A woman who almost died from a vaccine had the perfect takedown for anti-vaxxers in this heartfelt thread
This woman’s story about the vaccination she received when she was 14 and how it shaped her attitude towards the anti-vaxxer movement went viral because it’s such an extraordinary read.
Tiffany Yonts was 14 when she was vaccinated as part of a routine medical and as a result she nearly died and developed an untreatable syndrome that affects her to this day.
But her take on the anti-vaccination lobby – known as anti-vaxxers – might not be what you think.
It went viral because, well, have a read for yourself, as shared by Bored Panda.
1.
in light of what @thekatvond said about vaccinations today, i feel that it's time for me to finally share my story about vaccines & my personal health. A THREAD:
— margarita pigeon. (@clemfairie) June 8, 2018
2.
when i was 14, i received a tetanus-diphtheria vaccine as part of a routine physical. as a competitive swimmer, i was in fantastic shape. my health & my fitness were my life. i was strong, had amazing lung capacity, & rarely caught more than a cold. that changed overnight.
— blue speed mouse. (@clemfairie) June 8, 2018
3.
my arm tripled in size from the injection & was very painful. i started to have trouble breathing. then most of the muscles in my body stopped working. i developed pneumonia & was bedridden for approximately 6 months. i could barely move or breathe. i almost died.
— blue speed mouse. (@clemfairie) June 8, 2018
4.
i began to struggle with random paralysis. breathing remained painful & difficult due to a mostly paralyzed diaphragm (which remained that way for 5 years). my muscles atrophied seemingly instantly. i began to exhibit stroke-like symptoms. i had to use a wheelchair.
— blue speed mouse. (@clemfairie) June 8, 2018
5.
it was a waking nightmare, made worse by the lack of a diagnosis. it took 2 years for us to find a name for my condition: guillain-barre syndrome, officially listed as a possible side-effect of the tetanus-diphtheria vaccine a whole year after i contracted it.
— blue speed mouse. (@clemfairie) June 8, 2018
6.
only 30% of guillain-barre patients continue to exhibit symptoms after 3 years. only 3% ever relapse. i am a part of both groups. it’s been 14 years since the original incident, which took around 6 years to begin to significantly recover from. i relapsed last spring.
— blue speed mouse. (@clemfairie) June 8, 2018
7.
i spent many days lying on the floor gasping for air. i couldn’t sit up for more than 5 minutes at a time. i still have to use a wheelchair if i go somewhere i have to walk for more than an hour or two. it’s physically impossible for me to complete my hygiene routine at one time.
— blue speed mouse. (@clemfairie) June 8, 2018
8.
that vaccine, in many ways, destroyed my life. i will always have gbs & i will always have serious symptoms. i could relapse again at any time & there is nothing that any doctor can do for me. there is no treatment. this is my reality for the rest of my life.
— blue speed mouse. (@clemfairie) June 8, 2018
9.
so many would assume that i’m anti-vaccine. which is entirely, thoroughly, grossly incorrect. i am an unwavering supporter of vaccinations for every single person who can receive one. (that does not include immune-compromised individuals, which i also am.)
— blue speed mouse. (@clemfairie) June 8, 2018
