-A FATHER'S TRIBUTE TO HIS SON-
CHRISTOPHER'S STORY

Hello, my name is Bob and that little boy you see above, is my pride and joy. The picture was taken when he was 5 years old and
he was already on a prescribed medication, Ritalin. He was put on these meds because the local school district informed us
(in so many words) that if we did not put him on medication he would be removed from school. In fact his first year
in school was a nightmare from the start. Kindergarten is suppose to be fun, and enjoyable for the child, however, Christopher
had the teacher from hell and she made his life miserable. He could do nothing right and at the end of the school year
she was going to flunk him out of her class, if it were not for me doing a little threatening of my own. Christopher's
teacher thought he was nothing but trouble, to hyperactive, too hard to manage and she wanted nothing to do with him.
For the next 8 years our little boy was on prescribed medication because without it he would not be allowed to continue in the
public school system. My wife volunteers at the school in the office area weekly, and she has told me of the hundreds of
kids that are on prescribed medications. They line up everyday to get their medication in order for them to stay in school
and they attempt to do their work in a drug induced state.

A 8 years of age we were told to put Christopher on another form of prescribed medication, Aderall and that this medication
would work better and would last longer. From Aderall we went to Adderall XR, A longer lasting med. The side effects were
the same, dehydration, loss of appetite, growth limitations and violent mood swings and the fact that no one knows
what the long term affects on our children's health will be. We did as the Doctor advised and he has been on that medication
ever since. Anytime Christopher has a bad day in school, the teachers want to know if he took his medication for the day, you see,
once a child is hyperactive, it stays with them, and it its locked in the teachers minds, thus if the child has a problem,
it must be that he/she did not take their medication. I am sure this goes on in public schools all over this country and parents
like us have no choice or our choices are very limited. If you want your child to stay in school prescribed medication
is their solution to any and all behavioral problems.

We have struggled with these medications because no one knows the long term affects that they will have
on our children. Some children have even died due to long term dossages of some of these prescribed medications
( Between 1990 and 2000 there were 186 deaths from methylphenidate reported to the FDA MedWatch program,
a voluntary reporting scheme, the numbers of which represent no more than 10 to 20% of the actual incidence.)
but what is a parent to do. I would do anything to get my child off this medication and we have looked high and
low for an answer. The answer was in form of a natural solution.

We started off slowly, watching what Christopher was eating, drinking etc... We slowly took Christopher off
of off his prescribed medication, basically we weaned him off of it, just like you would do to a drug addict. After
all these years my little boy was hooked, hooked on a prescribed drug that made him feel terrible, but one he knew
he had to take in order stay in school. We were very upfront with Christopher, we told him what we were going to try.
We told him that we really needed his help and we wanted him to let us know how he was feeling while on this process.
Christopher had always told us he did not like the medication, because it made him feel weird. Not to mention the other
children would tease him once they found out he was on medication.

From the very first day without his prescribed meds, Christopher noticed a difference in how he felt. Christopher
began eating more than he had ever eaten before and this started on his first day without prescribed meds. You see
while Christopher was on these prescribed meds, his daily diet was simple, a piece of toast for breakfeast, no lunch,
and a few bites of food for dinner, that was it. He was very much underweight (a common side effect), he is very
short for his age (another side effect), his lips are constantly dry and chapped severely (another side effect), and
he drinks constantly which is also a side effect due to dehydration. So we took our time and we took each day,
one day at a time, and each day we would see a remarkable improvement in our son's attitude and behavior.
Soon thereafter we got our son back, we got back the little boy we once knew along with his incredible personality.
You see, prescribed medication robs your child of his/hers personality, their self esteem, confidence and much much
more. For those of you who have children on these medications you know exactly what I am talking about.

I am happy to report that Christopher is now FREE of prescribed medications after 8 long years.

Christopher Update: 7/30/03

Christopher had his first physical since we took him off of prescribed meds. The doctor was amazed
at the weight he had put on, 25lbs, and his growth, 4 inches. So if you still think prescribed medication
is a good choice, think again, just in the short period of time we have had our son off of this toxic drug,
we have already seen some incredible postive changes.

Christopher Update 7/1/04

Christopher is doing great and growing like a tree. Christopher is now 5'9 and putting on weight as well,
eating us out of house and home. He just finished his 2nd year of high school and was on the honor roll
most of the year. The photo below is Christpher (age 16) standing next to his pride and joy, Jeep Wrangler.

Christopher Update 8/1/2005

Christopher is now a Jr. in High School and going strong. Chris is 5'11 and about 150lbs. He still loves to drive his jeep and
go off roading whenever he can. We recently went on a fishing trip down to East-Cape Mexico and Chris landed his first big
Sail Fish. Chris is now enjoying life to the fullest!!


Christopher Update 9/1/06

Chris is now a senior in High School and doing great. We have seen our young boy grow into a fine young man.
Chris is 6' tall and weighs about 160lbs. He remains active in the outdoors and still loves to hunt and fish. Christopher
favorite quote: "Live and Enjoy Life Today, For Yesterday Is Gone and Tomorrow May Never Come"


Christopher Update 05/2007

Christopher has graduated high school and is looking at a career in the U.S. Marine Corp. Chris has always had a keen
interest in the military especially the Marines. As parents and the fact that Christopher is our only child, we have serious
concerns about Chris and the miiltary but we know that ever since he was very young, he had always shown
interest in the military and we will support whatever decision he makes.


Christopher Update 11/26/2007--02/2008

Christopher has shipped off to MCRD Marine Recruit Depot in San Diego CA, U.S. Marine training base to begin his training.
We watched him get sworn in in Denver, Colorado. We are so proud of our son for he has come such a long way in his young life
and conquered so many obstacles that has come his way. Our hearts are very heavy and we miss him deeply, but we are confident
that he will be just fine.In every since of the word, Christopher is our "HERO".In Feburary 2008 Christopher graduated from the
MCRD and has officially become a "MARINE".

I really wanted to do something very special for Christopher, honoring his incredible accomplishment of becoming a
Marine. I was not really sure what I wanted to do, but it came to me one day at work. Christopher has always been
currious about Tattoo's because some of his friends at school had a few tattoo's on various parts of their body's.
I had always told Christopher that a Tattoo was something permanent and could never be removed, and that he
could not even consider getting a Tattoo until he moved out of the house, on his own. I had never wanted or
even considered a Tattoo, and never really liked needles anyway. But that all changed one day at work. I called
a local (very talented) Tattoo artist by the name of "Chicago". Told him basically what I was looking for and he
designed an incredible tattoo that I now wear on my right (upper) arm. It is the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor with
Christopher's name across the globe. The letters "Semper Fi" on the bottom. This was the least I could do to
honor my son for he has come such a long, long way in such a very short time.


Christopher Update 10/01/08
BACK HOME FOR AWHILE-LET'S RIDE
(NOTICE THE MARINE MOTORCYCLE HELMET)



**Christopher's story is Highlighted in a new book called Public Schools, Public Menace .


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* This testimony is our own personal experience. Due to the variability of each individual's
neurochemistry, the results you receive from any Trivita's products may vary
from the testimony presented here.