I am truly passionate about very few things. These things include my art, crochet, Faith, and my family. I always have and always will want the best for my child- just as every loving mother would. That is why I never missed a wellness visit until after that day. That is why I trusted my child's doctor.
I had always thought of doctors to be smart, well informed, warriors for life. I guess I sort of seen myself as not as intelligent. Just as I would think I was more creative than a doctor…I thought of them as more medically aware.
Every time I took my child to get vaccinated, I thought I was protecting her. I would address my concerns after each set of vaccines because of the way my normally happy child would cry for days after being injected. Her doctor calmed my nerves by letting me know it was “normal”. But everything was different at her 12 month visit. My gut was telling me not to let them vaccinate her… I told her doctor. He assured me everything was fine and there was no reason to delay.
That day she was given a series of shots that included the MMR (mumps, measles, and rubella). For the first time ever, she did not cry. She was happy. I took her to get her blood drawn that very same day to do the routine 12 month blood test. This was just to make sure her levels were normal, and that she was healthy. And she was until 5 days later.
All the sudden my daughter had a fever of 103. I knew instantly what was the cause. I quickly pulled out the papers the doctor gave me when giving her the vaccine injections. I called the doctors office and explained to them my fears. “Just like the paper says, 5 days after she was vaccinated, she has come down with a really high fever.” The nurses told me to give her some Tylenol and and a luke warm bath to see if it helped.. and told me to take her to the ER if it got worse. They assured me it wasn't from the vaccine.. but maybe she just had a cold. But my mommy gut knew better.
That night everything changed. My daughter was in pain. Her fever was up to 105. She was swelling up. Her eyes could barely open. She could barely move. She lost the ability to walk! She could barely breath. I was terrified!
I take her to the ER. We sit there for hours…. Her fever went back down to 103 and they send us home. They think she just had a cold. I told them what I thought was wrong… and they look at me like I am crazy. I could see their eyes roll as they quickly walk out of the room.
I take my baby home and do the only thing I knew would comfort her. I nurse her. As long as I was nursing… she wasn't crying. I called the doctors office the next day only to find out he was on vacation and would be gone for a few weeks.
After 5 days of battling a fever.. and wondering what was happening to my baby, the swelling got worse, and the rash started. She had what appeared to be full blown measles. Not only the measles rash, but symptoms of mumps and rubella too.
I called all the pediatricians in my area and they all tell me they are busy, and to take her to the ER if I am concerned. Finally I go to a local walk in clinic. But that is when it really got scary. Before this moment I had wondered if everyone was right. If maybe I really am just paranoid and I just need to let this bug run its course. Then the nurses came in… they were clearly terrified to be in the same room as my daughter. They attempt to take her temperature rectally but failed over and over because they were scared to touch her. My baby screams from the pain and I help the nurse. She quickly leaves the room. The doctor comes in. He says it looks like she has measles…. but “how?” he asked. I told him I believe she is having a reaction to the MMR vaccine. I hand him the paperwork I received when she was given the shot. Then he gave me that look…. like I was insane. He told me they needed to draw blood. He said they would be able to narrow it down to a virus or infection by seeing her blood platelet count. After about 10 attempts to draw her blood (pure torture for my baby) They finally found a vein. They told me her blood platelet count wasn't even half what it was a little over a week before.
We sit there for a few more hours and the doctor finally comes back into the room. He smiles and said “You are right!” He told me she had every reaction symptom to a T other than seizures and death. He told me that she was clearly a healthy girl and was fighting through the virus's that were attacking her immune system. He told me that we were at the tipping point of the measles virus and that things should start to ease after that day. He assured me she would learn to walk again…
Before leaving the doctors office, he wrote a note for her pediatrician. He explained to him all the reasons he knew she was going through a vaccine reaction.
When her doctor got back to town. Her rash was starting to fade and peal off. Her fever was gone. She could eat and walk again. I told her doctor everything we had been through and I gave him the letter from the other doctor. He laughed in my face. He told me “Reactions are rare but they are perfectly normal. I have seen this 3 other times in my line of practice. You will need to continue her vaccinations on schedule.” I quickly said “WHAT?” and looked at him as if he was wearing clown makeup. I told him the paperwork he gave me said that if a child has a bad reaction to the MMR, that they should NOT get another one…. because it would be dangerous! He then says “The chances of her having another reaction is very rare.” (kinda like the first reaction >eye roll<)
I cannot allow my child to be injected with this vaccine again. I will listen to the CDC with this one, and know that if they have a bad reaction… to not repeat it. How can a doctor brush it off as “normal but rare”? How can a doctor not even care to know why she had this reaction? What causes it? And how could I ever intentionally put my child through this again? Or even worse….
I am not against vaccines. I want my child to be healthy and protected. But I am scared. Until the CDC can figure out why some children react to this vaccine this way, I will refuse it. People can think I am nuts. People can call me names and mock me behind my back…. and to my face. I guess it is hard to understand what we had gone through until you are holding your own child while you think they are dying. Until you have to fight and argue with doctors to even consider a vaccine to be harmful.. it is just hard for people to understand.
The good news is, my daughter is healthy, smart, and very advanced. I wish all vaccine injuries could end the same way as my daughters… but some of them never recover. You don't have to take my word. You do not have to listen to anyone's personal stories. But please, PLEASE, be aware of what reactions can occur. Remember that it can take 1-2 weeks before they even begin. Do not judge someone for being scared… because maybe, just maybe they have a reason for that fear.
** UPDATE **
My daughter now has a wonderful doctor who recognized the dangers and reaction with her symptoms. She is medically exempt from ever receiving another MMR.
I have decided to not continue with vaccines, until they are made safe… or when she is an adult and can make the educated choice for herself.
Also, 2 years after her reaction, we found out she cannot handle “sorbitol” (gives her chemical burns on skin contact) which is a chemical they put into sugar free foods. And I now know it's also a chemical in the MMR vaccine. Although no doctors cared to find out why she reacted so badly, I think I may have my answer.
We all know other chemicals in other vaccines are dangerous..”formaldehyde, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate, thimerosal…” are just a few of them. But we also need to remember that chemicals like sorbitol (that's in some our food, gum… as well), are also dangerous. It is also known for increasing the frequency of seizures.
I would hope that in the world we live in today, the CDC and doctors would at the least test children's sensitivity to these toxins.
When I was pregnant, I didn't eat anything sugar free because my doctor told me they had not been tested to be safe during pregnancy…. but it's okay to put it directly into my child's bloodstream at 12 months? While I am still introducing foods one by one? It makes no sense. Mind boggled!
BUT – do not take my word for it. Do your own research.
Reading your story brought tears to my eyes… I have 4 daughters of my own & couldn’t imagine the torment you went thru watching your baby go thru this… My heart breaks for you… With my first 3 we went thru the immunization process fine… With baby #3 we were late a few times lol just bc it was chaos dragging 3 little girls all 2-2.5 yrs apart into the Dr… BUT with baby girl #4 something just told me not too… Back to that “Mama’s gut” thing you spoke of… We were right on track all the way up too 12 mos… then after that I just had a bad feeling and we haven’t been back. I remember with all 4 of my girls the few days of misery following EVERY SINGLE shot… low fevers, soreness & misery… But compared to the pain your little girl went thru that was nothing. But for a Mama it’s horrible even on the minimal level. But with my last baby girl… Something just told me not to go back. She just turned 3 and so far so good… I just hope making this decision doesn’t hurt me in the long run. I know before she starts school I MUST get her immunizations caught up bc in our state it’s a law, but by then she’ll be older and able to handle it better. I got the DTap shot after I had her bc whooping cough was bad in our area & 3 babies had passed from it in the 6 months prior to her birth. So I made my hubby get it too… My arm was super sore & swollen for 2 weeks! I could only lift it straight out and that was painful. I then realized the pain I was putting my babies thru 🙁 As I said I went along for the first year but haven’t since. I am so sorry you had to go thru this horrible time with your daughter. That is any parent’s fear, to be helpless… and that’s what you are when they’re sick like that. I’m rambling now, lol… I’m a bit passionate about this subject or any when it comes to my babies. I support your decision 1000% I wish our state didn’t have the law that they MUST be immunized to enter day-care or school… but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. Best luck to you & your beautiful daughter ♥
Every state allows exemptions. Find out what they are, and USE them, please. This website has so much helpful information – http://www.nvic.org/
I never thought anything about vaccinating until after my son was given a hep b shot when he was first born and stopped breathing for no apparent reason. They ran test pumped his body full of antibiotics after only being a few days old. They couldn’t find a reason, but I knew exactly what is was. I had the mommy gut feeling and due to that I no longer vaccinate any of my children. It only makes sense to me that while your child might do fine while being shot up with a concoction of God knows what, I will not take that chance with my children anymore. If a side effect can lead to death why in the world would I put that in my child’s body. I know once it’s done you can’t take it back you can’t undo it. I have gotten a religious exemption and they go to school with everyone else with no problems. I am not for vaccinations for the simple fact that people aren’t educated they don’t study whats in them or any of the facts. They simply believe the doctor is good and cares, and I am sure he is good and cares until your child is injured by one. Then there is no one to take the blame they make you feel crazy or stupid and scratch their heads and how can this be and point fingers all around and no one ever wants to say what it really is ! Wake up people seriously things are great until it happens to you and since you don’t know which vaccine will trigger something awful, I will take my chances with them actually getting sick. Which by the way they are totally healthy. Especially since vaccinations do not actually prevent anything I don’t see the point. If you give yourself a vaccine and they say well you can still catch the virus that is just craziness. You might not think you are smart enough to understand, but that is how they want you to feel. It’s all about money in the end and you might think your child was vaccinated and fine, but you can’t see the damage it may have caused on the inside and the damage that will occur down the road. My friends son was just vaccinated the other day and the liquid leaked out onto his skin and they stuck a band-aid on it and it burned him. He ended up with this really hard round spot on his skin and the doctor said he was allergic to the band-aid? Without even looking at it over the phone. So if that burnt his skin imagine his insides.. Scary stuff.. Honestly 🙁 May the odds be ever in your favor pro-vaxers!
<3 Corina!
xoxo
I had my kids vaccinated and had no issues. The thing is every child is different. I think you are doing the right thing. I am a grandma now and I appreciate you sharing your story because I did not know a child could have a reaction after that length of time. I am so glad that your sweet baby is doing well.
Carrie…with no issues you say. Let me ask you…do any of your children or grandchildren suffer from ADD? Allergies? Autism? Chronic ear infections? Autoimmune disease? Cancer (sv40)? If you can say no to all of the above I would question your honesty.
I am fully vaccinated, but don’t vaccinate my kids on schedule. We do selective vax AND delayed vax. Your comment really rubbed me the wrong way though! I don’t have any complications, I don’t have asthma, I don’t have autoimmune disease or ANYTHING negative. I am not questioning that these things are possible, but to say that ALL vaccinated people have terrible side effects is equally stupid to saying that all unvaccinated people are walking death traps.
As an individual that had polio before the vaccine, all 4 of my children were vaccinated. They all had fevers that lasted several days and very sore, swollen injection sites. That’s a minor inconvenience compared to the diseases they could get without the vaccines. But, I support you 100% in your decision to no longer vaccinate for mumps and measles. Thank God your little one survived and had no adverse effects. Way to go Corina!
98% of polio cases show no symptoms. Fact.
Sal, perhaps you would be willing to share where you got this information. I cannot find a reliable source to back that statement up.
A very wise nurse once told me that doctors use about 10 % fact and 90 % opinion.. I am so glad your little one got through this nightmare. I believe we know our children the best. We know when something is wrong. I think you did what any good mother would have done. If something doesn’t feel right, it usually isn’t. I believe in vaccinating our children. Especially with the constant influx of people from other countries that could carry diseases that these vaccines protect us from. But, there are exceptions to everything and I would have done exactly what you did.
God Bless,
Cyndi
Years ago my daughter had concerns regarding reactions to vaccinations, also. She requested that her Pediatrician only give a 1/2 dose of any shot and that only 1 bacterial vaccination can be given at subsequent visits. The Dr was appalled that a mother would subject her child to more visits than necessary. She explained to the Dr that she believed the little bodies of our children can’t take the bombardment of full strength shots and if he was unwilling to comply with her request, then she would find another Dr. The end result was more visits to the Dr office, but, a much happier & healthier child.
You can request the same thing for your future Dr visits for your little girl. It will undoubtedly minimize the chance of a reaction. Measles, Mumps & Rubella are 3 viral immunizations… and I believe each one can be given separately and in 1/2 doses if you choose.
FYI – The Obamacare Health Plan has a clause that prevents suing the Pharmaceutical Co that created the MMR in the event it is discovered to contribute/cause Autism…. What do they know that they’re not telling???
When I was a child all the shots were separate. Perhaps they should step back in that regard.
Better to trust a Mother’s instinct than be sorry.
Can you specify which part of the Affordable Care Act you are referring to? I can only find information on the 2011 Supreme Court decision which created a fund for vaccine side affect claims. Here is a link to the court’s full opinion: http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-152.pdf
The law has barred suing pharmaceutical companies over vaccines for years. It’s not new, nor is it part of the affordable care act.
Obama care has nothing to do with the fa t vaccine makers cannot be sued.
I believe you did the right thing. One of my kids pedigree docs told me to trust my instincts when it comes to my kids, I an their parent and know them best. I would definitely be switching pediatricians. He sounds like an a**! I hate patronizing doctors and nurses..
Pediatric doc* not pedigree. ..lol
Did you report the incident? Feedback may help researchers improve vaccines and how they are administered. I found this on the CDC website:
•Afterward, the reaction should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your doctor might file this report, or you can do it yourself through the VAERS website, or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
VAERS is only for reporting reactions. They do not give medical advice.
I remember when I was in Kindergarten and got the chicken pox – the very NEXT day after receiving the chicken pox vaccine. The reasoning (I found out years later), something to the effect of my body being more susceptible to the virus (being that a small portion of the vaccine is the virus itself). As an adult, the thought of being vaccinated for anything scares me because what if my body is more susceptible to any other viruses?
Phew! Sorry to hear you and your family had to go through this awful experience but life experiences are what help sculpt our futures, and I’m really glad everything has worked itself out.
Just curious how old you are, because the chicken pox shot is fairly new. Are you sure it was that one?
You did the right thing! It is so hard to deal when your baby has a reaction so badly! Go with your gut, try to see if you can find a better pediatrician! My oldest son was allergic to antibiotics, I took him to ER and told him he had bad reaction to Benadryl when he was 6 months old, they told me they grow out of it! He was 3 at this time, I took him home and 2 hours later he swelled up like a marshmellow, took him back to ER explained to them they gave him Benadryl and he reacted badly to it! They told me I was wrong and gave him his antibiotic after they said stop it! NO I did not, then they gave him more Benadryl saying it wasn’t I called his pediatrician on a Sunday afternoon because he was having problems breathing and could not walk! The Dr. called the ER and chewed them out plus while we were holding hi down to put hydrocortizone all over him and she grabbed some augminton which is a stronger medication to fight reactions! He is an adult now but can not take any antibiotics except 1 and no Benadryl! Sorry for my long story, YOU DID A GREAT JOB! MOMS KNOW BEST!
It is very sad that people are so brainwashed! I get the same reaction! Rolling of the eyes, talked down to! I don’t understand why people have to be so against a parent that is doing what is best for their child! Some parents have been on both sides! You have to be pretty crazy to vaccinate after your kid suffers such a bad reaction they almost die! The chances of another bad reaction is so much higher! I didn’t know this until recently but pediatricians have to vaccinate a certain number of people and if they do they get bonuses etc. This disturbs me! It just proves that one hand washes the other! This is a very shady side to the vaccine industry and they have done a magnificent job throwing up their smoke screens! You have to investigate for yourself! Because there is never going to be a negitive story on the news, most doctors will not even discuss negativity towards the hand that feeds them!
I am so sorry, I know exactly how you feel. My daughter recovered too, but I know in my heart of hearts I can never allow her to get another vaccination. We aren’t crazy and many of us who people are so quick to label anti-vax actually were pro-vax at one time. There is a lot of real info out there to back up your fears. Including thousands of cases the government has paid in damages in vaccine court. Or the CDCwhistleblowers comments, Merck’s MMR ongoing fruad case, the billions glaxo smith kline was ordered to pay for fraud in the US and China. These companies are criminals and we should trust them? Good luck to you and stay strong.
It is not normal for children to cry for days after getting shots. 3 of my children are fine 30 seconds after the shot my other child has a fever that last maybe an hour after. Your daughter is obviously one of the children that should not get shots. Children like mine that don’t have reactions to vaccinations need to get them so children like your daughter that can’t get them have a better chance of not catching anything.
If you haven’t you should change pediatricians. After my daughter Lailiana had her first fever after getting vaccinations I informed her Pediatrician. The next time she had us stay at her office so her fever could be monitored.
Have yoir children tested for MTHFR gene mutations. Due to the high levels of mercury and aluminum in vaccines, people with the mutations cannot have vaccines. I have 2 copies of 1 of the 40 different of genes; we do not tolerate many things.
I have never heard of this! Thank you so much! I will bring this up at her next appointment! <3
This is something I wish we had known about YEARS ago. I was a pro-vaxx’er and my oldest son, who was very healthy at birth, never had any strong reactions to his vac’s but he was ALWAYS catching everything that went around in school and was always on antibiotics. My daughter, who was also born very healthy, died not long after her fisrt set of vac’s and that was when I became an anti-vaxx’er. My youngest son, who was born early and had difficulty breathing, has never had a vac’s and he has also never once been on antibiotics because he rarely got sick. It wasn’t until years later that after losing my 5th baby to miscarrige that they finally tested me (and I had to beg to get them to do it.) I learned one of my two mutations was MTHFR. Most people have never heard of it and have no clue. I have no idea if my daughter inherited the MTHFR or not but being that she died I am guessing she probably did.
this breaks my heart, to even imagine what you & your baby were going through. Stand strong and know that you are not alone in this fight for vaccine choice. I am the mom to 3 healthy wonderful little boys, ages 9, 6 & 3. My husband and i went in blindly following the required vaccine schedule for my oldest. But have never given them the flu shot, which contains high does of mercury. I started doing some research as I heard more & more parents come forward with vaccine injuries or death. So with our second we spaced them out a bit more. with our third we even opted to wait until my son’s 2nd birthday to go ahead with the MMR. Thank God none of them had any initial reactions but I’m now being told, after 2 behavioral studies and many years of learning & behavioral frustrations, my oldest has ADHD, which can be a side effect of the toxic heavy metals in vaccines. Going forward we have decided to forgo any more vaccines, no boosters, as my neighbors son who had his 12yr MMR booster suddenly started having seizures, so many he was unconscious at one point and was then transported by helicopter to Johns’ Hopkins. They said he has epilepsy even though he never had one seizure in his life. I blame the vaccine. I would rather not play Russian roulette with my children’s lives.
Thank you for telling your story! Injuries are not as uncommon as everyone would like to think. I’m glad the other side of the story is getting out!
To read your story and see all these eye rollings from these so called “professionals”, makes me want to pull my hair out. They are literally going to cause a Mom to loose it and take someone in DC hostage.
I was in a very similar situation as yours BUT I never allowed for my kids to get the MMR. My first child got the separated measles, mumps and rubella vaccines in 2006 and she did not have a reaction. They no longer sell the seperated MMR vaccines.
However, when it came to my second child, who was chronically sick, I stopped vaccinating him (even with a delayed schedule) at 18 months. He was chronically sick with ear infections, pneumonia, upper respiratory etc… And after I pleaded with my doctor that my son has a compromised immune system and can not handle the regular vaccine schedule, all my stupid, arrogant , know it all, god complex doctor would say to me was… “Even more the reason to vaccinate” Well, I fired her a*s and stuck with my gut. I found an integrative doctor that tested my son and found he had huge amounts of aluminum causing his compromised immune system.
I was later diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. Yet another reason not to vaccinate my son. All of the vaccine inserts say that if a child is sick or could inherit an autoimmune issue from the parent, they should not be immunized until better or not at all. Well, my son was NEVER better. And this poor excuse for a doctor did not give a crap and just wanted to keep vaccinating. DOCTORS are NOT educated on this at all.
This vaccine schedule is not a “one size fits all”. Some kids need to be tested to see f their immune system can handle it. Please listen to the Moms who witness this everyday.
I could feel my gut twisting while reading this. To have your sweet baby go through something like this would bring about a fear like no other. Then, to have the people who are supposed to help you and your precious baby laugh and roll their eyes at you? There are no words for the disgust I feel toward anyone who would downplay such a serious situation. It’s heart-wrenching to hear how you were treated and that it could have cost you your baby’s life. I pray that everything will only get easier for you and your baby girl. Be proud of yourself for following your gut feeling and not succumbing to the condescension that you faced at an extremely vulnerable time! “Mommy gut” is always right! Way to go, Momma! 🙂
This is exactly why we didn’t have our children vaccinated! At the time our children were coming into this world there was an outbreak of Polio in Pennsylvania among the Amish. It didn’t make sense until the truth came out that the state was making the Amish vaccinate their children. So many babies and elderly Amish people contracted Polio from the shots. No one can guarantee that they are safe!
It breaks my heart to hear what your precious daughter went thru. My grandson has not had his shots because his half-brother became autistic at age 2 when he got his shots. Many of the children who received their shots in his clinic came down with (don’t know any other way to say it) with autism in a cluster after they all got their shots all of them were age 2 to 2.5 years old. The school district is now handling about 30 autistic middle to high school students with autism and they still don’t know what to do with them. My oldest grandson is now out of school and the state is paying his mom to take care of him because they don’t have enough group homes to take care of all the autistic young adults around now.
Honey stick to your guns and don’t let anyone tell you that your daughter has to have those injections. If you have to you can teach her at home. Check with your state and see what the requirements are for Home Schooling your child or children. I had to Home school are two boys because of the public school would not test our special needs child in a timely fashion and he was being made fun of by the bullies his age mates when he was forced into 2nd grade for reading when he was in 3rd grade. We had never been told by the school that was happening. And we were the Scout Leader for that school.
So SweatHeart Keep to your gut feelings and protect that precious child. God Bless you Always