Sacred Spark is the compelling true story of a child affected by mercury-poisoning and his minister-mother’s decade-long battle to restore the light in his eyes.  

Sacred Spark is also the inspiring story of Rev. Sykes’ work with the United Methodist Church to pass the first global resolution advocating the elimination of mercury from medicine. As such, Rev. Sykes helps her church ignite a social justice movement on par with historical faith-based campaigns against child labor and slavery.

Sacred Spark is a pragmatic and compassionate call for putting the well-being of children first. Parents and physicians demanding safer vaccines will find clarity to support their informed choices, as well as inspiration and guidance to become advocates for children.  

Rev. Sykes weaves into a seamless whole several strands of fast-paced and engrossing narrative: her family’s horror in witnessing their happy toddler slip into autism; her victories in appropriate and landmark biomedical treatments for her son; her attempts to find precious allies against a corrupt and protected industry; the success of empowered parents to enact state bans on mercury and to approach Attorneys General across the country, and her own family’s lawsuit defeat on a procedural technicality against a pharmaceutical company.

Readers are taken behind the scenes – from the Simpsonwood United Methodist Retreat Center in Norcross, Georgia, (where a closed-door meeting between government officials and pharmaceutical companies was convened one week before congressional investigations into conflicts of interest between the two began in 2000) – to the floor of the Institute of Medicine meetings in Boston and Washington, DC, where Rev. Sykes passionately challenges committee members to abandon their blind trust in how vaccines are manufactured and approved and embrace instead the clarity of medical ethics that would put children first.

In stark contrast to the stubborn failure of the federal government to act on behalf of the nation’s children, Rev. Sykes brings her cause to The United Methodist Church and her denomination responds with the strength and support of its 11.5 million members in a global resolution advocating the elimination of mercury in medicine.

Cited extensively throughout the book are scientific studies supporting mercury’s causal role in autism, as well as the internal transcripts from the IOM and Simpsonwood meetings and government emails (available through the Freedom of Information Act).

Sacred Spark seeks to answer, as well as raise, such questions as: How does a parent or practitioner initiate the reforms necessary to protect minds from mercury?  Why do the Hippocratic Oath and the Right of Informed Consent apply to all parts of medicine, especially vaccination?  How do we counter the argument that a mercury-containing vaccine is better than no vaccine at all, as global dissemination of mercury-containing vaccines to the Developing World continues?   Why do the public and media believe mercury is out of vaccines when there has never been an official recall or ban and more has been added with flu shots?

What Readers Have Said About Sacred Spark

"Sacred Spark is an extraordinary account of one mother (who happens to be a minister) who becomes tenacious in her advocacy for her own son who has autism and mercury poisoning.? She also has become a fierce advocate for children and parents everywhere who live day in and day out with the complex, debilitating, and painful effects of autism spectrum disorder. ?I would encourage everyone who is concerned about the grim statistic that one out of every 150 children being born in the U.S. today will be diagnosed with some form of autism to read this book and pick up the work of advocacy that will be needed to prevent mercury poisoning and autism."

Bishop Charlene Kammerer,
Resident Bishop,
Virginia Conference, The United Methodist  Church

"Sacred Spark is a book to be read by all who are interested in the causation, treatment and politics involved in the recent autism epidemic.? Nothing is more important than for our citizens to be educated about the damage that is classified as autism, but is really a toxic response of infants exposed to specific neurotoxins.? This book details many of the occurrences and issues surrounding the theory that vaccines played a major role in the epidemic of neurological illnesses our children are suffering with today."                

Boyd E. Haley, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus,
University of Kentucky Chemistry Department

"The church can provide a moral compass in the modern world.? With our current knowledge of the individual nature? of the human genome, this story explains why ?we need to reassess our? “one size fits all” ?approach to vaccines. Lisa’s struggle to heal her vaccine damaged son with (gluten free) loaves and fish (oil)? and toxin removal is compelling.? This book reads beautifully and is Shakespearian in scope."

Mary Megson, M.D., FAAP,
Pediatric & Adolescent Ability Center?


"Reverend Lisa Sykes exposes government corruption and collusion as it has never been told before.  She brilliantly intertwines the story of her son’s ongoing recovery, of inspiring millions to protect children from harm, and of seeking a higher court of justice.  Her global resolution paves the way to protect the public, especially children, from mercury-containing drugs.  While her opposition seems more powerful than an atom bomb, ‘Minister-mom’ has an ally mightier than all of them.  Sacred Spark, full of complexity and suspense, is a must read for everyone."

Lawrence P. Kaplan,
Ph.D., CEO and founder of US Autism & Asperger Assocation

 
"This book is an inspirational story of one family’s struggle with autism, and one woman’s determination to protect our children from the insidious poison of mercury.?? Thomas Jefferson once wrote that ‘The care of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the first and only legitimate object of good government.’ Reverend Sykes’ long battle to uncover the truth about the link between mercury and autism is a painful lesson to us all that our government is failing this test when it comes to our Nation’s epidemic of autism.? Through her faith and trust in God, Reverend Sykes shows us all how to triumph in the face of adversity and reminds us that one person can indeed make a difference.

Congressman Dan Burton

"If you have ever wondered if one person can make a difference, or if you question whether women in the church carry influence in today’s political climate, or if you need confirmation that a network of women in congregations is engaged in issues that affect our world, this is the book for you.? Rev. Sykes’ journey from private pain to public advocacy is a testimony to the claim of God in her life and of God’s care for ?women, children and families the world over."
                  
Harriett Jane Olson,
Deputy General Secretary, Women’s Division
United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries

"Let us be optimists and pray that after hearing of Reverend Lisa Sykes’ journey we will watch carefully and choose our steps the more wisely toward our own and the common good. "

Harold T. Pretorius, M.D., Ph.D., FACP,  
Attending Physician, The Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, OH

"In my fourteen years as an autism researcher, I have listened to countless parents tell me that their child was normal until a vaccination. This incredible book gives voice to these many parents and to their struggles to find help."

Janet K. Kern, Ph.D., Autism Treatment Center, Dallas, TX;
Adjunct Assistant Professor University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX

"This book is a must for anyone wanting to learn about the autism/vaccine issue. I finished it in 2 days...I really could not put it down! It is exceptionally well written, based on Reverend Sykes’ experiences with autism, traditional medicine, biomedical intervention, and her repeated calls for government action. I cried as well as rejoiced as I read this book. It is truly exceptional, and I would recommend it to all mothers and fathers, especially those raising small children.

Reverend Sykes shares actual laboratory data proving her autistic son has been impacted by mercury. I have not seen proof of mercury poisoning through any TV show or any of my doctor’s pamphlets. Most commentaries and reports rely on opinions, not firm laboratory results derived from the direct testing of an autistic child. That is what sets this book apart from all other media outlets. Reverend Sykes does not simply argue one way or the other...she states facts, and then she supports them with evidence!! She is quite refreshing.

In short, Reverend Sykes birthed a healthy baby but is raising a sickened child. Through her faith, she holds fast to the hope that some day autism will be nothing more than a bad memory. Through Reverend Sykes’ efforts, thousands have heard the voice of a heart-broken mother, a faith-filled minister, and a highly educated woman. I really would recommend this book to everyone...enjoy!"

JK (Cincinnati, OH), April 9, 2009