Scotty's New Independence
from "Mad" Spells

I have been asked time and time again to write down the testimony of my youngest son, Scotty.  Scotty came into this world with a set of lungs that could wake the entire neighborhood.  He also was born with an incredibly sensitive heart that felt much more than the average child. 

During my pregnancy with Scotty, at about 4 months, I turned vegetarian.  After that change, my husband at the time, was arrested for pursuing an addiction that I had no idea he had.  I lost a quite a few pounds during mid pregnancy, probably from stress as well as diet change.  My emotional stability was amazingly wonderful compared to my previous pregnancies, which I attribute to the diet.

Ricky, my older son by only 13 months and 9 days, seemed to be the perfect child.  Scotty on the other hand, seemed to bite more, pinch more, scream more, and all the other awful things of toddler hood.  Poor Ricky! 

Anyhow, the time came when their dad was arrested again and sent away to prison for a good length of time.  My boys were 2 & 1/2 and 18 months.  As life proceeded along, I found less and less time to do what needed to be done, like juicing, salads and the like.  I hated being in the kitchen.  I let the guard down on chicken and fish.  We didn't eat beef, but hey, I may as well have!  Refined foods became an easy fix for a full-time working Mom.  It is tough to be mentally aware enough after a long day at work to prepare for the next day. 

Scotty was as affectionate as they come, but on the turn of a dime, he would turn wicked and just lash out at his brother or whoever else might be in the way.  I had Scotty in three different sitter/preschool situations due to his behavior in two years time.  I remember getting calls two and three times a week that he was out of control.  I remember going into school seeing the teacher restraining him so that he couldn’t hurt anyone.  One day I had a note indicating he had gotten up during nap time, ran around the classroom screaming and flipping tables.  He also would take sticks and chase children down with them.  The other children were afraid of him.  I had no idea what to do.  We discussed it, I spanked him, and none of it helped.  People would tell me, "You just need to be consistent and get a good stick."  Yeah, well, I had to pin the child down just to spank him, and believe me, it was doing nothing for his benefit.  He was a very mad little boy and was getting angrier by the day.  I took him to counselors, behaviorists, homeopaths, and I just couldn't get a handle on it.  We discussed his “mad” as he called it, but he couldn’t tell me why he was so mad.  I am sure the absent father was of no help to the situation.  I had told the boys that their dad made a bad choice, so he couldn't be with us anymore.  He would tell people that he didn't have a dad.  OUCH!

So, when Scotty started summer camp in June, 2005, I discussed the whole disciplinary actions at camp.  He did well for about a week.  I warned the camp people of his behaviors, and that I was not sure what to do with him, except be very consistent. 

Fortunately, in June of 2005, thanks to my Mom, I went to the Florida Hallelujah Acres Lifestyle Center with Dave and Sherry Orcutt.  I thought to myself, "Lord, this is my last ditch attempt to make things right, and if this doesn't work, I am going for the drugs."  Well, by the time I had gotten back, Scotty had a few disciplinary issues, but not enough to get kicked out of camp.  I called the kids while I was in Tampa having the most relaxing week of my life, and I told them that we would be making a huge diet change.  I asked Scotty if he wanted to get rid of his "mad" forever, and he said "Yes."  I told him that I believed that this was the answer.  When I arrived home, I told the camp people that going forward that my boys were to eat nothing other than what I give them.  They said, "OK."  I told them that it was vital that he not have any other foods, as I am doing an experiment to see what will happen with him.  They agreed.  It took about 10 days of the regular struggle, and he had a huge outburst, screamed, kicked and punched a camp counselor (at 5 years old mind you).  He was suspended from camp for a day.  Upon his return to camp, all the counselors were shocked.  It was a wonderful experiment that turned out to be the best thing for all of us.  Scotty's constant battle with the runny nose stopped, and his affectionate little self was the only part that showed face any more.  Now, he still gets tired and cranky at times, but it is nothing like what it used to be like.  His allergies are almost nonexistent now.  Ricky who was 6 at the time stopped snoring at night. He breathed so loud, I could hear him 2 rooms away.  Someone said to me once that this diet is like getting your body Saved, and that was absolute truth for me and my two boys!  So, in that light, we got saved all over again.  A few months into school, Scotty won an award for “Kindness,” which made his mama proud!  His kindergarten teacher could not believe that he could have ever behaved like that, and I was grateful to say that he doesn’t any more!

God is so good!!  Thank you Hallelujah Acres for the wonderful ministry that God has given you to share!  Thank you Dave and Sherry, you are a complete blessing!