Brothers With Autism Respond to Nutritional Treatment-Is This Rare?
“I was told my kids may never talk. Well poo on that! Look at em now!” ~ Shannon Stilwell
Finley age 5 and Kieran age 4
The CDC Now Estimates That One in Fifty Children Has An Autism Diagnosis, and yet in spite of numerous studies, little is known how to best help those children diagnosed with conditions like autism and apraxia.
Many saw the headlines Published Online September of 2012 like this one in Nature Amino-acid deficiency underlies rare form of autism. We have numerous examples to show that nutritional strategies helping are far from rare, in fact it appears to be common.
Below for example is remarkable documentation with before and after videos of two adorable brothers aged five and four, both diagnosed with autism by their mom Shannon Stilwell. Only Shannon’s older son Finley however was also diagnosed with a rare chromosomal syndrome…yet both responded to nutritional strategies in addition to their other therapies.
My Two Boys, By Shannon Stilwell
Finley and his brother Kieran both are overcoming multiple diagnosis including autism
Both my boys are on the autism spectrum and have been in Early Intervention almost since birth. They are both in intensive therapies and have wonderful behavioral therapy, speech, occupational therapy and physical therapy. Since 3 years old both are also in a preschool disability program at our local elementary school.
We love NV Original and it has helped our sons sooooo much. Both of my boys went from non-verbal to verbal . I would be broken hearted if it went away. Please please keep the original NV, Zrii!
Finley has a rare chromosomal syndrome in addition to autism
In addition to an autism diagnosis, Finley’s walking, talking, and developmental delays were caused by a rare chromosomal syndrome.
My oldest son Finley is now 5 years old and has a chromosomal syndrome, a duplication called 22q11.2 duplication syndrome. He was born with birth defects called hypospadias and cryptorchidism which can be fixed by surgery. One of his earlier diagnosis the doctors gave him when he couldn’t walk as well was ataxia.
Finley didn’t start walking until around 3 years old. Finley is diagnosed with autism and severe global apraxia. He has a carnitine deficiency and is on prescription Levocarnitine. He has suspected mitochondrial dysfunction and suspected hyperlexia. He also has a form of thalassemia.
In addition to with hyperlexia, Kieran was diagnosed on the autism spectrum as well
My Second Son Diagnosed On The Autism Spectrum As Well
Finley’s little brother Kieran also has been diagnosed with hyperlexia and autism. When Kieran was first diagnosed ASD the speech therapists and neurologist at that time diagnosed him with apraxia as well as he was nonverbal until after 2 years old. But gain both boys were put into intensive therapies, and after starting NV Original and fish oils Kieran just took off talking. Both of my sons have sensory processing disorder, which affects how they perceives things in the world. Also both my boys (and my husband) have some form of thalassemia.
We were told when they were diagnosed (both at about a year old after repeated low iron levels on blood tests) that it was benign and wouldn’t affect them, however I have read a few things saying it can be linked to issues. After starting Nutriiveda (NV) Original their hematologist called with positive results and looked up Nutriiveda Original and said she approves of the boys taking it. She said nothing would hurt and the ingredientsare probably beneficial as a vitamin and mineral drink. Finley and Kieran started Nutriiveda Original May 19 2010 at one scoop a day. For the first year and a half we had both boys on one scoop a day. In the past few months we raised the boys dosages to two scoops a day, and in the past month to four scoops a day. Below is the documentation of the changes.
Before NV Original: Finley about two months shy of three years old in Feb. 2010 before he started Nutriiveda Original. As you can see he wasn’t communicating with us really.
Before NV Original: Kieran who is 2 years old, waiting for Finley to come home on bus on April 28, 2010 As you can see Kieran was not speaking at this time.
Soon after Finley was raised to 2 scoops of Nutriiveda Oriignal we noticed how much more he was communicating with us through his iPad which has been amazing! Finley could work at Apple, he manipulates it so much. He began to initiate what he wanted to say on the iPad instead of just answering us. For example one day he typed “want hug” and his therapist’s name on iPad. Below is an example of how he “talked” at this time
Finley talking with Proloquo2Go on February 10 2012
Then in July of 2012 we raised Finley to 4 scoops of Nutriiveda Original, and the change was super quick in his speech.
He began talking, then he began saying bigger words like “internet” and “dolphin”!! This is all within around a month’s time!
LOOK AT FINLEY TALKING NOW!! August of 2012
When I picked Finley up from his speech therapy session with the SLP from the elementary school she told me that she was SO impressed with his talking, she HAD to show someone. She took him to the school principal and both she and the principal couldn’t believe the change since school got out.
“He is speaking so well! We are so proud of his hard work. I love this video. Anyone want to hear the most beautiful voice to my ears right now?”
Finley Reading ”Monster Faces” September 26th 2012
January 17, 2013: Finley’s latest video. He is sick in the video (he has been sick with congestion, cough etc.) In spite of that I think he did great with this prayer. The SLPs (he has three) are amazed. In addition he likes to do math now like 3 plus 2 plus 4. I’ll try to get videos of this too!
Finley’s little brother Kieran was also on just one scoop for a year and a half and then raised up to two scoops. The following was taken shortly after we raised him to two scoops. I finally got Kieran reading on video. He knew I was videoing so he was a bit distracted and I ran out of room on phone before he finished but there are no redoes with a 3-year-old’s attention span. 
Feb 24 2012 Kieran who is 4 years old is also doing incredible. He’s not only talking, and can count to 100, but he’s reading!
We raised Kieran up to four scoops in July just like his brother. And here’s my other son I was told would never talk -look at him now!
I am sooo proud of my lil “nephews”!! They have worked so hard !! I am also sooo excited for my “sister” Shannon and her hubby!!! You have done a wonderful job and are definitely an inspiration to us all!! Love you all..
Love,
Tanya & Colton