When Caden was born, he faced challenges starting in the hospital. His mother had a fever, so he needed antibiotics and spent a few days in the NICU. He struggled with sleep early on and was later diagnosed as mild obstructive sleep apnea. By 15 months of age, he faced more stress at home with having to adapt to multiple care givers while both his parents were working. At 20 months, his family noticed his language skills and social engagement regressed after being “ahead of the curve.”
Between ages 1 and 3, Caden suffered multiple ear infections, going through eight rounds of antibiotics. His doctor recommended adenoidectomy and ear tubes, helping break the infection cycle, but not the sleep and digestive issues—bloating, foul-smelling stool, and white tongue—that persisted alongside new behavioral concerns.
The Power of Comprehensive Testing
As symptoms persisted, Caden’s parents wanted to take a more comprehensive, proactive approach to his care, so they brought him for evaluation here at the UltraWellness Center (UWC). Instead of just treating symptoms, his UWC physician began “mapping the whole child”—ordering specific lab work to connect the dots between the gut, immune system, nutrition, and the brain. Caden’s journey included regular testing, adjustments to treatment, and tracking of symptoms which included both setbacks and improvements. Here were the key findings of his tests:
- Nutrient Deficiencies: Bloodwork showed low ferritin (iron), low carnitine (mitochondria dysfunction), and slightly low alkaline phosphatase (potentially signaling zinc issues and compromised gut health). These findings prompted us to start bioavailable iron supplements, a focus on red meats (high in both iron and zinc), and cooking more in cast iron cookware.
- Food Sensitivities: Each exposure to gluten, dairy, eggs, or soy—including “regular bread” at daycare—set him back and testing validated this observation when we found his immune system was reacting to each one. His diet was tailored, not just to remove triggers, but to focus on nutrient-dense foods to support growth and healing of the gut.
- Advanced Gut Testing: Comprehensive stool analysis revealed enzyme deficiencies and confirmed ongoing inflammation in his digestive system. Markers suggested yeast overgrowth—a classic sign of microbiome imbalance seen in many kids with a history of multiple antibiotics and chronic gut and behavioral symptoms.
- Methylation & Detox Panels: Tests found elevated folate receptor antibodies (FRAs) and additional support needed for methylation. He had elevated heavy metals, mainly mercury, so he needed more support with detoxification—crucial for brain function and overall health. More cruciferous vegetables were also encouraged to support detoxification.
- Histamine & DAO Assessment: Perhaps one of the most meaningful breakthroughs was discovering Caden’s histamine intolerance, a condition where the body reacts to certain foods due to inability to degrade histamine. Supporting Caden with supplemental DAO (diamine oxidase) dramatically increased his tolerance to formerly problematic foods.
Ups, Downs, and Course Corrections
- Dietary Maneuvers: Going gluten/dairy-free improved sleep and ear health, but processed gluten-free products triggered hyperactivity, a lesson in prioritizing whole foods! Many whole nutrient dense foods unfortunately seemed to worsen behavioral symptoms (due to a histamine intolerance), so his parents restricted his diet further.
- Supplements: Digestive enzymes, iron, magnesium threonate (for calming), melatonin (for sleep), and herbal antimicrobials were invaluable. However, stopping these abruptly led to quick regression—highlighting the need for sustained, carefully re-evaluation.
- Microbiome Focus: Interventions were targeted to reducing yeast, supporting enzymes that would make it easier to break down the food he was eating, and gradually diversifying his diet in line with each new test result, not just chasing the latest trend.
- Lifestyle & Environment: A key part of recovery was emotional stability. His parents became vigilant about being more consistent with their time with Caden, minimizing caregivers whenever possible, and monitoring reactions after every dietary or supplement change.
Progress and Takeaways
Caden’s care and outcomes revealed some important lessons for families and medical teams treating pediatric autism:
- Testing Guides the Way: Testing of nutrients, the gut microbiome (especially for yeast markers), heavy metals, and additional personalized testing allowed our team to tailor treatments and pivot fast when setbacks happen.
- Gut-Brain Connection Is Key: Addressing yeast overgrowth and digestive dysfunction improved Caden’s sleep, language, and behavior. This was a powerful demonstration of how much the gut microbiome can impact so much more than gut symptoms!
- Histamine & DAO: Identifying food-based intolerances, especially histamine in Caden’s case, and adding a DAO enzyme allowed him to broaden his diet. This ultimately allowed him to catch up on delayed growth and enjoy social eating experiences.
- Functional Approach First: The functional approach integrated multiple systems, asking “what’s causing this?” at every turn. In contrast to conventional medicine’s symptom management, this philosophy empowered Caden’s family to look for root causes and see their hard work reflected in real, measurable gains.
- Consistency Matters: Emotional availability, environmental stability, and flexibility in medical care—responding not just to test results, but to Caden’s unique day-to-day reactions—were just as important as any pill or protocol.
Through rigorous testing, careful dietary management, and a flexible, integrative treatment plan, Caden was able to begin thriving. He gradually began growing appropriately, learned new skills, played with more ease, and integrated into his world in new and meaningful ways. The path to healing is not always easy or straightforward, but it is possible with the right approach.
