The latest copy (dated October 27th) of US Weekly magazine has Jenny McCarthy on the cover sharing her story of Evan's recovery from Autism. Read portions of the article online or pick up a copy of it the next time you are in a grocery line. The magazine came out I'm not normally an US reader - let's face it, I'm lucky if I get out of my house with my hair combed to get my daughter to preschool ontime. I indulged myself on Friday after dropping off Belle at school and picked myself up a Starbucks Latte and a copy. Before picking it up I had read the over 300 comments posted at the US site, many of which chastised Jenny and US Magazine for the article.Why the hate? Why? Why? Why?
What the heck.
I hear this a lot. Parents who pursue biomedical options are accused of not loving their children or accepting that their child's diagnosis. Like Jenny, I am accused of being in denial about my son's being Autistic. I don't grock this line of thinking. How is it that by stepping 'out of the box' and pursuing options like a healthy diet to clean up my son's gut does that imply I don't love or accept my child for who he is. Make no bones about it, my son has Autism. He was diagnosed over 5 years ago and I've long past the denial or even the grief stage. I was raised catholic, so I don't think I will ever totally get over 'guilt' but 'guilt' is not my driving factor. Alex is my driving factor. I accept Alex, my beautiful boy, Autism and all. Alex has autism and I don't love him any less because of it. Maybe, just maybe - I love him even more. I don't hate Autism nor do I love it. I live it, every day. I think about it like this: Autism has put a fire under my ass and it is not going out. It is my obligation as my son's mother to stand up for him. I do it for Alex, because I want to help him be successful, happy, and healthy.
And just how is Jenny harming the Autism community by sharing Evan's story - which is one of Hope.
"People say, 'you've made Evan a poster child for autism.' No, Evan is a poster child for hope." McCarthy
Earlier, I posted the advertisement image for the NAA conference with the word "Hopeism". I like that. A lot. My son has Autism and I am full of hope for him. Hope for his future and Hope for every day.
6 comments:
I agree with you. How is it any different than searching for treatment for a child with a medical condition? Just because autism isn't fatal, doesn't mean a mom should do whatever she can to help her child have every opportunity possible. And if Jenny's message helps a child lead a more healthful, happy life then more power to her. Isn't that what all moms want? That her child can be as healthy (physically, emotionally, spiritually) as possible? maybe her tactics won't work for everyone, but that doesn't mean she shouldn't share her information.
For me it is the terms she uses and how melodramatic she is. Sometimes he is cured, other times recovered and online at US where all those weird commens are (plus entertainment weekly has some) how we beat autism. she makes it seem like it is dirty and needs to be hidden.
Also all the parents that are on show like GMA get attacked at the commets on their site about autism, so why should Jenny get treated differently? What I mean is those comments saying the parent should have known or the ones about the kid being kicked off plane, etc. which are usually posted by ignorant people not affiliated with autism in their family.
Jenny uses terms that Suzanne Wright used the first time she was on the View when they first started the org. She was mean spirited and making it seem like a death sentence. That is not autism awareness, that is hating something so fierce that a child has, and not right at all. They do not understand acceptance at all.
Do I always agree with what Jenny has to say? No of course not but not everyone always agrees with me. What I do appreciate is that she is fighting for all of our kids. She is lending her celebrity to help pass laws, get funding etc.
That sounds like a great article! I am going to have to read it.
My personal feeling is that if we all took better care of ourselves then we wouldn't need half of the medicine we take.
I am not against medicine or medical intervention, I just believe that 100% of the time it would work better in conjunction with non medical improvements.
Jenny is free to pursue any treatments for her son that she wants - I don't condemn her for that. I condemn the way she insists she has "cured" her son and suggests that we should all be able to do the same thing. With so many parents already working so hard for their kids, I think it is dangerous to preach the message that it's up to parents to "cure" their children. It sets unrealistic expectations, which is far different than fostering hope.
You are just an amazing mom! I'm proud to know you and to be your friend. Don't ever give up hope and remember all the friends that love your entire family.
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