Christian Home Endangers Seizure Victims

[Guest guest]

"Christian" Home Endangers Seizure Victims

 

Five seizure victims lie in a Loveland, Colorado Mosaic group home

regularly being medicated with anti-seizure medication. Despite

evidence linking aspartame to seizure disorders, one worker purchased

for them Crystal Lite sweetened with aspartame. Medical testimony

abounds that aspartame triggers seizures and reacts with anti-seizure

medications. All five patients have frequent seizures, are labeled

mentally retarded so they can't communicate clearly, one can't walk,

one has a "No resuscitate" order and another one is blind. Mosaic

management had been notified of the aspartame issue by the attending

LPN who was fired for bringing this issue to light in an effort to

protect the patients.

 

In a study on seven infant monkeys fed aspartame, five had grand mal

seizures and one died. (See www.dorway.com/raoreport.txt) This

evidence was presented in congressional hearings and in 1986 the

Community Nutrition Institute petitioned the FDA to ban aspartame

because of the seizures it caused and the people blinded from the

methyl alcohol aspartame releases. Big business and Donald Rumsfeld

ended up trumping science and consumer safety. As a result, aspartame

consumption has brought disability and death to innocent consumers

worldwide. At the time that aspartame was approved by the FDA,

Rumsfeld was CEO of G.D. Searle, maker of aspartame.

 

Yvonne-Ruth Longacre, the LPN who cared for these five seizure

victims, recently wrote Hawaii State Representative Josh Green,

Chairman of the House Health Committee

Representative Green:

 

"I am a health care provider who lost her job because I labeled 3

Crystal Light drink mixes as poison. I work for a Christian

organization called Mosaic whose Mission statement is, "In

partnership with people who have disabilities, Mosaic provides

supports and advocates that all may realize God's gift of wholeness of life."

 

"I worked as a Direct Support Associate in Eastwood, a group home

that serves 5 disabled men with seizure disorders. I worked 3, 12

hour, awake, overnight shifts by myself. I prepare all 3 meals as

outlined by menus prepared by Sefra. She does all the shopping for

the home. When Sefra was being trained for purchasing the groceries,

she brought home 3 cans of Crystal Light drink mixes that contain

aspartame/NutraSweet. I labeled them as poison because they cause

Grand Mal Seizures. One of our clients has Grand Mal Seizures on a

regular basis. One time he had 4 Grand Mal Seizures in a 24-hour

period and had to be sent to the Emergency Room. When I labeled the

cans as poison, Sefra took it as a personal affront to her. My

supervisors called me into a corrective action meeting and told me

never to label the cans as poisonous again. I gave them the

video "Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World" to watch. They didn't watch

it and returned it with a sticky note attached saying, "Yvonne, you

need to take this home. We are not interested, but thank you." Ever

since that day Sefra refused to talk about anything nutritional. She

just says, "She doesn't want to talk about it." I had talked to her

about the Maker's Diet as found in Leviticus 11. She thought that

was religious and I was trying to convert them. My goal was to

return my clients to health.

 

"In the past, I worked as a LPN and took the Hippocratic Oath that

states, "that I will lead my life and practice my art in uprightness

and honor, That whatever house I enter, it shall be for the good of

the sick to the utmost of my power, that I will hold myself aloof

from wrong; that I will exercise my art solely for the CURE of my

patients, and will give no drug and perform no operation for a

criminal purpose." I could not conscientiously give a product such

aspartame/NutraSweet to cause harm to patients that already have

seizure disorders.

 

"I had written an appeal to Mosaic's Regional Vice-President, Coleen

Abeta, that included the video, "Sweet Misery" and a number of

documents about Aspartame Poisoning, she sent me the following letter

stating, "First of all I would like to thank you for all the

materials you sent to me. I understand your passion for what you

believe. In light of the circumstances and documentation I have

reviewed, I support the termination. Thank you for your time of service."

 

"These 5 aspartame victims all have seizure disorders and one is

blind, and all cannot talk to communicate their feelings. They are

all mentally retarded and one cannot walk. If aspartame would have

been removed, their need to be placed in a group home wouldn't have occurred.

 

"Without me being there to protect them, I'm sure that they will

continue using it, as the worker who prepares the menus consumes diet soda.".

 

Sincerely,

 

:Yvonne-Ruth :Longacre.

 

 

 

The FDA's list of 92 documented symptoms names 4 types of seizures

triggered by aspartame. (See

< http://www.mpwhi.com/92_aspartame_symptoms.pdf> http://www.mpwhi.com/92_aspartame_symptoms.pdf

)

There is 50% phenylalanine in the aspartame molecule, which, as an

isolate, is neurotoxic and floods the brain. It lowers the seizure

threshold and depletes serotonin. In Aspartame Disease: An Ignored

Epidemic by H. J. Roberts, M.D. (www.sunsentpress.com), Roberts gives

pathophysiologic considerations and explains that aspartame and its

metabolites may cause or aggravate convulsions through various

mechanisms. He mentions altered neurotransmitter concentrations

within the brain (especially serotonin and norepinephrine), the

effects of methyl alcohol, and exaggerated hypoglycemia. Dr. Roberts

states that aspartame and its breakdown products can suppress the

synthesis of several neurotransmitters that tend to prevent seizures.

 

He further states: "Other mechanisms could contribute to

aspartame-induced seizures. They include formaldehyde toxicity (from

methanol), altered monoamine receptors in the cerebral cortex, and

loss of the protective effect of L-DOPA.

 

"Alterations in brain water, sodium and potassium also may play a

role. They were noted in both humans and animals after methanol

intake, along with vascular stasis. These assume considerable

pertinence in view of the multiple cellular interactions involving

calcium, sodium, potassium and chloride that are known to trigger

focal epilepsy (Dichter 1987).

 

"Additionally, altered extracellular fluid concentrations of various

amino acids, notably glutamate and aspartate, play an important role

in the pathogenesis of hypoxemic and epileptic brain injury."

 

* Tendler et al (1991) found that a noncompetitive antagonist to the

MDA subtype of glutamate receptor reduces brain tissue injury for hypoxemia.

 

* Two toxic amino acids related to alanine can cause convulsions, as

well as parkinsonism, dementia and demyelinating disease (Spencer 1987).

 

"Other influences might act as co-epileptogens"

 

* Aspartame associated insomnia is relevant. Chronic sleep

deprivation can induce seizures in animal models, perhaps through

norepinephrine depletion.

 

* The simultaneous administration of caffeine and aspartame lowers

the threshold to experimental seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole

(Maher 1987).

 

* Individual case reports of aspartame-associated convulsions by

other physicians (Walton 1987) mention the presence of venous

malformations, a finding in several of my cases."

 

Dr. Roberts notes some experimental observations:

 

"Tilson et al (1987) found that aspartame administration to rats

significantly reduced the number of cortex stimulations required to

induce tonic-clonic seizures. They suggested that "aspartame may

facilitate the development of seizures activity" under some circumstances.

 

"Wurtman and Maher (1987) noted that the disproportionate elevation

of brain phenylalanine concentrations after aspartame or

phenylalanine, compared to tyrosine levels, diminish brain dopamine

release. This enhances

the susceptibility of rodents to seizures induced by

pentylenetetrazole, fluorothyl or electroconvulsive shock. (A

problem is interpreting studies involving large doses of

phenylalanine given to rodents resides in the fact that tyrosine, the

antidote, is also increased owing to their high phenylalanine

hydroxylase activity.)

 

"Maher and Pinto (l987) reported that aspartame significantly lowers

the threshold to seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole in nonfasted

mice. A comparable response occurred with equimolar phenylalanine,

but not equimolar aspartic acid or methanol. Conversely, the

administration of tyrosine - alone, or with phenylalanine or

aspartame - elevated the seizure threshold in this model, as did

co-administering valine (another neutral amino acid)."

 

*Wurtman and Maher (1987) attempted to compare the doses of aspartame

producing neurochemical effects in rodents and humans. Their data

suggest that 15 - 20 mg/kg diminishes catecholamine release, thereby

enhancing susceptibility to seizures."

 

This reminds me that aspartame manufacturers are so aware of

aspartame triggering seizures that the Vice President of Searle

threatened Dr. Wurtman that if he did studies on aspartame and

seizures, his research funds would be rejected, and they were.

Following is the web link to the UPI investigation about this:

< http://www.wnho.net/upi_1987_aspartame1.htm> http://www.wnho.net/upi_1987_aspartame1.htm

 

Dr. Roberts also emphasizes the relationship between hypoglycemia and

epileptic seizures, and aspartame actually induces hypoglycemia. It

also can precipitate diabetes and interacts with insulin. As to

anti-seizure medication, Dr. Roberts says that Phenytoin (Dilantin)

is a key drug in managing epilepsy. When

convulsions are associated with or aggravated by aspartame products,

the patient confronts several dilemmas. First, the dose of phenytoin

is likely to be increased, possibly to the point of toxicity. Second,

other anti-epilepsy drugs may be added, thereby increasing the

potential for side effects. Third, the continuation of these drugs in

high doses could result in "rebound" toxicity after stopping

aspartame consumption. The apparent potentiation of valproic acid in

Depakene and Depacote, two other antiepileptic drugs, was personally

reported to Dr. Roberts by a 51-year old man who drank considerable

amounts of diet cola daily. When his physician increased the dose,

he became comatose and required hospitalization.

 

My own neurologist knows aspartame triggers seizures and insisted one

of his patients give it up. Aspartame is very addictive, since

aspartame contains 10% methanol, which is classified as a

narcotic. Daily consumption causes chronic methanol poisoning that

affects the dopamine system of the brain causing the addiction. The

woman was consuming so much aspartame that the neurologist said she

simply "went crazy" and they put her in a mental hospital. After two

weeks, the problems from withdrawal stopped as did the seizures and

she was fine. He mentioned he had tried every anti-seizure medication

to no avail. It should be noted that it is the depletion in serotonin

that triggers psychiatric and behavioral problems, and aspartame

interacts with all anti-depressants.

 

Fortunately, Yvonne has full knowledge of the problems caused by

aspartame consumption and did what she could to keep her patients

free of NutraSweet. She, of course, has no control over the doctor

who prescribes anti-seizure medication for their patients. Many

neurologists have been given this vital information on aspartame but

have not done any further research or do not want to acknowledge the

veracity of the research given to them, but they too have a

responsibility to the patient.

 

It is also interesting to note that the Supreme Court of Israel

upheld a lower district court conviction of malpractice that had

resulted from ignorance of the current medical literature (Fishman

1998). Israel's Supreme Court's judicial opinion in this matter

asserted that doctors have "personal responsibility in their

professional duties to remain updated with medical literature" and to

be aware of alternative diagnoses, opinions and recommended treatments.

 

In this home is a co-worker, 24 hour old Sefra, who drinks diet soda,

prepares the menus and shops for this home. When Yvonne explained to

Sefra that aspartame triggers seizures after purchasing Crystal Light

drink mixes that contain it, she labeled them poison which they

are. The Crystal Light Company has been notified many, many times

that aspartame is a chemical poison and they have refused to remove

it, obviously realizing its addictive. In the aspartame documentary

Sweet Misery you see a case where a patient in the hospital explains

she can't be given this toxin and has it marked in the

records. She was given Crystal Light anyway and became a Code Blue,

and had to be resuscitated. If this happen to the patient with the no

resuscitate order he dies!

 

Yvonne gave this aspartame documentary to Ambosia Guthry, her 22 year

old supervisor, boss. It was returned without being seen with a note

"we are not interested". She did everything she could to convince

the young workers in this home you can't give a seizure-triggering

drug to a seizure patient. They simply wouldn't listen. Nor would

they listen to this LPN about nutrition. In fact, when Yvonne

referred to the "Makers diet" in Leviticus 11 a worker stated this is

"religious". Evidently, in this "Christian" organization home

scripture is not to be mentioned.

 

Yvonne appealed her termination knowing without her being there no

one would protect the patients. Mosaic's Regional Vice President,

Collen Abeta, was sent a number of documents on how aspartame

triggers seizures and the aspartame documentary Sweet Misery: A

Poisoned World. She wrote back and said she supported the

termination. There have also been some measures taken against

Yvonne's unemployment for trying to save these patients.

 

In the Hippocratic Oath that Yvonne-Ruth Longacre took it states "and

will give no drug and perform no operation for a criminal

purpose". How could she allow an aspartame seizure victim to be

given a poison that triggers seizures?

 

If I had been in the position of Coleen Abeta and given documentation

on aspartame triggering seizures I would have immediately notified

the physicians for these patients, thanked Yvonne for trying to save

their life, and suspended the young women who refused the research

and wanted to use a poison after being notified. When those

responsible to solve the problem ARE the problem there simply is no excuse.

 

Russell Blaylock, MD, neurosurgeon, said in Health & Nutrition

Secrets to Save Your Life,

< http://www.russellblaylockmd.com/> www.russellblaylockmd.com :about

aspartame: "This particularly nasty substance should have never even

been approved for human use. In fact, had it not been for some fancy

footwork by those in power in the FDA, it never would have. Early

experiments using low, medium and high doses with aspartame all found

dramatic tumor increases in test animals. These included brain,

pancreas and breast tumors, and tumors of the testes, thyroid and

prostate. Experiments also demonstrated a direct correlation between

intake quantity and tumor incidence.

 

"Several possibilities explain the high rate of cancer in these

animals. One is that aspartame breaks down in the body into a

substance called Diketopiperazine or DKP, which chemically closely

resembles a group of cancer-causing chemicals. Aspartame also

contains methanol, which breaks down in the body into formaldehyde

and formic acid. Formaldehyde had been shown to accumulate near DNA,

causing serious damage that is accumulative. That means that

drinking even one diet cola a day can cause formaldehyde buildup in

cells, so that the amount of the toxin increases daily.

 

"There is also evidence that aspartame can worsen depression in those

already suffering from the condition, may cause weight gain and

insomnia, worsen diabetic control, aggravate multiple sclerosis and

other neurological diseases, precipitate migraine headaches, TRIGGER

SEIZURES, cause BLINDNESS, and may also damage a fetus' developing

brain. One component of aspartame is aspartic acid, a known

excitotoxin. Even small concentrations in gum have been shown to

precipitate headaches.

 

"I strongly suggest avoiding all products containing aspartame,

including NutraSweet and Equal, as well as any other artificial

sweetener brands that include aspartame."

 

I would remind Colleen Abeta of Proverbs 24:11-12

 

" Deliver those who are being taken away to death; and those

staggering to the slaughter, O may you hold them back. In case you

should say: "Look! We did not know of this" will not he himself that

is making an estimate of hearts discern it, and he himself that is

observing your soul know and certainly pay back to

earthling man according to his activity."

 

Ms. Abeta, You know aspartame triggers seizures because you were

given documentation. You should have been concerned and researched

further. You should have been glad to have a documentary with world

experts on aspartame to help you in helping those in Mosaic

homes. I would reinstate Yvonne-Ruth Longacre to protect the

victims or explain to these seizure victims' families what you have

done. There is no excuse in going against someone who was doing her

job to protect the lives of seizures patients. This issue will not

go away until it is resolved.

 

Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum, Founder

Mission Possible International

9270 River Club Parkway

Duluth, Georgia 30097

770-242-2599

www.mpwhi.com, www.dorway.com and < http://www.wnho.net> www.wnho.net

Aspartame Toxicity Center,

< http://www.holiticmed.com/aspartame> www.holiticmed.com/aspartame