This may be off topic (not if your child’s special needs is seasonal allergies), but here in the Garden of Eden things are as they are every spring…gorgeous. The azaleas are in full bloom, along with the dogwoods, and the cherry trees. The daffodils have faded, but the lilies and the irises are due any day now.

And…there’s a bright golden haze on the meadow…and the sidewalk, and my car, and the mailbox, and the trash can (see picture). This yellow/green dust is tree pollen. This phenomenon is a Southern one at it’s finest. And this year... more

It looks like a new break through in the treatment of Leukemia may be in the near future. Apparently researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have discovered why the drug Asparaginase doesn’t cure some children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia but does cure other children. Cells within the bone marrow actually release a lot of an amino acid called asparagine. The leukemia cells must have this amino acid to survive and the drug is supposed to deplete the supply of it. But sometimes, some of the leukemia cells are able... more

One of my readers asked for some treatment possibilities for ADHD so I decided to break them up into natural remedies that don’t require prescriptions and prescription treatments. I provided links with each so you can study each one to determine if you’d like to try any of them. If you’ve ever searched on the internet for ADHD the information available is overwhelming. The claims and information listed with each “remedy” is pasted directly from the web site cited.

Vaxa's Attend is... more

It is quickly becoming my personal opinion that inositol may be a well-kept secret when it comes to helping Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Inositol is described as a member of the Vitamin B family, although it’s not really a vitamin at all. It is made by the human body and has been shown to be effective in managing anxiety and depression.

One study showed that people with OCD and panic disorder had symptoms drastically disappear when given a dose of 12 grams of inositol a day.

Often in pursue of the right biomedical answers for LuLu, I feel like a dog chasing my tail. Inositol is one of those moments. Before we consulted with our awesome DAN! doctor, who knows more about... more

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Ok, to recap, Drs. Purvis & Cross operate a camp for post-institutionalized traumatized children called “The Hope Connection” as part of their research for the Institute for Child Development at Texas Christian University.... more

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The unique twist to the work that Dr. Purvis and Dr. Cross do at the is that they test neurotransmitter levels of all the Camp Hope campers (and their parents) before, during and after the day camp. To day, Dr. Purvis reports she has reviewed over 900 neurotransmitter tests on traumatized children. She has seen some pretty definite... more

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I promised you some of the “meat” I learned from the Seeds of Hope: Promising Interventions for At-Risk Children presentation that Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross made at last fall’s ATTACh conference.

Well the first thing I found truly impressive was Dr. Purvis’ in-depth description and understanding of how neglect, maltreatment, lack of nutrition and lack of stimulation can impact sensory functions. Yes, I’ve heard... more

One of my friends recently drove to the next city to get the last Plasma car the toy store or perhaps even the city had in stock. She was motivated to find one after having seen her four year old son with Cerebral Palsy ride one at daycare. You see you don’t pedal it to make it move, it doesn’t even have pedals. To move this fun riding toy you turn the wheel from left to right and let nature's forces do the work! To slow it down - just stop turning the wheel. To stop - just put your feet down on the floor or pavement. My friend says that her son can easily drive the Plasma... more

I’ve already received my share of criticism for allowing my seventeen year old son to buy a motorcycle. It’s not just a motorcycle; it’s actually a “crotch rocket,” a Ninja and its brand spanking new. I believe it had one mile on it when we loaded it up in the van. Even Super Dad II said, “What are you thinking?” Ok, here is my motherly logic. He has been employed at the same job for 15 months; so he’s earned and saved the money to buy it. If we said, “NO,” what do you think would happen the day he turns 18? He also drove a moped... more

I have just finished listing to a CD set of recordings from last year’s ATTACh conference; a day-long workshop entitled: Seeds of Hope: Promising Interventions for At-Risk Children. The CD order form is here.

The speakers, Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross are the developers of the Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. Their research training and service are focused on special needs children who... more