ADVOCACY FROM THE HEARTLAND

The Sioux City Journal came out with an article with a title that caught my eye: Mom takes autism crusade to the presidential candidates. I was delighted to see it told the story of Iowa’s Lin Wessels (a/k/a “MOMA” or “Mom on a Mission”) and Barb Romkema, two of the many people across the country who make A-CHAMP the incredible organization it is. Together, they are taking the battle for safer vaccines and more research into the causes and treatment of autism to the legislature and to the various presidential candidates who are now visiting Iowa.

As a side note, Ms. Wessels states that of the six presidential candidates she has questioned or spoken to, John McCain (who she’s seen three times) has been the most receptive to exploring the issues. That is not intended as an endorsement of any kind; my mind is far from made up about the current crop of presidential hopefuls.)

The impression I get from the article is that these mothers are like all of us in this crazy situation ⎯ too busy to take care of everything that needs taking care of. Why would they devote themselves to this cause?

“It is kind of therapeutical for me, to try to affect change,” Lin Wessels said.

The cause “became much, much larger than Sam [Ms. Wessels’ son]” about two years ago as people wrote “heart-wrenching stories” about their autistic children, she said.

“I’m their voice, too,” Wessels said.

I am profoundly grateful that parents like these are willing to be the voice for my family.