Kyle Brizendine is a typical 11-year-old boy. He likes baseball and soccer. He does well in school and has lots of friends. He has a good sense of humor, often writing hilarious essays at school, and loves to audition for a local theater group. What many people don't know is that at the age of 2 ½, Kyle was diagnosed with autism. Thanks to his family’s research and devotion, he no longer suffers from its effects.

His initial diagnosis was confirmed by both the North Los Angeles County Regional Center and UCLA. His parents, Yolande and Brad Brizendine, recall being devastated.

Their only son had lost his emerging language skills, was avoiding eye contact, and obsessing for hours on spinning things and small details, all hallmarks of autism, said Yolande.

Kyle still remembers what it felt like to be overwhelmed by lights, sounds, smells and social interaction. He recalls feeling helpless to communicate his needs and wants. At his worst, he would be thirsty for hours because he did not have the skills to point to a glass of water when he needed a drink. “I felt so alone,” said Kyle.

However, the Brizendines refused the typical prognosis for an autistic child. Yolande, an MSW, UCLA graduate and associate social worker who provides counseling to kids, teens and their families in Thousand Oaks and Oxnard, knew how important it was to be an advocate for her child and to be open to alternative therapies. 

“I came across a research study indicating the role of digestion, heavy metal overload, brain inflammation and nutrient deficiencies and overloads that are common in children with autism, ADD, depression and other learning and behavioral disorders,” said Yolande.

Yolande’s  research led her to Drs. Judy Bowman and Albert Mensah of Mensah Medical. Both Bowman and Mensah were trained by internationally recognized researcher William J. Walsh, Ph.D., founder and director of research at the Walsh Research Institute.

While Yolande understands that there is “no known cure for autism,” she points out that “there are numerous biomedical therapies and treatments that do help these children improve tremendously.”

“By adding multiple biomedical and relationship/behavioral therapies together over time, some children, such as our son, can improve until the symptoms of autism are no longer detectable,” she said. “They can live full, connected and normal lives.”

Kyle received multiple intensive therapies, including speech and language, occupational therapy, 40 hours weekly of behavioral and relationship-based play therapies. He also received intensive biomedical treatments aimed at healing the gut, balancing trace metals and reducing the body’s toxic load, according to Yolande. 

In addition, he received targeted nutritional therapies to aid brain development, enhance the immune system and reduce inflammation. With the support of family and friends, the Brizendines, along with the help of Kyle’s physicians, put all of their resources into helping their son.

Yolande understands that there are no instant solutions or magic pills, but for Kyle, the intensive time, emotional and physical investment paid off. By age five, Kyle was re-evaluated as falling outside the autistic spectrum, and he has continued to improve with ongoing monitoring and individualized nutrient therapies.

“In our case, William Walsh’s research was a key part of our son’s recovery, and we are grateful to Bowman and Mensah for working tirelessly with our family, helping to make Kyle’s recovery possible,” said Yolande.

As for Kyle, he is a bright, happy and well-adjusted kid, said Yolande. “He has a heart for the younger kids around him who are struggling socially and have disabilities or special needs,” she said.