A life-changing experience and an opportunity to write a book about it now have Kristi Chrysler touring the country talking about her son's autism.
Chrysler, who is originally from Brighton Township and now lives in Howell, has five children: Chloe, 16, Heather, 14, Richie, 11, John, 9, and Kyle, 8, all of whom she home schools. Her book focuses on Richie, and it's called "Autism: Recovery Against All Odds."

"It's the chronicle of my son's journey through autism, from severe and being told to institutionalize him to a full recovery five years later," says Chrysler. "It was not a miracle but was five intensive years of prayers and diligent work by many, which brought him to recovery."

Chrysler says Richie was developing normally until what she calls outside triggers compromised his immune system and he developed autism. The family used a biomedical approach plus therapy to help him.

Richie was diagnosed with autism at the age of 5 and began seeing psychologists, a psychiatrist and pediatric neurologists. The family used treatment that included eliminating such food ingredients as gluten and the dairy protein casein along with numerous other foods that Richie was allergic to. He also took a variety of supplements.

Richie's physician is Dr. Sidney Baker. He is a co-founder of Defeat Autism Now, a project of the Autism Research Institute of San Diego to foster a dialogue among parents, practitioners and researchers concerning the treatment of children diagnosed with autism. Baker, whose practice is based in New York, also co-authored "Autism: Effective Biomedical Treatments."