The Beginning - The Diagnosis

My daughter was "colicky" for 18 months - that is what the doc's said. By the time we turned to Eastern medicine, I was exhausted due to the lack of sleep, I was confused, as I had been told by the medical establishment, to ignore my instincts as a new mom, I was frustrated that nobody believed me and I was saddened that I could not hep my daughter. Then Robert, a mysteriously talented acupuncturist and energy healer. We went to see him from a recommendation from my sister, whose husband had been diagnosed with a undefined blood-clotting disorder by Western doc's and had been sentenced to a life with unbearable pain and daily blood thinners, who was then cured in a few months by Robert. When we walked into the office, it was peaceful with minimal furnishings. We were welcomed by Robert himself, who does not believe in secretaries. He wore slippers, walked quietly and was impressively young, considering his talent. His dark hair and quiet demeanor was new to our daughter and she hung onto Momma with a tight grip and place her cheek against the warmth and comfort of my shoulder. Robert welcomed us onto a couch and asked us to complete a health history form. Being only 18 months old, the form was quickly completed and Robert escorted us into a room, dimly light by a paper encased lamp. He reviewed the information we had provided, clarified a few dates, asked about her birth - in which she and I were induced for four days with no avail, finally delivered vaginally with an epidural and due to a slight fever, put into the NICU on antibiotics. He nodded his head knowingly, but at the same time humble - posing no threat to my heightened sense of defensiveness - as I prepared myself to hear that, like the Western doc's proclaimed, she was in good health. Robert then asked us to lay on the table, laying my daughter gently on top of me - placing our hands in unique positions as he tapped the bridge of my ankle while counting on the other hand. This diagnostic energy technique, lasted only about five minutes and was followed by a question inquiring as to what the Western doc's had said. I told them that each on of them did not approve of my husband and I sleeping with her and said that was her problem. Also, I conveyed their optimism that she would grow out of it. Gently, as if he was anticipating such an answer, laughed quietly and reassuringly said, "Oh, Siobhan. She is not going to grow out of this." He then went on to diagnosis her with a gluten-intolerance. His initial thinking was that if she was off of gluten, wheat and dairy that she would improve dramatically and sleep through the night within one week. Oh, what validation! I sighed heavily and tears welled in my eyes - I was so happy that this man, who I had known for less than thirty minutes, believed me and that Eastern medicine - the practice of energy - had proven that my crusade to help my daughter was justified. Although his initial belief that our daughter would be sleeping comfortably through the night within one week, did not come true, his recommendation to eliminate the gluten and wheat blessed us with a new child. The colicky, clingy, unhappy child that we had known and comforted for 18 months disappeared - a new happy child, with a beautiful smiled replaced her and my husband and I were joyous. However, few people believed us - and challenged our decision to eliminate wheat and gluten in her diet. Now however, it has been almost two months - and we have managed to remain constant in our wheat-free diet. Although we still have quite a long way to go - working with occupational therapists for sleep disorders and working our way diligently towards a six-month (no slip-ups) wheat/gluten and dairy free diet - we are so thankful that we found Robert. So, here is the beginning - the beginning of our story. One that unfortunately began with the ignorance of new parents allowing a child that did not require high doses of antibiotics - to have them administered - and thus, eliminated her natural ability to develop a healthy GI. One of eighteen months of sickness, overlooked by pediatricians. Our story though is one of hope and, although I must confess that this blog is therapeutic to a mom, I hope that our chronicles might just help another family. My goal is to blog weekly, ideally each Sunday. But, as an parent knows, idealism is hard to maintain while we are absorbed in the reality of parenting. Happy New Year! Siobhan