Accessibility Tools

Skip to main content
Please donate today!
Vaccine Injury Testimonial

Vaccine Injury of Douglas Ridgeway

What was your life like before you received the COVID-19 vaccine?

I had a totally normal life before the injury. I could walk for exercise, play golf, do yard work and worked in a quality control laboratory for Honeywell. I was able to do most any activities around the house, grilling, laundry, small home maintenance projects, pretty much anything I wanted to do without physical limitations. I enjoyed following my daughters travel softball and attended many of her college games and events as well.

Describe the symptoms and the timeline of the reaction.

October 7, 2022- The first sign of any problem started late that afternoon. I was walking down the steps to my garage and my legs just went limp and gave out. Nothing like this has ever happened before.  I sat down on the steps for a couple of minutes and tried to slowly stand back up. I was able to recover and stand as normal. I continued on that evening as nothing odd had happened. But then about 4 am, I woke up to go to the bathroom and also had severe leg pain. I was not able to urinate. I took tylenol to try to help with the pain. I could not go back to sleep due to the pain and eventually woke my wife up so she could drive me to the hospital.
   October 8,2022- I went to the ER and was admitted to Johnston Willis Hospital with back, leg, and feet pain and inability to urinate, to stand up or walk.  Over the next several weeks numerous bloodwork and diagnostic imaging of my back, head, and neck were conducted to attempt to diagnose my illness. I was treated with antibiotics, steroids, IVIG, and plasmapheresis with really no improvement to my condition.
   October 26, 2022- I was diagnosed as possible Guillain Barre Syndrome, and or Thoracic myelopathy. I was transferred to inpatient rehab at Johnston Willis Hospital still using a wheelchair.  On November 18, I was released to go home. Then on the following Monday, November 21 I had a setback and was readmitted back to the hospital. This time doctors suggested neuromyelitis. After rehab I was only mobile in a wheelchair. 
   December 6, 2022 -Next stop was University of Virginia Hospital where many more tests and imaging were conducted including nerve conduction and spinal tap. Doctors here diagnosed I had a spinal stroke and would never walk again. 
   December 15,2022 -U VA doctors sent me to Sheltering Arms Inpatient Rehab for 3 weeks. I was still using a wheelchair at this point.
After being released from Sheltering Arms, I came home and eventually went to neurologists at VCU Medical Center in Richmond. After more testing, they diagnosed me with autoimmune response causing inflammation where my lower spinal cord myelin and nerve roots were damaged. Doctors suggested my immune system had attacked my nervous system. There have not been any successful treatments as of yet. I have been taking meds for nerve pain ever since this all started.  Physical therapy and time are the only things that seemed to have any effect on my condition. 
    Obviously, I have not been able to return to my job this entire time, and therefore did not get paid for over a year and a half. By the way, I was required by my employer to have the covid 19 vaccine.  It took me over 2 years to be approved for social security disability, which ended up going to an administrative judge appeal since the state doctors (who had never examined me) opinions were not in agreement with my actual doctors assessments.
    Current status - I am able to walk with pain in my back, legs, and feet. I can only walk or stand for short periods before needing to sit down and rest my legs. I have used and still have to use a straight catheter to urinate since I am not able to normally. I will continue with physical therapy to hopefully regain more strength and endurance. I was forced to retire early or be fired from my job. I did retire in October 2024. Hopefully one day I will be able to return to my pre-illness self. Is the Covid 19 vaccine the cause of the pain and struggles of the last 2 1/2 years? I have read many reports and papers about the side effects of the vaccine and wonder about it often. 
  • I certify that the statements made in the above submission are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information and belief.
  • I agree to allow React 19 to share my testimonial publicly on its website, social media, or webinar platforms. I further understand that my testimonial will be posted publicly and React 19 cannot prevent third-parties from sharing it once public.
  • I agree to notify React 19 immediately should I discover inaccuracies in my testimonial in order to maintain the integrity of React 19's advocacy platform.

Details

  • Pfizer Vaccine:
    08 March 2021
    lot #: EP6955
  • Pfizer Vaccine:
    10 April 2021
    lot #: EW0158
  • Pfizer Vaccine:
    17 November 2021
    lot #: EW0183

  • Injury Date:

    08 October 2022

  • Age at Injury:

    61

  • State/Region:

    VA

  • Country:

    US

Share to Social

Common Tags

Fatigue 425 Inflammation 353 Heart Issues 338 Muscle or Joint Pain 319 Brain Fog 308 Head Pain 297 Limb Weakness 284 Neuropathy 257 Paraesthesias 256 GI Issues 228 Sleep Issues 214 Tremors or Twitching 198 Tinnitus 175 Autoimmunity 173 POTS 145 Vision Issues 130 Dermatologic 128 Psychiatric 107 Clotting 92 MCAS 52 Neurological 32 Menstrual Issues 27 Clotting-Cardiovascular 20 Myocarditis 20 ME/CFS 17 Allergies 7 Dysautonomia 4 Neuropsychiatric 4 OB/GYN 4 Lymphadenopathy 2
The individual experience shared above is offered for informational purposes only. React19 neither endorses nor recommends any treatment(s) noted therein. React19 does not diagnose medical conditions, offer treatment advice, treat illnesses, or prescribe medicine or drugs. It is strongly recommended that, prior to acting upon any information gleaned from a shared experience, you first consult a physician.