Mennonite Measles in Texas

[Soloist]

That was depressing… although I’m a little confused, the video I watched from the anti-vaccine group had the parents talking in English is there another video where there’s a different set of parents talking?
I mean, I was thinking that they didn’t look exactly like what I envisioned from old order…
Our school does teach science, although perhaps not as in-depth as I’d like. Although it would be a little bit like the blind leading the blind.

[Grace]

In reading through this thread and have to smile a little. All the children in my family growing up, had the measles. I don't remember much of them, as I was very young. The only thing that stands out is being forced to stay in my darkened bedroom during that time. That was the worst part of having the measles. I am not opposed to measles vaccines, our children got them, but measles in otherwise healthy children didn't seem to have any lasting effects.

We drank raw milk, walked barefoot all summer, sometimes stepping in cow patties by mistake, swam in the creek that all the livestock up stream did their business in, and we rarely got sick. There were no hospitalizations, not many doctor visits, no ER visits, etc. We had a few times stitches were needed but, in that era, stitches were done in the doctor's office. We were immunized against serious diseases such as polio, smallpox, diphtheria, typhoid fever etc. Autism and food allergies were unheard of. There was no such thing as allergies to peanuts, gluten, lactose, etc. As whole children are so much sicker than they were 50 to 75 years ago. And you have to wonder why. But I suppose that is a whole other topic.

Many of the children that now would be identified as “ Autistic “ would have been called “mentally retarded” and institutionalized,
Sometimes, “for the good or your other children.” I saw this drama play out in my best friends family. Very little support was available for keeping such a child at home.

For the record, the place in Maryland where many of these were sent was “Rosewood Institute,” they were there, but out of sight.

Many children that now survive, would have been dead in the 1950s. Measles actually DO kill people, people really get pneumonia. 40-50 years ago, when ventilators were rare, I am sure we lost more. Samoa had 5200 cases, 82 deaths. Blame what you will, with advanced ICU care the toll would have lower. But do you really want that? Risk filling up the pediatric ICUs, that is a narrow specialty.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Samo ... s_outbreak

Measles? Yes I had them. Got a mild case, my younger brother was not so lucky, he was really sick. He got the dark room, the doctor decided I did not need that.

Diphtheria? Lost two uncles to that one, died before I was born.

I give thanks to God that we have what we have.

I agree that I am thankful we have vaccines for debilitating diseases.

And you have a point about the institutionalizing mentally disabled children/adults. Growing up I knew of several children who were deemed as retarded or mentally disabled in one way or another. Being part of a conservative Mennonite community, the children were not instutionalized. But I don't doubt some outside the Mennonite community were.

However, that doesn't answer the question on why there is such a spike in allergies in children. I had a good friend who worked as a playground and cafeteria aide in the elementary public school our children attended. She often talked about how when she started her job there were virtually no children with allergies, to a large amount when she retired from the job. An example at the beginning of her career as an aid, the children could all sit together at lunch. But in later years those children who packed lunches from home had to sit at separate lunch tables, in the event they might have peanut related foods in their lunches. This was to protect any students who might have had peanut allergies.

[Ken]

That was depressing… although I’m a little confused, the video I watched from the anti-vaccine group had the parents talking in English is there another video where there’s a different set of parents talking?
I mean, I was thinking that they didn’t look exactly like what I envisioned from old order…
Our school does teach science, although perhaps not as in-depth as I’d like. Although it would be a little bit like the blind leading the blind.

They aren't old order Mennonites.

They are Old Colony Mennonites who migrated from the big Mennonite colonies in northern Mexico up to Gaines County Texas starting in the late 70s and early 80s when northern Mexico started to become more unstable with the drug cartels.

[Ken]

Maybe this was linked to already... but if not, here is a research on-the-ground perspective... "Real Story of the Measles Case..." - troubling stuff, especially the 'English' rich lady purporting to be a 'spokeswoman' for the Mennonites involved... seemingly well intentioned but smelling more of exploitation than good will.

From the end of the article. It isn't just Mennonite children dying of measles. Some are become permanently disabled as well:

These false reassurances and wrong guidance are taking a toll. As I learned from a member of the community, recently the family of a girl sick with measles waited too long. By the time they brought her to a hospital in Gaines County, she needed to be airlifted to Lubbock, but she was without oxygen for too long and now appears to have suffered permanent neurologic damage.

[JohnH]

Maybe this was linked to already... but if not, here is a research on-the-ground perspective... "Real Story of the Measles Case..." - troubling stuff, especially the 'English' rich lady purporting to be a 'spokeswoman' for the Mennonites involved... seemingly well intentioned but smelling more of exploitation than good will.

From the end of the article. It isn't just Mennonite children dying of measles. Some are become permanently disabled as well:

These false reassurances and wrong guidance are taking a toll. As I learned from a member of the community, recently the family of a girl sick with measles waited too long. By the time they brought her to a hospital in Gaines County, she needed to be airlifted to Lubbock, but she was without oxygen for too long and now appears to have suffered permanent neurologic damage.

Sounds like hospitals need to figure out out how to provide the same basic medical care they did in the 1950s.

[Judas Maccabeus]

In reading through this thread and have to smile a little. All the children in my family growing up, had the measles. I don't remember much of them, as I was very young. The only thing that stands out is being forced to stay in my darkened bedroom during that time. That was the worst part of having the measles. I am not opposed to measles vaccines, our children got them, but measles in otherwise healthy children didn't seem to have any lasting effects.

We drank raw milk, walked barefoot all summer, sometimes stepping in cow patties by mistake, swam in the creek that all the livestock up stream did their business in, and we rarely got sick. There were no hospitalizations, not many doctor visits, no ER visits, etc. We had a few times stitches were needed but, in that era, stitches were done in the doctor's office. We were immunized against serious diseases such as polio, smallpox, diphtheria, typhoid fever etc. Autism and food allergies were unheard of. There was no such thing as allergies to peanuts, gluten, lactose, etc. As whole children are so much sicker than they were 50 to 75 years ago. And you have to wonder why. But I suppose that is a whole other topic.

Many of the children that now would be identified as “ Autistic “ would have been called “mentally retarded” and institutionalized,
Sometimes, “for the good or your other children.” I saw this drama play out in my best friends family. Very little support was available for keeping such a child at home.

For the record, the place in Maryland where many of these were sent was “Rosewood Institute,” they were there, but out of sight.

Many children that now survive, would have been dead in the 1950s. Measles actually DO kill people, people really get pneumonia. 40-50 years ago, when ventilators were rare, I am sure we lost more. Samoa had 5200 cases, 82 deaths. Blame what you will, with advanced ICU care the toll would have lower. But do you really want that? Risk filling up the pediatric ICUs, that is a narrow specialty.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Samo ... s_outbreak

Measles? Yes I had them. Got a mild case, my younger brother was not so lucky, he was really sick. He got the dark room, the doctor decided I did not need that.

Diphtheria? Lost two uncles to that one, died before I was born.

I give thanks to God that we have what we have.

I agree that I am thankful we have vaccines for debilitating diseases.

And you have a point about the institutionalizing mentally disabled children/adults. Growing up I knew of several children who were deemed as retarded or mentally disabled in one way or another. Being part of a conservative Mennonite community, the children were not instutionalized. But I don't doubt some outside the Mennonite community were.

However, that doesn't answer the question on why there is such a spike in allergies in children. I had a good friend who worked as a playground and cafeteria aide in the elementary public school our children attended. She often talked about how when she started her job there were virtually no children with allergies, to a large amount when she retired from the job. An example at the beginning of her career as an aid, the children could all sit together at lunch. But in later years those children who packed lunches from home had to sit at separate lunch tables, in the event they might have peanut related foods in their lunches. This was to protect any students who might have had peanut allergies.

The suspicion is that it all came from a pediatrician's advice to never feed children such things as peanut butter and other potential allergens until they are quite old. My opening suspicion is that many Mennonite parents did not listen, we sure did not either. As a result, I do not seem to see these allergies among the children who grew up in the church. In a similar vein, I have heard that children who grew up in an environment where antibacterial products were extensively used have a far higher incidence of allergies. I do not know how reliable this is. My children do not have allergies, but my daughters have eaten dirt on occasion. They are in their late 30s now, and are none the worse for it.

[Judas Maccabeus]

Maybe this was linked to already... but if not, here is a research on-the-ground perspective... "Real Story of the Measles Case..." - troubling stuff, especially the 'English' rich lady purporting to be a 'spokeswoman' for the Mennonites involved... seemingly well intentioned but smelling more of exploitation than good will.
The one quibble I had with the author was when he talked about 'secular' science/medicine and how the menno community should be given it... the rigorous, good-faith study of God's creation, ie science/medicine isn't 'secular' even if the people doing it are unbelievers or even their intentions. The search for, the study of and the discovery of the mysteries and truths of creation are Holy, Sacred and righteous in a common grace way, no matter who's involved or what they think about it (ie doesn't matter if they think it's 'secular' - the truth they've discovered is God's truth whether they acknowledge that or not). I would prefer those truths be given to the plain menno community involved in the language/lingo of faith that they will feel comfortable with as it connects to their faith. Telling them that they should learn 'secular' science is probably not going to work...

so possibly a teacher who is from a similar group, could possabley do this with a demonstration based, "Here is how creation works" approach? I teach Science, but in a far less conservitive setting. Interestingly enough, one of the most interesting Science teachers I have met was a Hutterite.

[Judas Maccabeus]

Maybe this was linked to already... but if not, here is a research on-the-ground perspective... "Real Story of the Measles Case..." - troubling stuff, especially the 'English' rich lady purporting to be a 'spokeswoman' for the Mennonites involved... seemingly well intentioned but smelling more of exploitation than good will.

From the end of the article. It isn't just Mennonite children dying of measles. Some are become permanently disabled as well:

These false reassurances and wrong guidance are taking a toll. As I learned from a member of the community, recently the family of a girl sick with measles waited too long. By the time they brought her to a hospital in Gaines County, she needed to be airlifted to Lubbock, but she was without oxygen for too long and now appears to have suffered permanent neurologic damage.

Sounds like hospitals need to figure out out how to provide the same basic medical care they did in the 1950s.

The anoxia most likely occurred before this child ever got to care. In the 50s, oxygen would have not been easily available, an "oxygen tent" was the method used. They were relatively ineffective. If this happened in the 50s, before the availability of ICUs in a period when an IV was considered a major project, this child would have almost certainly died.

You know better than to make suggestions like this.

[Ken]

Maybe this was linked to already... but if not, here is a research on-the-ground perspective... "Real Story of the Measles Case..." - troubling stuff, especially the 'English' rich lady purporting to be a 'spokeswoman' for the Mennonites involved... seemingly well intentioned but smelling more of exploitation than good will.

From the end of the article. It isn't just Mennonite children dying of measles. Some are become permanently disabled as well:

These false reassurances and wrong guidance are taking a toll. As I learned from a member of the community, recently the family of a girl sick with measles waited too long. By the time they brought her to a hospital in Gaines County, she needed to be airlifted to Lubbock, but she was without oxygen for too long and now appears to have suffered permanent neurologic damage.

Sounds like hospitals need to figure out out how to provide the same basic medical care they did in the 1950s.

Try reading what was written.

The family waited too long to bring her to the hospital. By the time they finally got her to the hospital she had ALREADY suffered permanent neurological damage.

That is on the family for multiple reasons, not the hospital. These people are presumably intelligent adults. They simply failed their child.

[R7ehr]

If I’m reading this right, it is saying that the family that lost their daughter, has yet another daughter that may have brain damage? It’s the same family, different child?