Joanne lives in Formby, near Liverpool, with her husband and two sons. Her younger son, Matty, now aged 11, was diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) shortly before his third birthday, having suffered a major regression at the age of 2.5 years.

Matty had severe gastrointestinal problems from an early age, and, after his regression, developed self-injurious behaviour, violent outbursts and prolonged bouts of sobbing and crying. His parents refused to accept the paediatrician's opinion that Matty's chronic diarrhoea was 'just part of his autism', and pushed for a referral to a gastroenterologist. An abdominal X-ray revealed impaction of the colon, causing distension of the rectum, a condition known as 'mega rectum'. Despite symptoms suggestive of diarrhoea, Matty was actually suffering from severe and chronic constipation, and the violent and self-injurious behaviours were, in fact, manifestations of pain.

For Matty, treatment of his gut, mostly through diet and supplementation, was key to restoring his general health and well-being. It has been a bumpy road with setbacks along the way, but today Matty's bowel problems are almost a thing of the past. Most important of all, he is immeasurably healthier and happier than in the dark days of head-banging, hand-biting and inconsolable screaming. He attends the ASD unit of a mainstream primary school, where he is popular with staff and pupils alike. In his latest Annual Review report, his teacher commented that his smile 'brightens up our day'. He is very sociable, and where at one time he preferred solitary repetitive activities, now he seeks variety, company and fun! He is an adaptable child who loves all aspects of his life, who runs onto the school bus every morning, gets excited about holidays and days out, and adores (and is adored by) his older brother.

Of course, as parents, we always hope for more, and progress achieved is soon taken for granted. Matty has not recovered from autism, and, though improving all the time, his speech is still quite limited. And yet, despite his communication difficulties, he has the ability to reach out to people, and his personality shines through his autism. Where would he be without biomed? It is difficult to know for certain, but I feel sure that, had his severe bowel problems not been addressed, he would still be in pain. This may well have masked his many endearing and engaging qualities, so, without biomed, we may never have known the lively, affectionate, playful, fun-loving, happy-go-lucky, sometimes cheeky and mischievous, but always utterly adorable child that he is today