Can you ever cure autism? This mum believes her sons have recovered

Can you ever cure autism? This mum believes her sons have recovered

It is devastating for parents to be told that their child has autism. But for Nina Ltief it signalled the start of a battle to help her twin sons recover. Controversially, it’s a battle she believes she’s won... but is this a condition that can really be overcome?

Just two years ago, Nina Ltief was considering putting her autistic twin sons into residential care. Their behaviour was so exhausting she could no longer cope.

The boys slept around three hours a night, could hardly talk and spent their time breaking their toys or banging them.

But now aged seven, Eli and Christian are no longer hyperactive and not only shower their mum with hugs and kisses but constantly remind her how much they love her.

These are precious moments Nina thought would never come.

Diagnosed with autism at the age of two, the twins rarely spoke, regularly self-harmed and were aggressive – unrecognisable as the loving children they are today.

And trained nurse Nina puts it down to a ground-breaking programme. “Life had been horrendous,” says Nina, 38, from Camberley, Surrey. “I’d been told nothing could be done. So I was stunned when after 18 months on the programme, two specialists confirmed they were no longer on the autistic spectrum.”

Born prematurely at 24 weeks both boys had chronic lung disease and holes in their hearts. They had several blood transfusions and virtually lived on antibiotics to kill infections.

But the twins survived and at six months old were allowed home. Although prone to infections and still needing antibiotics, they sailed through their 12- and 18-month developmental checks.

“They were happy boys, engaged and babbling. I had no concerns. But things went on to change dramatically.”

With Tony, 33, an IT security specialist based in Saudi Arabia, away from home a lot, Nina was on her own with the twins. But their progress was so good she decided it was safe for the family to join him.

Before flying out, the boys had MMR, Hepatitis B and Meningitis C jabs and seemed fine. But five weeks after arriving in Saudi they contracted a rotavirus, infecting their stomach and intestines, and were hospitalised for two days. It signalled the start of a further deterioration in the twins’ health.

Nina says: “The lights went out. They stopped making eye contact or reacting when we came into the room. They also stopped babbling.”

Nina decided to return to the UK to be closer to family and, once back, the boys’ health did pick up.

Soon after, they were spotted by a model agency scout and signed up. As gorgeous identical twins they both played Prince Edward in the film Henry VIII alongside actor Ray Winstone.

But Nina had begun noticing changes in their behaviour and six months after filming she decided to take them to an NHS paediatrician. The diagnosis was autism – the brain development disorder that affects communication and social skills.

“I was told they were in a world of their own,” says Nina. “I was warned they’d never speak, read or learn to socialise.”

Distraught, Nina was determined to get a second opinion. But the diagnosis was the same. “I cried myself to sleep wondering if they’d ever be normal,” says Nina.

After that the twins grew steadily worse, leaving Nina exhausted and battling to care for them. “They became hyperactive and destructive,” says Nina. “But worse still they began self-harming – pulling their hair out, biting themselves and me. I couldn’t take them out because I couldn’t control them. They wouldn’t listen to me. They’d try to climb out of the car window or have terrible tantrums.” Soon the twins refused to eat anything but cheese, milk and bread. As a result they suffered severe constipation or diarrhoea and had painful swollen stomachs.

“I was out of my depth,” says Nina. “I was exhausted caring for them and started resenting them. I began thinking the best thing for them would be a residential school.”

Then in 2007, when the boys were six, she went to a conference that changed their lives.

It was run by the British charity Treating Autism and Nina listened intently as she heard the stories of pioneering American parents who claim their children are no longer autistic, thanks to biomedical intervention. 
Among them was celebrity mum Jenny McCarthy, girlfriend of Jim Carrey. Nina learned that some experts think there are two types of autism – classic autism, which is present from birth, and a form triggered by environmental factors such as medicines (including antibiotics), pollution and toxins in food. By using biomedical detox methods, they believe this type of autism’s symptoms improve and can disappear.

Nina started educating herself about the biomeds. And within a few days of giving them enzymes which help digest wheat and dairy, they were sleeping better and, miraculously, began speaking.

“Christian was in the garden saying ‘Mummy, mummy’. At first it didn’t register until he said: ‘Mum, I’m talking to you.’ It was the first time he’d said a sentence.”

Two weeks later, Nina gave them a special vitamin supplement developed to help with gastrointestinal problems and support the immune system.

Their behaviour began improving and they started to do as they were told. She decided to take the twins to the US for further tests and so she could train with biomed practitioners.

“The tests showed up parasites and bowel disease,” says Nina. “I was advised to take wheat and dairy out of their diets.

“Their diarrhoea and constipation stopped, they’d often vomited after eating and that stopped, too.”

The boys’ speech continued improving and although they attend a special school, they learned to read. They are now academically only about a year behind mainstream peers in reading and writing, though they’re still having intensive speech and language therapy.

But it wasn’t until the twins were reassessed by a private psychologist specialising in autism that Nina discovered quite what progress the twins had made.

“They were no longer on the autistic spectrum,” says Nina. “They were assessed again two weeks later, with the same conclusion.”

Nina is delighted but, for her, the best part is being able to have quality time with them.

“They are just a pleasure to have around.”

/ The next Treating Autism conference is on March 13-14, 2009, in Bournemouth. For details go to www.treatingautism.co.uk

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

Autism experts believe there are two types of autism – classic autism, present from birth, and autism triggered by environmental factors.

Scientists think that children with environmentally-triggered autism develop well until around 18 months to two years old when they begin to regress.

Some studies have shown that overuse of antibiotics affect a child’s gut, allowing toxins and allergens into the blood stream which affect the brain.

But by using special detox methods, the autistic symptoms improve and can disappear.

Children with classic autism are not expected to recover, although they can improve. Nutritional therapist and Defeat Autism Now! practitioner Jon Tommey, who runs a biomedical clinic, says: “More than 65 per cent of the children I see have had four or more courses of antibiotics in their first year. When you help repair their guts and detox their systems they improve.”

A spokesperson for the National Autistic Society said: “We say autism is a lifelong condition but much can be done to help children using behavioural interventions and speech and language therapy. Biomeds can be tried and can be useful for some children, but parents need to discuss intervention with their doctor first.

“With some of the therapies offered there is little scientific evidence behind them so parents should be cautious.”
http://www.mirror.co.uk/life-style/real-life/2009/03/02/can-you-ever-cure-autism-this-mum-believes-her-sons-have-recovered-115875-21164151/