The Things We Do When We're Desperate...

Have you ever been in a situation that made you feel so desperate that you were willing to try anything to make it better?

I have. It was called being Gavin's Mom.

I was constantly on a quest to make his life better in every way. Simple things like finding ways to make sure he felt included and could participate in family activities. Or figuring out ways to physically improve his life with equipment or clothing or shoes or aids or new therapies. I was always on a quest to improve his health and nutrition - and to keep his playroom neat and constantly interesting so he could move around and enjoy himself. But honestly, my greatest mission in life was to figure out his diagnosis - and that was the source of my desperation and most of my sleepless nights.

Back in February of 2013 - just a couple months before we would lose Gavin so suddenly - Chasing Rainbows was nominated for an award by Parent's Magazine. I never in a million years thought I would win - and didn't care. It was a huge honor to be noticed and nominated - but to be honest, it was MOST exciting to suddenly have a platform. I used it, shamelessly, to put Gavin into the universe - hoping that someone out there would recognize something in him that would lead to a diagnosis. 

It was a fascinating experience. I got a lot of suggestions... a lot of "Gavin looks like my child who has"... ideas for tests to ask for... and a reader who suggested that I contact a "Medical Medium" by the name of Anthony Williams. I took every suggestion and every thought seriously. I sent an email to Gavin's geneticist that same day and asked her what she thought of a list of new syndromes and disorders. And I immediately contacted Anthony Williams and got an appointment almost overnight. The call at that time was $350 for an hour. (It is now $500 for a HALF hour) I remember sitting on the phone waiting to talk to Anthony and I was so, so excited. I was sure I was about to get the answers about Gavin that I had been searching for since the day he was born.

I explained to him my desperation to get answers about Gavin's mysterious, undiagnosed genetic syndrome. He spent the first ten minutes or so talking about supplements. The history, which brands he prefers, which supplements help with what. Then he told me that mercury was the cause of Gavin's issues - that I passed actual mercury on to him and a mercury sensitivity in utero, causing his physical, neurological and developmental issues and explaining his features. Basically, that he suffered mercury poisoning in my womb. He said that was the cause of all of my miscarriages as well (nine at that time). He also said I had the Epstein-Barr Virus in my system. Then... it was back to supplements again. He was a very nice person so I tried to remain patient. I thought he was just getting off track and would get back to helping me with our medical mystery. 

He didn't.

I watched the clock tick and tock - and watched our money continue to fly out the window - as he spent 95% of our call discussing supplements and telling me to write down which brands of supplements to give Gavin and which I should take. I wondered, in frustration, if he got a kickback from supplement companies! You can read that original post here.

I hung up feeling very upset... very foolish... and extremely dissatisfied. I had been told he could "diagnose" and I didn't get that. But - if you know what it feels like to be desperate, then you know what I did next. I convinced myself that maybe that was exactly what I needed to hear. Maybe the supplements WERE the answer! Maybe Gavin's issues WERE "my fault" when I passed on mercury to him. So I went out and bought all the expensive supplements and made small dietary changes. I did them all for Gavin and for me.

Just forty eight days after that call, Gavin died of a random febrile seizure that stopped his heart and led to brain death. He was gone - only 5 1/2 years old.

For months, I stressed and questioned doctor after doctor about the supplements wondering if we hurt him in any way or they led to his death. It was an excruciating time. (Thankfully, every doctor assured us it was not our fault and the supplements were not at all the cause.)

After Gavin died, Anthony William's assistant called and said he requested that we call him. I suppose he either read that Gavin died on my blog or saw it on social media. I did NOT appreciate being summoned by him when it was my son that died, after all. I never called him - and he never called again.

Since that time, I have received close to 500 emails from people who googled Anthony Williams, found my post and have questions. Most of them are writing to ask my opinion before they put themselves on a waiting list for a $500 call. Many have written to tell me about their call - and how they won his "lottery" and were picked for an appointment. I answer every email personally - even though 75% of them end with "I hope Gavin is doing well!" I suppose it has been my new mission to keep people from making the same, foolish mistake that I did.

The following comments are all "alleged" experiences by those who have had appointments with the medical medium, have bought his new book or have listened to his radio show. I want to emphasize the word "ALLEGED" so no one comes after me.  ;-)

Over the last month or so I could tell that something had shifted because I started to receive at least ten emails each day. It turns out that Anthony Williams released a book. I was told by many people that they were offered incentives to give his book five star ratings on Amazon - prizes, autographs, etc. I personally feel like that is immoral... especially toward desperate individuals who are seeking answers and then are misled by all the praise! At one point he was offering a $3,000 prize for the most inspiring Amazon review. I'm sure the "winner" was someone from his publishing team. You'll be hard pressed to find anything negative about him anywhere on the internet (which is one of the reasons why I'm writing this post). I am quite sure he has a team of people keeping his image squeaky clean. You'll notice his Facebook page doesn't allow visitor posts - and he personally answers every single comment under his own posts. I'm not sure if he's a "medium" or a "nutritionist" - nearly every post is about what supplement to take and not focused on medical issues. People who are gravely ill contact him which makes me very sad.

ALLEGEDLY, the "lottery pool" is a ploy to make every person feel "hand picked" and oh, so lucky. Everyone wins the "lottery" - and the prize is losing $500!

There seems to be a theme from people who have contacted him. He has (allegedly!) told them all that they (or their children) have the Epstein-Barr virus, shingles or mercury in their bodies - or have had mono as a kid. All of these things can explain anyone's symptoms. Then he puts everyone on a benign supplement regimen that is pretty standard and well known to anyone in the health care world. There is nothing "spirit-led" about it.

He claims that he is the only person in the world with this gift - as a medical intuitive. My personal opinion, but if Anthony Williams was the real deal, don't you think the internet would be blowing up with "I'm healed!" or even "I'm so much better because of his advice" stories? You don't see the internet blowing up because everyone is either ashamed that they fell for him, no longer with us or have just moved on with their life (less a big chunk of money). Allegedly, of course.

I feel glad when the people who don't have $500 to lose write to me and I can keep them from handing over their rent money... grocery money... and their hopes to him.

I feel sad when people write to me who are so, so sick or were like me and have a child they are desperate to help. I know their pain and their struggle and hate bursting their bubble with my story about my experience - and the many, many emails I've received from people who had the same experiences.

If you're thinking, "She's just bitter because her son died and wants someone to take it out on" - well, you're wrong. I tried it all for Gavin - including contacting a "medical medium." Or should I say, "THE" medical medium... since he claims he's the only person alive who has this special gift. Too bad The Medical Medium couldn't have given me a head's up that Gavin would have an issue that could cause his death. Perhaps there could have been a way we could have intervened.

Of course we couldn't have intervened - and of course he wouldn't have known that Gavin would die - because he's a fraud. 

Allegedly.

I know what it feels like to be desperate. I do. And I know what it feels like to be sick and want to be well. I feel that every day. But Anthony Williams is not your answer. 

I've answered hundreds and hundreds of emails since 2013, but hopefully this post will put an end to them. And hopefully Gavin and I will continue to help people by sharing our experience.

If you found this blog post by googling the Medical Medium, please consider this YOUR sign from above... save your money and your time and your pride. Do not contact him.

Some lessons are learned in hindsight, unfortunately.

(Boy, Gavin, our journey together continues to be a wild, interesting, twisty-turny, lesson-filled, sometimes bizarre (allegedly)... and always a loving one. I miss you so much.)