Jenny McCarthy, center in blue dress, greets mothers attending a benefit breakfast in Ponte Vedra Beach. Photo by JENNIFER KNOECHEL

Recovery is the hope actress Jenny McCarthy is giving to families affected by autism.

 McCarthy spoke to “Warrior Moms” Friday at the TPC at Sawgrass during a benefit breakfast presented by the Ponte Vedra-based organization HEAL — Heal Every Autistic Life. The breakfast coincided with the Valley of Dreams Gala and Bobby Weed/Pete Dye Charity Golf Classic Friday at TPC.

McCarthy coined “Warrior Moms” for all the mothers of autistic children. She and actor Jim Carrey’s son, Evan, now  6, was diagnosed with autism at age 2. Since then the couple has been on the forefront of raising awareness about autism, which affects one in 150 children in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control.

“I kept focusing on the word ‘recover’,” said McCarthy. “It’s like getting hit by a bus. You can’t become cured from getting hit by a bus, but you can recover.”

In McCarthy’s 2007 book, “Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism,” she explains the combination of behavioral therapy, diet and supplements that have helped her son.

She told a room full of mostly “Warrior Moms” Friday that of the more than 50 cities around the country she visited during her book tour, Jacksonville has the best support base for families with autistic children.

“The attitude of pain and the lack of support I found everywhere breaks my heart,” McCarthy said. “And then I come to Jacksonville and wow, you guys are really blessed to be here. I can’t wait to watch HEAL bloom and watch all of you Warrior Moms become empowered and spread the word. I can’t wait to move here some day.”

McCarthy first came to Ponte Vedra as a guest speaker for the first Valley of Dreams gala last year. HEAL is a non-profit organization founded in 2004 by Bobby and Leslie Weed in collaboration with local pediatrician Julie Buckley. They are all parents of children with autism. HEAL has various programs available for children with autism such as surf camps, a bowling league and film camp as well as assisting with therapy and support services for children in need. The Foundation also brings educational seminars and conferences for families, therapists and educators to the Jacksonville area  as well as assistance and support for parents. For more information visit www.healautismnow.org.

“Jenny is bringing in ‘Fire Marshall Bill’ in raising awareness,” said Leslie Weed, evoking one of Carrey’s comedic characters from the television show "In Living Color."

“She knows she can use her celebrity status to bring attention to autism, and that is exactly what we need.”

According to the HEAL web site, “autism is a neurological and biological disorder typically affecting children between the ages of 18 months to 5 years of age. Autism affects each individual differently and at different levels of severity. Some individuals with autism are severely affected, cannot speak, require constant one-on-one care, and are never able to live on their own. While others are less severe, can communicate, and eventually acquire the necessary skills to live on their own.”

The cause for autism has not been determined, but many parents and doctors believe there is a link between vaccines and autism.

The Green Vaccine initiative is a scientific, evidence-based approach to improve the safety of vaccination programs.  Last fall McCarthy approached Leslie Weed with the idea to do a rally in Washington D.C. The Green Our Vaccines Rally was held on June 4. Weed said they expected 2,000 to 3,000 people to attend the rally and were astonished when 9,000 showed up.

“We marched in a line a mile long from the Washington Monument to the capital,” Weed said. “That was my most awesome moment. We sent a message loud and clear.”

McCarthy said although she considers her son to be in recovery, he is not in the clear. Last Mother’s Day he suffered a seizure that lasted on and off for seven hours, she said, and doctors had to put him in a coma to stop the seizures.

“It took him three days to wake up from the coma and a month to speak, so I’m still having my fight,” McCarthy said. “What terrifies me is that the mortality rate is up when the seizures won’t stop, and that is hanging on my breath. Every hour of the day I am terrified. So I am biting my nails and crying in the bathtub, too.”

McCarthy’s new book, “Mother Warriors: A Nation of Parents Healing Autism Against All Odds,” will be released on Sept. 23. She said she’s met two types of moms on her journey in dealing with autism: the moms in the land of the "I don’t know" and the "Warrior Moms" who are taking action.

“I have met thousands of parents and their recovered children. And I’ve met thousands who have said we tried everything and although they are not recovered, where life seemed impossible is now manageable,” McCarthy said.

“And that’s where I hope all parents will be. Keeping the hope and respecting what is and that recovery is out there. It’s real.”