In September 2007, Jenny McCarthy hit the media like a storm with her book Louder than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism and appearances on just about every talk show - beginning with Oprah and including The View and Larry King to name a few. Now, a year later - she is back. Her second book about Autism called: Mother Warriors : a Nation of Parents Healing Autism Against All Odds was released on September 23, 2008 in hardcover with a $24.95 list price.

Jenny McCarthy represents a voice of recovery and hope for families affected by Autism. In her first book, Louder Than Words, she shares her story and her son Evan's story from the onset of Autism to recovery through biomedical treatments like the gluten & casein free diet and supplements. At the root of Autism she points to weakened immune systems and toxin overload from vaccines. Her stance is not anti-vaccination, but for safer vaccines. Along with her boyfriend Jim Carrey, she is at the helm of the Green Our Vaccines movement calling for safer ingredients and a safer vaccination schedule.

In Mother Warriors, Jenny continues sharing her journey and the journey of a nation of parents (mostly mothers, but some fathers too) who she calls Mother Warriors.

The first part of the book reads as a journal of her time on the road last year when she "went public". She shares of highs and lows - from when she was sitting next to Oprah to when Barbara Walters was chastising her in her dressing room before she went on The View. She talks about going up against a brick wall and dealing with the folks from the AAP in hopes of getting someone, anyone to come to a DAN! (Defeat Autism Now) conference ThinkTank to listen and witness that biomedical treatments were working.

The second part of the book is dedicated to sharing the stories of Mother Warriors. We've heard Jenny's own success story in her first book. In this second installment, she shares the journeys of other families who have healed their kids through biomedical treatments. The stories all have a common theme - children that developed Autism after receiving vaccines. By treating and healing "the gut", removing toxins, wiping out viruses - many children have been fully recovered or are well on their way. Some of the people she interviewed include Lisa Ackerman (founder of TACA), Katie Wright (daughter of Autism Speaks founders), and even Dad Warrior Stan Kurtz (from DAN!). Treatments mentioned include the gluten & casein free diet, the Specific Carbohydrate diet, supplements, Methyl B12, chelation, HBOT, and even the well known Herpes drug- Valtrex. The stories of these Warriors touch on the emotional roller coaster of diagnosis, sibling issues, the emotional and financial rollercoaster, and sadly - grab kleenex - a child who lost the battle in body, but certainly not in spirit.

I read Mother Warriors over the past 2 days while waiting to pick my daughter up from school. It is my only "me" or quiet time that I have - and time that I cherish. I have two precious children and my 7 year old son has Autism. We followed the lead of our doctors, therapists, and school for several years before exploring bio-medical options. I do not discredit the hundreds and thousands of hours of ABA, DTT, NET, speech, occupational & physical therapy that my son has received. These are proven therapies that work (and insurance should reimburse for but it doesn't!). But, like Jenny - after talking to so many mothers and seeing first hand many children who improved through bio-medical treatments we embarked on the journey. I am a huge advocate of trying the gluten & casein free diet because I have seen firsthand the difference it can make. Unlike Jenny who stated on Oprah's 9/24/08 show that her son had autism (past tense), My son still has Autism. I do not expect 100% recovery or a miracle cure - I do stand strong for him and hope the best for his future that he continues to make gains. As Jenny would say - he is "my light" and there is no way that I am NOT going to fight for him. I am not a super mom. I am not a doctor. But, yes, I would say that I am a Mother Warrior - at least by Jenny's definition.

The reality is that the special diets, supplements, and other biomedical options are not one size fits all. Each child with autism is unique and what works for one will not necessarily work for all. I appreciate that in Mother Warriors, Jenny states this point several times. A lot of people in the Autism community feel that she 'downs' other parents who do not go the bio-medical route or makes them feel as if they are bad parents or failing their child. I don't get that vibe from Mother Warriors so much as I did pick it up in Louder Than Words. If Louder than Words was "too much" for you, don't discard Mother Warriors. I really think a lot of it has to do with Jenny's brutally honest and raw writing style. She tells it like it is, cursewords included. She drives home the reality of what Autism does to a family, how it can destroy marriages, drain finances, and the impact on siblings. The stress on marriage is real, divorce rate in Autism families is through the roof. Sibling issues - well, this is an issue that is one that I think about every day. I can't help but know that down the road my daughter is going to be the one caring for her older brother.

Jenny hits a lot of nails on the head in Mother Warriors and does a pretty darn good job with this book. I absolutely do recommend reading it and rate it highly 4 out of 5 stars.

There are, however, a few things I don't care for about this book. First of all, biomedical treatments are a huge undertaking and not something everyone can do. Jenny mentions how expensive they are but no $$ figures are mentioned other than one mention of an estimated $35-75k. I feel as if she tells moms - go, get out there, try these things - they work. But - what she doesn't share is some real specifics like the $25,000 HBOT chamber, $400/hr doctor, several hundreds of dollars for supplements, not to mention the inflated food bills from organic and gluten casein free foods. The reality is, cost is prohibitive and probably the biggest reason keeping families from trying alternative treatments. She does drive home again and again that some kids do not respond to these treatments - and then you are at the same place you started and broke too.

Secondly, I wish Jenny would give up the spotlight and let the kids and other parents shine more. Jenny always has to be at the center. On Oprah she even can be heard "let me have the middle seat" (to Jim) and when she interviewed an amazing "Mother Warrior" who battled flesh eating bacteria - she kept bringing the story back to her own battle with Evan and Autism. She is so fast to point out the strength and "light" in others but even faster to bring that (spot)light back to herself. In Mother Warriors during the interviews of the other families she interjected her own story throughout. It not only added some confusion when reading but it kind of makes you throw up in your mouth a little bit. Step back, Jenny, because your voice is not the voice for ALL mothers of children with Autism ALL the time. I can see where many moms of kids with Autism feel that way about Jenny, really I can. Still, I give her a lot of credit for screaming as loud as she has about the vaccine issue (even when science keeps claiming there is no connection) and bringing biomedical treatments out of the closet.

With Autism rates as high as they are - what does the future have at stake?

This is why Jenny asks for a call to action for Mother Warriors to keep fighting the good fight. To continue to seek the truth, to stand up for our kids, and to demand Green Vaccines. The book also includes a DAN! doctor guide by state, a resource list, and information about Jenny's Autism Organization - to which a portion of the proceeds of the book will be donated, Generation Rescue.

www.generationrescue.org
www.tacanow.org