I was in my third year of recovery, and I had worked incredibly hard to regain full custody of my children, Financially, I was stable, and my recovery – or so I thought – was in the best place it had ever been.

By the time I became pregnant with Brooklyn, I had built a life I was proud of through recovery. My boyfriend at the time and I were living in a half-million-dollar home, and I truly believed I had finally found peace and stability.

The loss of Brooklyn destroyed everything I thought I had built.

The person I was with at the time relapsed after her loss, and I knew I had to leave that home quickly with my children. If I stayed, I knew my own sobriety would be at risk. So not only was I dealing with a devastating vaccine injury and the loss of my daughter, but I also suddenly found myself alone, nearly homeless, and fighting to protect my recovery.

I thank God every day for placing me where He did.

For almost two years, I lived in a constant state of trauma while trying to rebuild my life and heal from my loss. I grew up in a town – and within a family – deeply affected by mental health struggles and addictions, so trauma was not something unfamiliar to me. But something changed in me after losing Brooklyn.

I became determined to fight for my recovery and to heal from her loss – for my children and for myself.

I also had two strong family members who stood beside me through everything: my cousin Brittney and my mother. I thank God every day for them. My church community also supported me through some of the darkest moments of my life.

Through this experience, I found Jesus Christ. I did not find Him when I first entered recovery. It was about a year after losing Brooklyn that I had a powerful religious experience and became born again.

I also learned from the freedom fighters and survivors I met online. I share my story to bring awareness to vaccine injury and the impact it has had on my life. I have tried to separate what happened from my recovery journey, but honestly, it all ties together – especially when it comes to the injustice and struggles I have faced throughout my life.

I deeply admire some of my fellow freedom fighters, such as Dan, Kayla, Dallas, and Tamara. In our family, they will always be remembered as true Canadian heroes. I was not able to fight as publicly or as strongly as they did, and part of that was because I was still trying to heal from everything I had gone through.

Every time I had to revisit what happened, it took a tremendous emotional toll on me. At the same time, I still had other children depending on me, and I had to focus on surviving and rebuilding my life for them. Financially, things also became very difficult. After finding myself on my own again, I went from stability back to living paycheck to paycheck.

Even though I may not be able to fight in the same way right now, I will always continue to bring awareness, speak my truth, and share my experience whenever I can. I believe that sharing our stories matters, and I hope mine can help others feel less alone.

After losing Brooklyn, about two years into my healing journey, I found myself at a crossroads. I realized it was time to take my life back. I had immersed myself in therapy, AA meetings, and support groups because I was determined to heal and not fall backward into old patterns.

In recovery, people often talk about being on the “pink cloud”, where everything feels hopeful and life is finally going well. But what happens when tragedy strikes? Do you return to your old coping mechanisms and destructive behaviors, or do you fight to survive and grow through the pain? I was determined not to let Brooklyn’s death be in vain, and I knew I had to keep fighting for my other children as well.

I went back to school and focused on rebuilding my life. In 2025, I completed my diploma as a Social Service Worker. My hope is to continue working and studying in the field of addictions, while also advocating for medical autonomy and standing against injustice. As I continue healing and growing stronger from my vaccine injury, I want to use my experiences to help others and create meaningful social change.

During this journey, I also met my soulmate and soon-to-be husband. Through all of the heartbreak and healing, God still blessed me with love and hope again.

The most beautiful part of this update is that I was given another chance to have a baby girl. Two weeks after graduating, I gave birth to my rainbow baby, Hazel Brooklyn Disher. She carries Brooklyn’s name forever as her middle name to honor her sister and keep her memory alive.

I will always feel that what happened to me was unfair and unjust, and I will continue to stand for truth and justice whenever I can. Thankfully, I was able to obtain a religious exemption for my children at school, so they are not required to receive any more vaccines. The fear of another injury is simple too overwhelming for me. When they become adults it will be their own free choice whether they decide to get vaccinated or not.

From now, having that exemption in place has helped ease many of my fears and anxieties about sending them to school.

But my recovery and my children must always come first. Breaking generational cycles of addiction, trauma, and unhealthy behaviors for my children is my greatest priority.

Right now, we are still living on my mother’s property, trying to live a simpler and more self-sufficient life. We are still living check to check right now. We currently have 30 chickens, and this August we will be adding two goats. That is about all we are taking on for now because our long-term goal is to move out west – away from the hustle and bustle of the city and closer to the mountains and countryside.

My boyfriend has a promising job opportunity out there, and I would love to either stay home with my children or continue working in addictions and social justice. It is very difficult to fully heal in a town that once broke you. While I am proud of how far I have come, I still want to experience more of life with my children. The world is full of possibilities, and I want them to grow up surrounded by peace, nature, and opportunity.

Right now, we are working hard toward saving for a reliable vehicle and camper so we can make that move and start the next chapter of our lives together.