10, 2 & 4, denoting the time of day you should consume it to cure the craving.
Consumption of sugar is linked to a low functioning immune system, ADD, ADHD, Fibromyalgia and many other physical ailments including Candida overgrowth. Reducing daily intake of sugar is recommended for all ages.
The natural approach to eliminating these drinks from your diet would be:

• Get enough sleep ( most people need 7-8 hours a night to feel rested)
• Get daily exercise – 20 minutes of walking at a fast pace
• Eat more nutritious foods – get the best out of the calories you consume
• Take a multi vitamin with B-Complex ( B vitamins help the body process glucose and turn it into energy)

Using chemicals to alter your body function is never recommended to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Doctors are still learning what high amounts of caffeine can do to a growing child. Parents should definitely limit intake of caffeine in children.

Every living person, big or small should drink 1/2 ounce of water per body pound.  For more information on the benefits if water please click the on the 10 Commandments of Water.

Please DRINK WATER!!

In good health,

Dr Heather

LOOKING AT LABELS

There seems to be a lot of confusion when it comes to reading a food label. Learning how to read food labels is like looking at a prescription for your health and your life.  Remember, we are what we eat so we should know what is in the food we are buying, preparing and eating. First,  looking for red-flag ingredients— if a Hall of Shame ingredient is listed among the top five ingredients overall, steer clear! Secondly, if you can not pronounce the word or if it does not sounds like  a derivative of anything you have eaten before, steer clear!

Food Hall of Shame

1. Sugar
2. High Fructose Corn Syrup
3. Enriched Wheat Flour (White Flour)
4. Saturated Fat
5. Hydrogenated Oil

Food Hall of Fame:

1. Olive Oil
2. Garlic
3. Tomato Sauce
4. Spinach
5. Raw Nuts
6. Pomegranates

Just about every packaged food made in the U.S. has a food label indicating serving size and other nutritional information. The “Nutrition Facts” food labels are intended to give you information about the specific packaged food in question.  Such as, measurements of fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, protein, vitamins and minerals are calculated for a “typical portion.” But, reading these labels can be confusing because you have to know the rules they are making when the food companies are creating the labels. Below are some explanations of a typical food label.

Serving Size. Serving sizes are based on the amount of food people typically eat, which makes them realistic and easy to compare to similar foods. This may or may not be the serving amount you normally eat. It is important that you pay attention to the serving size, including the number of servings in the package and compare it to how much you actually eat. The size of the serving on the food package influences all the nutrient amounts listed on the top part of the label. For example, if a package has 4 servings and you eat the entire package, you quadruple the calories, fat, etc. that you have eaten

Calories and Calories From Fat. The number of calories and grams of nutrients are provided for the stated serving size. This is the part of the food label where you will find the amount of fat per serving. Pay close attention! For fat, saturated fat and cholesterol, choose foods with a low % Daily Value.

Nutrients. This section lists the daily amount of each nutrient in the food package. These daily values are the reference numbers that are set by the government and are based on current nutrition recommendations. Some labels list daily values for both 2,000 and 2,500 calorie diets.

“% Daily Value” shows how a food fits into a 2,000 calorie/day diet. For diets other than 2,000 calories, divide by 2,000 to determine the % Daily Value for nutrients. For example, if you are following a 1,500 calorie diet, your % Daily Value goal will be based on 75% for each nutrient, not 100%.

Ingredients. Each product should list the ingredients on the label. They are listed from largest to smallest amount (by weight). This means a food contains the largest amount of the first ingredient and the smallest amount of the last ingredient.

Label Claim. Another aspect of food labeling is label claims. Some food labels make claims such as “low cholesterol” or “low fat.” These claims can only be used if a food meets strict government definitions.

I hope this help clear up your uncertainty when reading a food label.

Shopping tips:

1. Buy fresh fruits and vegetables, it requires no label reading.
2. Do not buy any packaged food that have more than 5 ingredients listed
3. Do not buy any packaged food containing words you cannot pronounce.
4. Buy whole, fresh cuts of meat and fish, requires no label reading.
5. Buy fresh and organic whenever possible, meats, fruits , herbs, beans, grains, yogurt, cheese….

In good health,

Dr Heather

How much cows Milk should my child drink?

None , after the age of 2 or 3. This is not really surprising when we remember that Humans are the only mammals on earth to continue to drink milk after weaning at ~2 years of age.

The late Dr. Benjamin Spock, America’s leading authority on child care, spoke out against feeding cow’s milk to children, saying it can cause anemia, allergies, and insulin-dependent diabetes and in the long term, will set kids up for obesity and heart disease, America’s number one cause of death.

People of developed Western nations consume vast quantities of milk in products like yogart, cheese and ice cream and in processed foods.
Dairy products are a health hazard. They contain no fiber or complex carbohydrates and are laden with saturated fat and cholesterol. They are contaminated with cow’s blood and pus and are frequently contaminated with pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics. Dairy products are linked to allergies, constipation, obesity, heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.

Lactose Intolerance is a person’s inability to digest Lactose, the sugar found in milk, which is broken down by an enzyme called lactase. In all mammals including Humans the production of lactase stops after weaning. There are some humans – generally of Northern European descent who continue to produce lactase after weaning. This minority is known as ‘lactase persistent’.

Why you might ask, because all of the billboards and commercial tell me to drink milk.
When do we drink milk in our lives? We have no teeth and a very immature digestive track so mother milks is what our creator intended for us to drink That is right, when we are babies. And as we develop teeth we move to soft food then solid foods as we get more teeth and our digestive tracks develop. You would not give a baby a streak and you should not be drinking milk if you are 20 years old. So, why do we continue to drink milk.
This is what we do know about milk.
The American Dairy Association definitely has a large profit margin and a vested interest in making you believe that dairy is good for everyone.

• Did you know that we are the ONLY country that drinks milk for another species after the age of about 7.
• Our cow’s milk is laced with hormones. Milk is produce in any animal via a hormone system . SO, when it says that it is “hormone free” just means that they did not feed the cow any “Extra” hormones to increase the cow’s milk production.
• The number one plastic surgery in teen age boys is female pattern breast reduction. Why are so many of our teenage boys developing breast tissue? Could it be from the hormones in the dairy and other foods???
• Up to 75% of American are lactose intolerant. We never out grow it but our bodies manifest the intolerance in other way, constipation, ear infections, asthma, acne, eczema, depression, IBS, …
• More that 1 serving a day of dairy increases your rink of cancer by 44%,( breast, ovarian, stomach cancer)
• Dairy is one of 6 foods that cause 95% of all food allergies.
• Dairy have been linked to several GI diseases, UC, IBS, Autism, kidney…..
• The Asian population has a very high incidence of dairy intolerance , therefore they avoid it in their diets. The Asian population also has a very LOW incidence of cancers. Any correlation?????

Why are you drinking the milk and forcing your kids to drink it? Because of the calcium content?? When most people think of foods high in calcium, they usually think of milk, yogurt and cheese – all the dairy products. However, many of you many not know what other calcium rich foods that are not dairy based. Some of these products naturally have calcium and other are fortified products. With an estimated 90% of asian-American, 75% African Americans and as close to 100% Native American being lactose intolerant, getting enough calcium is a concern. These are SOOO many food that contain more bioavailabile calcium in a serving that milk: almonds, spinach, kale, broccoli, parsley,  beef, cold water fish, millet, brown rice, oranges, salmon, shrimp, black ,navy and white beans…. just to name a few.

I could write everyday about the “Cons” of drinking milk. I could put a link to almost every word that I wrote in this article.  But, please do your own investigation and see what makes sense to you. Are you drinking milk because the advertised tell you to???

You can go surf around on www.notmilk.com or www.milksucks.com

AMAZING BAKED APPLES

This is a very simple  and dish  that can be served any time of the day, any time of the year.
If you are going to make the topping then I suggest that you start straining the yogurt first so it will be ready when the apples come out of the oven.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium lemon
• 4 large apples, cored and hollowed but leaving the bottom intact
• 2 Tbs unsalted nut seed butter (almond, cashew, hazelnut…)
• 1 Tbs unsweetened, dried chopped fruit (apricot, cherries or pineapple…)
• 1Tbs. dried, chopped pitted prunes
• 1Tbs unsweetened raisins
• 1 Tbs of shaved hazelnuts or finely chopped pecans
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

Topping (optional)

• 1 c low fat plain greek or goat yogurt
• 1/2 tsp. GF pure vanilla extract
• 2tsp raw. local honey
• 1 Tbs. toasted shaved hazelnuts or finely chopped pecans.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Squeeze about 2 tbs of lemon juice from the lemon and set aside
3. Rub the squeezed lemon over the outside of the apple, drizzling a little lemon juice on the inside.
4. Combine and mix together; nut butter, dried fruit, 1 Tbs. of hazelnuts/pecans, cinnamon and honey.
5. Firmly stuff mixture into the center cavity of the apple and place in shallow baking dish.
6. Mix remaining lemon juice with 1/4 c water and pour around apples.
7. Bake 40-45 minutes until firm but tender.

Topping:

1. Strain yogurt in a wire strainer with a towel and let sit in the refrigerator for 1-2 hrs or until thick.
2. Pour off liquid and placed thickened yogurt in a bowl. Stir in vanilla and honey.
3. Spoon 1 Tbs. of topping over each apple and sprinkle with hazelnuts or pecans.

Please Read this Mother’s Comment on Gardasil

My daughter, Victoria, has been ill since February 2008. She had her first Gardasil vaccination in November 2007. Her second vaccination was in the beginning of February 2008. Immediately after her second vaccination, Victoria experienced severe diarrhea, vomiting and was nauseous for about eight weeks. She had blood work done many times and the pediatrician thought she had a virus. On March 31, 2008, she had her first seizure. My daughter has treated with many neurologists, all of whom have not related her seizures to Gardasil. Meanwhile, there are quite a few hundred people that I have found over the internet through my numerous postings and through Erin Brockovich, and their daughters are all experiencing the same symptoms, which occurred after the Gardasil vaccination. We have actually formed a group and share our daughters’ stories, symptoms and information. My daughter has had CT scans, MRI’s, MRA’s, EEG’s, blood work and was hospitalized at an epilepsy center in the video EEG monitoring unit for two separate weeks in May 2008 and September 2008. A follow-up MRI was performed and a spinal tap was recently attempted, but was unsuccessful. Victoria later underwent a lumbar puncture with fluoroscopy. She was put on many different seizure medications. After the normal EEG results, she was taken off all medications. Her SED rate has always been high and she does have protein in her urine, but doctors do not seem concerned. I was told that her red blood are small, but this apparently is not concerning either. She is also slightly anemic.
My daughter has been seen by several neurologists, a psychiatrist, psychologist, several neuropsychologists, an immunologist, several infectious disease doctors, and also treated a at Wellness Center for a period of time.
My daughter currently experiences the following symptoms: non-epileptic seizures, migraines, fainting, various tremors, twitches and numbness, intermittent leg paralysis and facial paralysis, tingling, staring or blank episodes, eye pain, joint pain, neck pain, back pain, memory loss, confusion, brain fog, regression, mood swings, hair loss and chronic fatigue. She continues to have bouts of nausea and diarrhea. She has not been in school since April 2008. My daughter can never be left home alone. She can’t go to school, go out with her friends or work or has little “normalcy” in her life. She has very few good days and always says she doesn’t feel good.

I do not know which way to turn for help. We have seen so many doctors and I can’t seem to find anyone willing to help my daughter. There are so many other young girls who have the same exact symptoms as my daughter and the one thing that all of the girls seem to have in common is the Gardasil vaccination.
There are no “traditional medical doctors” who relate my daughter’s symptoms to Gardasil as I am told “there is not enough information available” about the vaccine and doctors believe it to be “safe” . Most recently, a neurologist informed that he does believe that my daughter’s symptoms were brought on by the vaccine, just not in a way that he could test or prove.

There are some doctors who are making the correlation between Gardasil and many of the girls’ symptoms. Other doctors are willing to “try” treatment, most of which is “homeopathic” in nature and extremely costly. Once again, I must reiterate that there are so many other young girls experiencing negative symptoms.
Each night, I check on my daughter many times in the middle of the night to make sure she is still breathing (like we ALL did when they were babies).

I often cry and wonder if Victoria will be next one to die from adverse reactions to Gardasil.

We are in desperate need of medical treatment for my daughter. I have run out of ideas, doctors to treat with and finances have dwindled. I do not know which direction to turn. Any thoughts are most appreciated, especially from the medical community.
Please feel free to forward this information.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Jodi Speakman
(267) 939-0591
Jodispeaks@aol.com

P.S. Victoria is one of five girls mentioned on the NVIC website. Victoria’s story appeared on the front page of the Philadelphia Weekly Newspaper in June 2009 and also mentioned on the front page of the Philadelphia Inquirer in August 2009. A Fox news story recently aired as well.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/14/investigate-gardasil-vaccine-risks-now

http://www.nvic.org/Vaccines-and-Diseases/hpv.aspx

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/posted.php?id=547704835&share_id=76759221290#s76759221290

For more information, visit TruthAboutG