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Autism Controversy Dominates National News

A Mother's Personal Story of a Vaccine Gone Wrong

(TO) Childhood vaccinations have become a routine part of our modern life, nearly eradicating many of history's most deadly diseases. However, there is a spreading belief and some evidence that the vaccines that save us may also cause dangerous, life-long disorders, such as autism. In fact, some parents still choose not to vaccinate their children because they worry about the risks involved, even though the debated culprit - mercury - has been removed from most vaccines since 2001.

The rising rates of autism are staggering and the medical field still struggles to find certain causes of this life-changing disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of autism is now 1 in 150 children and is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the country. From 1991-2004, in the state of Missouri alone, there was an 850% increase in the reported cases of autism.

Barbara Coppo is a mother with an extraordinary story. In her new book, The Boy in the Window (Morgan James Publishers, Nov 2007), Coppo recounts the endless struggles the family has dealt with since their son, Kenny, developed autism and other serious disorders due to his routine DPT vaccination that he received in 1979, when he was 19 months old. Coppo takes the reader on a journey through daily life in their household as she and her husband Ken care for their now 29-year-old son who is afflicted with seizures and extreme behaviors because of the vaccine that was meant to protect him.

"Our story is not a self-help guide with facts, figures, and statistics; nor is it about debates on autism, vaccines or otherwise," says Coppo. "It is a human nature story starring my son, Kenny. My intention is to provide hope to those families raising autistic children by telling how our love for Kenny surpasses the daily challenges, no matter how profound and impossible his behaviors are."

Coppo is just one of thousands of parents speaking out on autism. Coppo can discuss, among other topics related to autism: